Pregnancy Friendly Gulab Jamun
Soft, syrup-soaked, and perfumed with cardamom and rose water, these little golden spheres are one of the most beloved sweets in South Asian cooking — and for good reason. The dough comes together from full-fat milk powder, a touch of butter, and just enough whole milk to bring it into a pillowy, tender ball that fries up beautifully and drinks in the warm sugar syrup. During pregnancy, indulging a sweet craving with something homemade is so much more reassuring than reaching for a packaged dessert with a long list of additives, and this recipe keeps things refreshingly simple and wholesome. The ingredients are straightforward — no alcohol, no raw eggs, no unpasteurized dairy — just pantry staples and a little patience at the stove. The key is keeping the oil temperature low and steady so each ball cooks all the way through before the outside deepens to that gorgeous amber color. A long soak in the cardamom-scented syrup is what transforms them from fried dough into something truly special, plump and glistening and almost impossibly soft. Scatter a few slivered pistachios on top and you have a dessert that feels celebratory enough for a gathering but easy enough to make just for yourself on a quiet evening.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
For the syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- 1 tbsp rose water
For the dough
- 1 cup milk powder (full-fat)
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 3–4 tbsp whole milk, as needed
For frying
- 2 cups neutral oil (such as canola or sunflower), for frying
For serving
- 2 tbsp slivered pistachios (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the water, sugar, and crushed cardamom pods in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes until the syrup is slightly thickened and coats a spoon lightly. Remove from the heat, stir in the rose water, and keep warm over the lowest heat setting.
- 2
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the milk powder, all-purpose flour, and baking soda. Add the softened butter and rub it in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs with no visible butter pieces.
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