Makkan peda recipe | diwali sweet recipes | with instant gulab jamun mix

Makkan peda is a famous sweet from North Arcot District of Tamilnadu. As it is the native town of my in laws side i have heard about this sweet a lot. Generally it is made out of Khoya, as how we make KHOYA JAMUNS and it is stuffed with nuts. But i wanted to try out this with Instant gulab jamuns mix. As i know, in many housed Gulab jamun is a compulsory one for diwali and so give it a slight variation and try out this Arcot famous Sweet Makkan peda for this Diwali.

PREPARATION TIME:20 MINUTES . COOKING TIME: 30 MINUTES . YIELDS: 14 PEDAS

INGREDIENTS:

GULAB JAMUN MIX	1 CUP
SUGAR	1 AND 1/2 CUP
MILK	3-4 TBLSP
BAKING SODA	A PINCH
DRY FRUITS*	2-3 TBLSP
WATER FOR SUGAR SYRUP	1AND 1/2 CUPS
OIL	TO DEEP FRY
GHEE	1-2 TSP

*I added pista,cashew nuts,pumpkin seeds. I finely chopped the nuts.

METHOD:

• Chop the nuts finely. Sieve the jamun mix and add the baking soda to this.

• Use milk to knead the jamun mix into a soft dough without any cracks.
• cover this and keep it aside for 10 minutes.
• In a pan add the sugar and water. Heat this till the sugar dissolves.
• When the sugar gets completely dissolved switch off the flame.

• Now start making jamuns. Take a small lemon sized portion of the jamun dough and grease your hands with ghee. Roll this into a smooth ball and place a hole in the center.

• Place some chopped nuts into this and close the stuffing like how we do for modak.

• Meanwhile heat the oil for deep frying. When it is hot, bring down the flame to low.
• Flatten the stuffed jamun like a peda. Fry this in a very low flame and drain excess oil in a kitchen towel. The jamuns tend to expand in oil adn  even after putting in syrup. so make it bit small.

• Repeat the same for the rest of the dough. Keep the dough covered all the time till u make the pedas.
• Now heat the sugar syrup again for 2 minutes.
• Switch off the flame and soak these jamun balls in the syrup for 2 hours.
• I forgot to click the pictures of peda in soaked syrup.
• Serve chilled or as it as.
• Garnish with some nuts while serving.          

NOTES:

• Always keep the jamun dough covered to avoid drying and getting cracks.
• You can add raisins ( dry grapes) in the stuffing.
• Always ensure that the sugar syrup is warm while adding the fried balls.