Gulab Jamun
If you've got ghee, green cardamom pods and chopped pistachios, you're most of the way to this Indian dessert: about 60 minutes of cooking across 6 steps. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 6 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and saucepan. At medium difficulty across 6 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (3)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Make the syrup first by simmering the sugar, water and lightly crushed cardamom pods for about 5 to 6 minutes until slightly sticky but not thread-stage, then stir in the rose water and keep warm.
- In a bowl whisk together the milk powder, flour and baking soda, then rub in the soft ghee until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
- Add the milk a spoon at a time and gently bring it together into a soft, slightly tacky dough, then rest it covered for 8 to 10 minutes so the milk powder hydrates.
- With greased palms roll the dough into 16 smooth, crack-free balls, keeping them small as they nearly double when fried.
- Heat the oil to a low 120 to 130C, then fry the balls in batches, moving them constantly, for 6 to 8 minutes until deep golden brown and cooked through to the centre.
- Drop the hot jamuns straight into the warm (not boiling) syrup and soak for at least 1 to 2 hours so they swell and turn spongy, then serve warm or at room temperature garnished with pistachios.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Saucepan · Whisk
Ingredient substitutions
- Milk
- any unsweetened plant milk · ½ cup evaporated milk + ½ cup water
What to serve with Gulab Jamun
- Aloo Gobi Vegan
- Butter Chicken Chicken
- Chana Masala Vegan
- Dal Tadka Vegetarian
Tips & common questions
How long does Gulab Jamun take to make?
About 60 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 11 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of milk?
Try any unsweetened plant milk. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Gulab Jamun vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Gulab Jamun is an original Indian recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Gulab jamun with rose.jpg by Nilesh0355, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.