Kala jamun, easy version with instant gulab jamun mix. Easy sweet yet special version for Diwali. Full video post.
I had two packs of instant gulab jamun mix. Just got it because it was really tempting, so thought I would make it for Diwali. But I was thinking why not try another version which I have not tried before. But in short cut version by using the instant mix. Last year too I made one with gulkand, this year thought of trying the kala jamun.
I adapted the recipe from Vahchef. But with instant mix. Wanted a stuffed version and tried. But could not define the layers as I made the outer layer thin. So if you are also trying the same, make sure to stuff inside very less and outer layer bigger. This way the inside stuffed colour will be looking prominent. I wanted to try again, but to be honest, I am already too much guilty for all the sweets I am making in the name of blogging.
So thought to go ahead and post.
✨Wishing all my readers a very Happy, healthy, prosperous and safe Diwali ✨
Kala jamun
Ingredients
- 1 pack Instant jamun mix 200 gm
- Oil/ ghee to deep fry
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 & ½ cups water for syrup
- 2 cadamom powdered
For coloured stuffing
- 2 drops food colour
- 5 strands saffron
- ⅛ tsp rose water
- ½ tsp sugar
- few drops milk to soak saffron
Instructions
- First soak saffron in luke warm milk. Dissolve and set aside.
- Take jamun mix in a mixing bowl. Break any large lumps in it.
- Add water little by little and gather the mix to make a soft dough.
- Grease with few drops of ghee over the surface and set aside for 5 mins or as instructed in the pack.
- After 5 mins, divide a small portion (less than quarter of the dough) and add saffron, food colouring, rose water, sugar to it.
- Mix well to incorporate the colour evenly.
- Divide the plain dough into small lemon sized ball (I did smaller, but recommend bigger size balls). And roll coloured dough also same numbers.
- Keep covered. Take plain dough and flatten, make shallow bowl, stuff with the coloured dough by placing inside. Seal from all sides gathering towards inside. Do not press and roll, gently roll without disturbing the stuffed coloured dough.
- Shape is your choice but I rolled in oblong shape. Repeat to finish.
- Heat oil in a pan and lower the flame. Add the shaped jamun and immediately move the oil around to ensure even browning.
- Continue to fry in medium heat now and keep rolling the jamun or oil over so that they are evenly cooked, browned.
- Wait patiently until it gets deep in colour, almost black. But do not do this in high flame.
- Once blackened in colour, drain over the paper towel. Repeat to finish.
- Prepare sugar syrup by heating sugar, water and simmer for 8 mins.
- Once the syrup just turns sticky, add powdered cardamom. Switch off the stove.
- Add fried jamun immediately. Let it soak over night for best results.
Video
Notes
- You will be convinced and taking out the jamun before it is turned deep dark coloured, but patiently do it to justify the name.
- If syrup is not thick enough (sticky) then it will make the jamun taste bland and look also watery.
- On the other hand, if syrup is too thick, it will crystalize. You can opt to add few drops of lemon juice to prevent crystallization, but only up to an extent. If you boil in high heat longer, it will start to crystalize.
Kala jamun method:
- First soak saffron in luke warm milk. Dissolve and set aside.
- Take jamun mix in a mixing bowl. Break any large lumps in it.
- Add water little by little and gather the mix to make a soft dough.
- Grease with few drops of ghee over the surface and set aside for 5 mins or as instructed in the pack.
- After 5 mins, divide a small portion (less than quarter of the dough) and add saffron, food colouring, rose water, sugar to it. Mix well to incorporate the colour evenly.
- Divide the plain dough into small lemon sized ball (I did smaller, but recommend bigger size balls). And roll coloured dough also same numbers. Keep covered. Take plain dough and flatten, make shallow bowl.
- stuff with the coloured dough by placing inside. Seal from all sides gathering towards inside. Do not press and roll, gently roll without disturbing the stuffed coloured dough.
- Shape is your choice but I rolled in oblong shape. Repeat to finish.
- Heat oil in a pan and lower the flame. Add the shaped jamun and immediately move the oil around to ensure even browning.
- Continue to fry in medium heat now and keep rolling the jamun or oil over so that they are evenly cooked, browned.
- Wait patiently until it gets deep in colour, almost black. But do not do this in high flame.
- Once blackened in colour, drain over the paper towel. Repeat to finish.
- Prepare sugar syrup by heating sugar, water and simmer for 8 mins.
- Once the syrup just turns sticky, add powdered cardamom. Switch off the stove.
- Add fried jamun immediately. Let it soak over night for best results.
The texture of kala jamun is so different from the regular one. Do try it!
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