Balushahi

5 from 4 votes

Balushahi sweet is a delicious deep fried traditional sweet recipe made with flour, ghee and yogurt, then dipped in sugar syrup for glazing. Crisp, flaky and moist within, an ultimate Indian sweet for Diwali or any festivals

Prep Time15

Cook Time1 30

Total Time1 45

Course: Dessert, Sweets

Cuisine: Indian

Servings:

Calories: 114kcal

Author: Farrukh Aziz

Ingredients

to prepare balushahi at home

3 cups All-purpose flour (350 grams of maida)
5 tablespoons curd whisked well (ice cold)
½ teaspoon baking soda
5 tablespoons ghee
A pinch of crushed saffron optional
6-7 tablespoons ice cold water
Ghee or oil for deep frying

For Sugar Syrup

2 ½ cups sugar
1 ¼ cup water
A pinch of saffron
½ teaspoon cardamom powder
Slivered pistachios and silver wark for garnish

Instructions

how to make balushahi recipe (badusha recipe)

In a pan, combine sugar, water and bring it to a boil.
Then, add saffron cardamom powder, few drops of lemon and simmer for few minutes until it reaches one string consistency.
Then, switch off the flame, cover and set it aside.

To knead the dough for balushahi

In a bowl, combine, flour, soda, crushed saffron and ghee
Then, start mixing the mixture with fingers such that it resembles coarse crumbs.
When you take the mixture in your hand, it should hold the shape of fist.
Then, add yoghurt and mix nicely
Add ice cold water, knead such that it just come together to form a dough.
Do not work too much on the dough as it need not be smooth. The consistency of the dough should be medium soft
Cover the dough and keep it aside for 30-45 minutes.
Divide the dough into equal small lemon sized ball, balls need not be smooth.
Make an indentation (not a hole but press it) in the centre with your thumb
Repeat the same for all the balls.

To deep fry balushahis

In a kadhai or deep bottom pan heat ghee. Be sure to check that ghee it not hot but melted well and warm.
Carefully slide-in the badusha. Do not over load the pan while frying as they increase a bit in size
Fry on very low heat until equally golden brown from all the sides.
Once they are beautiful golden brown, take them out and allow it to cool a bit
Before adding the next batch of badhusha, switch off the flame for couple minutes. This step helps to bring back the temperature ghee from hot to warm.
The again switch on the flame to low and then fry another batch
Finally, dip the fried balushahis in warm sugar syrup for about a minute or 2.
Carefully, take them out from the syrup and keep them on the tray or a plate for few minutes.
Garnish balushahi with slivered pistachios and silver wark.

Notes

Always use ice cold water to knead the dough
Please do not fry balushahi on high as it will not puff up, will remain uncooked within and over browned from out. At any point, do not increase the flame while frying them
If the dough is too hard or tight, you may add 1-2 tablespoon of more ice cold and knead. Do not add to much water at a time.
To check one string, put a drop of syrup in a bowl and touch it with your index finger and thumb. Now, when you stick your finger and thumb together, it should be sticky and when you open it, syrup will form a thin single string.
Do not worry if the sugar in the syrup crystallises, heat it up again and proceed.
Frying each batch of balushahis will take approx 20-25 minutes depending upon the size you make.
Before adding the next batch of balushahi, switch off the flame for couple minutes. This step helps to bring back the temperature ghee from hot to warm. The again switch on the flame to low and then fry another batch.
Balushahi (badusha sweet) can easily be stored in a clean airtight container for up to 3 weeks

Nutrition