Move Beyond the Regular Jalebi and Try These Unique Ones

Craving that hot syrup dripping down the side of your mouth when you bite into a hot jalebi, especially after a spicy meal? Jalebi is one dessert that you will find in almost every corner of India, from the street-side halwai to a special counter in a big fat Indian wedding, with the side of rabdi. The other awesome thing you should know is there are several types of jalebi to fulfil all your sweet cravings. In the end, you do get this sense of satisfaction, which in North India is expressed as,“Haan, ab huakhaana khatam.”

Know Your Jalebis

Jalebi, in India, has its own twists and turns. Each corner of India has its own way of preparing this sweet. So, if you are a true lover of the orange pretzel, you should know the different types of Jalebi too. Here’s a look at the most popular variations.

1.    Regular Jalebis

This is something you’ll find in every halwai shop. Usually pretzel shaped, deep fried in hot oil and then immersed in hot sugar syrup, it is served hot and usually retains the crunch when eaten immediately.

2.    Jaleba

You know that overweight cousin, who is fun to hang out with at any hour? Well, this is Jalebi’s cousin, made a little thicker than your regular Jalebi but has just as much sweet to complete your meal and make your dil want more. A special touch here is that the sugar in which this is dipped usually has a saffron touch to it.

3.    Rabdi Jalebi

This is one of the best types of jalebi out there. Jalebi has a sharp sweet taste, the rabdi here is to cut this excess sweetness. This condensed milk-based dish is usually paired with hot jalebi and topped with almond bits and saffron. It is one of the best ways to complete your meal.

4.    Chanar Jilapi

West India has given its own version to the jalebi types, with this one being cottage cheese based. It is a distant cousin of the classic gulabjamun. Once fried, it is dipped in cardamom infused sugar syrup to make it more flavourful and to give you a party in your mouth.

5.    Jaangiri

More commonly known as Imarti, this is very popular in Rajasthan. It is usually made with uraddal, circular in shape and is almost like the twin brother of the Jalebi. It is eaten both hot and cold.

Happiness can be found in all these types of Jalebi. The rich goodness of the experience will stay with you and keep you wanting more.

However, with the country still gradually re-opening the economy, you might not be able to go out and savour your favourite dessert. But, since you are stuck at home anyway,  it might be a great time to learn how to make Jalebi at home and enjoy the experience with the entire family.