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Chanar Jilipi (Cottage Cheese Jalebi)

Chanar Jilipi, paneer caressed with oodles of love, fried in ghee over a lazy languorous flame and soaked in sugar syrup. Decadent !!!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Bengali

Ingredients
  

  • 200 g homemade chana (believe me, it's worth the effort making chana/paneer at home for this one. Paneer bought from stores, however fresh, just doesn't yield the same results !!!)
  • 2 tbsps milk
  • 2 tbsps semolina
  • 1.5 tbsps plain flour
  • 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
  • a pinch of baking powder
  • 2 - 3 green cardamom
  • 2 tbsp ghee
  • oil for frying
  • 1 cups sugar For the sugar syrup
  • 2 cups water For the sugar syrup

Instructions
 

  • Soak the semolina in milk, keep aside.
  • Take the chana in a bowl, crumble it using your fingers. Add the flour, soaked semolina, 2 tsp ghee, baking powder and cardamom powder to the crumbled chana.
  • Knead well till the dough comes out of the bowl smooth and your palm looks oily. About 8-10 odd minutes of exercise I would reckon :) :).
  • Now tear small balls from the dough, roll them very gently using your palms to the form of cylindrical rope. Lift both ends of the dough and gently give it a spiral shape.
  • Heat oil and ghee in a deep pan, fry the jilipis over a medium flame (this is the golden rule - the oil should be neither too hot nor too cold) till they are a gorgeous golden brown. Take the jilipis off the heat and drain on an absorbent towel. Keep aside.
  • For the sugar syrup, take the water in a pan, add the sugar and crushed cardamoms. Bring to a gentle boil till the syrup is thick. You should feel the thickness, when you dip your finger in it.
  • Once the syrup is ready, add the fried jilipis to it. Cover and allow to rest for at least 2-3 hours for the jilipis to soak in the sugar syrup.
  • Serve it warm or at room temperature.