Rice Free 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 cuisine — and they're genuinely worth every step. The dough comes together from milk powder, a touch of flour, and butter, which means there's no rice flour or rice-based ingredient anywhere in the recipe, making it a naturally safe choice for anyone avoiding rice in all its forms. The real secret is patience at the frying stage: keeping the oil at a low, steady temperature lets each ball cook all the way through and puff up beautifully before turning that deep, even golden brown. Once they hit the warm cardamom syrup, the magic really happens — they plump and drink up all that fragrant sweetness over a 30-minute soak. A scatter of slivered pistachios on top adds a little color and crunch that makes the finished plate look like it came straight out of a mithai shop. This is the kind of dessert that impresses a crowd but relies on pantry staples you likely already have on hand.
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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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