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5.0 from 3 votes

Jilapi (Jalebi or Zalabia)

Jilapi (jalebi or zalabia) is a traditional fried sweet pastry from the Indian continent, that is also popular in the Middle East and North Africa.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
55 mins
Servings: 8 people
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Asian , Bangladeshi

Ingredients

For the jilapi
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 tablespoons rice flour (or chickpea flour)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ cup yogurt
  • 1 cup warm water (about)
  • A few threads of saffron
  • 2 pinches cardamom
For the sugar syrup
  • 1 cup water
  • 1¾ cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons rose water
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • A few cardamom seeds
  • A few threads of saffron
Equipment
  • Squeeze bottle

Instructions

Jilapi
    Cup of Yum
  1. Mix flour and baking powder.
  2. Then add all remaining ingredients.
  3. The texture of the dough should be close to a very thick crepe batter. Adjusting the quantity of water accordingly.
  4. Let stand 6 hours at room temperature.
  5. Using a pastry bag with small tip or a plastic squeeze bottle, fry the jalebi in a spiral shape in hot oil.
Sugar syrup
  1. Put the water, cardamom, saffron and sugar in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil until the syrup begins to thicken.
  2. Remove from heat.
  3. While stirring, pour the lemon juice, honey and rose water.
  4. Immediately return to the heat and boil again, stirring constantly. Remove the pan from the heat at the first signs of boiling. Let cool.
  5. Soak the jilapi generously in the syrup.