Xanthan Gum Free Gulab Jamun

Total time1 hr 15 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time25 min

5.0

(7)

These soft, syrup-soaked milk dumplings are one of the most beloved sweets in South Asian cuisine, and this version is made entirely without any gums or stabilizers. The dough comes together from just milk powder, a little all-purpose flour, baking soda, and butter — nothing unusual, nothing hidden. What makes this recipe work so beautifully is the simplicity of those ingredients: the milk powder gives the dough its characteristic richness and helps the balls puff and turn a deep, even golden brown during the slow fry. The cardamom-and-rose-water syrup they soak in is fragrant and floral without being cloying, and after that 30-minute rest the dumplings plump up into something genuinely irresistible. The low-and-slow frying technique is key — keeping the oil between 300 and 320°F ensures the centers cook through before the outside over-browns. Finished with a scatter of slivered pistachios, these are the kind of dessert that disappears fast at any table.

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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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