Angoori Kesar Petha

How to make Angoori Kesar Petha, Indian sweet - Kesar Petha - Petha Recipe - Famous Indian Dessert - Agra Petha - Indian Sweet made with ash gourd 

Agra is famous for two things - Taj Mahal  and Petha. Taj Mahal,  one of the most beautiful monuments is one of the wonders of the world and Agra Ka Petha is the world famous sweet from the northern State of Uttar Pradesh (India).

My today's blog post recipe is a variation of the famous Indian Sweet - Agra Ka Petha. Sharing step by step pictorial guide as how to make Angoori Kesar Petha.

Angoori Kesar Petha is a sweet, tempting, translucent, soft and chewy Indian sweet recipe. 

Petha  sweet is made from ash gourd which is also known as winter melon and white gourd . Petha sweet is usually rectangular and cylindrical in shape.

☑ Why this recipe is named as Angoori Kesar Petha?

Angoor is a hindi word which means grapes. In this petha sweet recipe, cylinderical and round shape is given to ash gourd and then it is cooked in saffron syrup that's why recipe is named as Angoori Kesar Petha.

The action plan for this Angoori Kesar petha recipe is to  soak the peeled and scooped ash gourd in alum water and then rinse and boil and cook the ash gourd balls in the saffron flavored sugar syrup..

☑ Let's get started 

• Recipe details 
• Cuisine -  Indian 
• Type - Dessert 
• Soaking time - 2 hours
• Preparation time - 15-20 min
• Cook time -  15-20 min
• Yield 10-12  balls

☑ Ingredients required 

• 350 grams ash gourd /Indian Pumpkin *** refer note below
• 150-200 grams sugar
• ¼ tsp alum (Phitakari) or slaked lime (Paan chuna)
• 3-5 Saffron threads 

*** I have used  red Indian pumpkin for this recipe as that was available to me, but for this recipe best suited Pumpkin is ash gourd - white pumpkin..

☑ Method 

♨ Step 1 Mise en place

◾Ash Gourd -  Peeled - de-seeded  - Scooped out small balls - stab each ball with the help of a fork or knife in a few places -  and then soak in alum water for 2 hours (add ¼ tsp alum or paan chuna).

☑ Step 2 Rinse nicely and boil  

◾After 2 hours, drain the water from ash gourd balls and rinse nicely under running tap water. Boil 3 cups water in a saucepan, add rinsed balls and cook on high flame for 3-4 minutes, until soft and transparent. Drain the water from the balls and keep aside until called for..

☑ Step 3 Sugar Syrup

◾Prepare sugar syrup  of two thread  consistency by adding 50 - 70 ml water, sugar and saffron.. Add ash gourd balls and cook on high flame for 3-5 minutes until nicely cooked and transparent.  Switch off the gas stove and leave it to cool completely. Allow the balls to stay in this syrup for 30-35 minutes.. 

◾Take out the balls and keep them in colander or grill pan and leave it to dry for 3  -  4 hours. Our Angoori Kesar Petha is ready to dish out..