Jalebi recipe – A quick and easy sweet recipe under 30 mins. Learn how to make Jalebi that are crispy, juicy & delicious. Jalebi is one of the most popular desserts from Indian subcontinent. Similar to Gulab jamun, jalebi too makes its appearance during weddings, celebrations & festivals. They are much popular as a street food and is also sold in Sweet shops or mithai shops.
Jalebi can be made for any festivals like Diwali, Holi & Eid.
I make jalebi twice a year during my kids’ holidays as they love them a lot. This time I made it during dussehra & took the pictures to share with you all.
Making jalebi at home is easy and can also be made by a beginner. If you are new to Indian cuisine these faqs may help you:
What is jalebi?
Jalebi is a spiral shaped crisp & juicy sweet that is made of all purpose flour, gram flour and sugar syrup.
How to make Jalebi?
To make jalebi, firstly a batter is prepared using flour. Then it is fermented for several hours to acquire a unique fermented flavor.
Then the batter is poured to spirals or concentric circles in the hot oil. They are fried until crisp and then immersed in sugar syrup.
There are 2 ways to make Jalebi:
- 1. Traditional method made by fermenting the batter.
- 2. Instant version without fermentation.
I have shared tips to make both the methods in this post.
How to make best jalebi
The key to making crisp juicy & light jalebis is the consistency of batter. You can make amazing jalebi at home if your batter is prepared correctly. The consistency of the batter must be free flowing yet thick.
I have this image to help you understand and fix the consistency if you have trouble making it right.
- 1. Shrunk jalebi – over fried or fried on low heat.
- 2. Flat jalebis – oil not hot enough, made on low heat.
- 3. Thin & flat – runny batter
- 4. Thick & soft jalebi – Too thick batter
I have shared how to fix the batter consistency in the recipe below.
More Diwali Sweets recipes
Rasgulla
Gulab jamun
Kaju katli
Rasamalai
Step-by-step photos
Preparation
1. You will need a squeezable sauce bottle or oil dispenser or zip lock bags. A dispenser with a sharp tip works better. For readers in Singapore: I bought it in mustafa 2 yrs ago. You can find similar ones there.
Before proceeding further decide on which method to follow. Fermented or instant. I made a few times following the fermented method the results were good but it is hard for me to follow the schedules like planning and keeping the kids waiting.
So I love the instant method. I felt there is no difference in flavor due to the addition of curd.
If you prefer to go by the fermented method, then make the batter the previous night. Make the sugar syrup just before frying the jalebis. If following the instant method just follow the steps as is in the same order mentioned below.
Making sugar syrup for jalebi recipe
2. Add sugar to a pot. Avoid cast iron pans like the one I used as it quickly crystallizes the syrup.
3. Pour water.
4. Boil the syrup until it reaches a 1 string consistency.
5. To check take a small portion of sugar syrup in between your thumb & fore finger. Gently move the fingers apart, you must see a single string. I took it off a bit early as it continues to cook in cast iron pans.
6. Pour 1 tsp lemon juice. Add in saffron (optional) and cardamoms. Mix & Set this aside.
Making batter for jalebi recipe
7. Add maida, corn flour & turmeric. If fermenting then add besan instead of cornflour.
8. Mix well and add curd. You can skip the curd and ferment the batter for 12 to 24 hours until a slightly sour flavor develops.
9. Start by adding 1/4 cup water. Use more as needed.
10. Make a thick smooth batter by mixing. Use more water as needed.
11. Beat the batter well with a whisk for 4 to 5 mins in circular motion. The batter will turn smooth.
12. You may get a thick batter like this with a ribbon consistency. This is not the consistency we want, So sprinkle more water as needed. The batter has to be free flowing & moderately thick but not too thick.
13. Add lemon juice and mix. If fermenting, skip lemon juice.
Frying jalebi
14. Heat ghee or oil for frying. If using oil, then add 1 to 2 tbsp of ghee to the oil. This enhances the flavor.
15. When the oil is heating up, add soda to the batter. Give a gentle mix.
16. Spoon few tbsps of batter to sauce bottle. The oil has to be hot enough and the flame medium high. Check if the oil is hot by dropping a small portion of batter in the oil. It has to rise immediately without browning.
17. Make one jalebi and check the consistency. If it turns out thick then, sprinkle some water and thin down the batter a bit. If it is thin and flat, then add 1 tbsp maida and mix. For more details check the pic in the FAQ. Fry them on a medium high flame until crisp.
18. The last 1 minute I fry them on a low heat as this helps them to keep crisp for a little longer. Remove with a skewer.
19. Add to the slightly hot to warm sugar syrup. If the syrup has crystallized or turned cold. Then add 1 tsp water and heat up. Soak the jalebis for 2 to 3 mins.
Please note that adding jalebis to very hot syrup will turn them soft. Ensure the syrup is not warm.
20. Remove to a plate and spread them. Pour the entire batter to the sauce bottle and make more jalebi.
Serve jalebi hot or warm.
How is Jalebi served?
Jalebi is eaten without any side across India. But in some regions it is also eaten with milk, rabri, curd or fafda.
Related Recipes
Recipe
Jalebi recipe | How to make jalebi
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )
For jalebi
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (organic maida) 125 grams
- 2 tablespoons corn flour (or besan if fermenting batter) (16 grams)
- 1/8 teaspoon turmeric or use natural food color
- ½ cup curd (plain yogurt) (or water if fermenting batter) (120 ml)
- ½ cup water (more if needed) (120 ml)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda (or 1 large pinch for fermented batter)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- oil or ghee as needed
For sugar syrup
- 1 cup sugar (use organic) (200 grams)
- ½ to ¾ cup water (I used ½ + 2 tbsps) (120 ml to 180 ml)
- 1 pinch saffron or kesar optional
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder or elaichi powder
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Equipment needed
- 1 sauce bottle or Zip lock bag or cloth bag
Instructions
Making sugar syrup
- Add sugar and water to a pot.
- Boil on a medium heat until it reaches a 1 string consistency.
- Take a small portion of the syrup in a spoon. Cool it slightly.
- Take it in between your thumb and fore finger.
- Gently move the fingers away from each other, you must see a single string.
- Pour lemon juice, cardamom powder and saffron. Remove from heat. Stir and set aside.
- If your syrup goes beyond this stage, then sprinkle some water and mix. Recheck for the 1 string consistency.
Make batter for jalebi – follow A or B
- A. Method 1: For Instant jalebi : Add maida, cornflour and turmeric to a mixing bowl. Mix everything well until uniform. Next add curd. Pour water & make a thick lump free batter. The batter has to be thick but of flowing consistency. If needed add more water. Beat the batter well with a whisk in one direction in a circular motion for 4 mins. The batter will turn smooth.
OR
- B. Method 2: For fermentation : Mix together maida, besan & turmeric in a bowl. Pour water & make a thick batter of pouring consistency. Cover and ferment for 12 to 24 hours until the batter gets a very mild sour flavor. The batter will not rise, but will have tiny bubbles on top.
How to make jalebi
- Heat ghee or oil on a medium heat to fry jalebis.
- If using oil, then add 1 to 2 tbsp ghee to the oil. This enhances the flavor.
- Pour 1 tsp lemon juice to the batter & mix. Skip the lemon juice if you have fermented the batter.
- Add soda and mix gently just until combined.
- Check batter consistency: The prepared batter must be smooth free flowing and thick. Spoon just 2 to 3 tbsp of batter to the sauce bottle to check if the consistency is right.
- Next check if the oil is hot enough by dropping a small portion of the batter. It has to come up immediately without browning.
- Now squeeze the bottle gently and move in circular motion to get spiral. If you are getting very thick jalebi, then the batter is thick. Next if you are getting very thin flat jalebis the batter is thin.
- To fix thick batter, add a tbsp or more water. Next to fix thin batter, add a tbsp of maida (all purpose flour). Take a look at the pic in the FAQ section to fix the batter.
- Mix the batter well. Spoon it to the bottle.
Frying jalebi
- Ensure oil is hot and the flame set to medium high heat.
- Squeeze in the batter gently in circular motions starting from the center moving outside.
- You can also do it the other way. You will get properly shaped ones after making a few.
- While the jalebi is getting fried, check the syrup. It must be slightly hot to warm when the jalebi is dipped into it. If not heat up a bit.
- The last 1 minute, turn the flame to low and fry the jalebi. This helps to make them extra crisp.
- When the jalebi is done it turns crisp. Remove it with a skewer and add to the warm sugar syrup directly.
- Allow to rest for 2 mins. Remove to a plate. Continue to make more jalebis.
- Serve jalebi hot.
NUTRITION (estimation only)
Notes
Turmeric doesn’t affect the flavour. It is just for color.
I added 1 tsp water to the sugar syrup and heated a bit when ever it turned cold & crystallized. I did it thrice for the entire recipe.
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
© Swasthi’s Recipes
Monika says
Hi Swasthi,
Happy Vijayadashami/Dussehra! Is there a substitute for corn flour/starch?
swasthi says
Hi Monika,
Happy Vijayadashami! Not sure but wheat flour or rice flour may work.
Thanks for the wishes!
🙂
Aishani Das says
Is adding the soda essential if we are using the fermentation method?
swasthi says
Yes 1 large pinch for fermented batter.
Suhasini says
Hi Swasthi
I was wanting to try the recipe for a long time. Given my set of frying skills was a bit skeptical. My first attempt has been fairly decent I feel and the taste is also nice. We did like it. Happy to have a response from you and giving a positive and constructive feedback on the jalebi. Hoping in a few more trials I will get it bang on. Detailed recipe given by you step wise is easy for a first timer like me to follow.
Thankyou so much. Please do keep updating your new recipes. We all look forward to it.
swasthi says
Hi Suhasini
You are welcome! Glad they turned out good. Thanks for sharing the pictures. Yes you need to practice it a bit.
Suhasini says
Hi Swasthi
I was wanting to try the recipe for a long time. Given my set of frying skills was a bit skeptical. My first attempt has been fairly decent I feel and the taste is also nice. We did like it. Happy to have a response from you and giving a positive and constructive feedback on the jalebi. Hoping in a few more trials I will get it bang on. Detailed recipe given by you step wise is easy for a first timer like me to follow.
Thankyou so much. Please do keep updating your new recipes. We all look forward to it.
Fatima says
I am very interested in trying out the fermented version, which must be healthier because the fermentation process breaks down the carbohydrates and makes it much more digestible ( like idli and dosa!) I wonder if you could replace the sugar syrup with honey? That would make it sugar free as well. Thanks, any response is much appreciated
swasthi says
I haven’t tried with honey anytime. I don’t think it will be absorbed by the jalebi unless it is diluted. Not sure if it works.
Vishnu says
Great recipes Swasthi. Nice details and tips are what makes all the difference. Kudos
swasthi says
Thank you so much!
Bishnupriya p says
Hii great recipe. I always following your recipes 🙏🙏
swasthi says
Hi Bishnupriya
Thank you so much!
🙂
Surbhi says
Perfect recipe.. I have made jalebis using your recipe so many times and every time they are just so good
Thank you so much for sharing the recipe !!!!
swasthi says
Welcome Surbhi.
Glad to know! Thanks for leaving a comment!
🙂
Stefan says
SI
swasthi says
Thanks Stefan
Aditi says
Thanks for sharing Swathi Ji. It came out wonderful.
swasthi says
Glad to know Aditi
Shweta Agarwal says
Hi ,I tried your Apple sponge cake.it turned out to be really spongy and tasty.
swasthi says
Glad to know Shweta
Priya says
They texture came our well! But it so does NOT taste like jalebis. I think one should avoid the besan. ☹️
swasthi says
Hi Priya,
Besan is used only for fermentation method and not for instant method. Fermented batter will not have the flavor of besan at all.
Meera says
Can we use vinegar instead of lemon in batter and chasni for avoiding crystillisation.
swasthi says
Sugar syrup will have vinegar flavor. So better to use lemon juice for syrup. For the batter it should work but not sure about the flavor
Ruhi says
Hi Swathi.
Thank you for the recipe. It came out rather well. Crisp and held the shape. Would like to check two things. One, my Jalebis weren’t juicy from the insides. The syrup made a thick coating outside but wasn’t incorporated from within. Why could this be? Second what does baking soda do to this recipe and at what stage should it be added for the fermentation method? Thank you!
swasthi says
Hello Ruhi,
Glad to know!
1. I guess the sugar syrup got a bit thick. By the time it cools down a bit, it turns thick. As I mentioned in the post, sprinkle some water and check the consistency again. Thicker syrup will just not be absorbed by the jalebis.
2. I add the soda to the fermented batter just before making the jalebis. Soda makes the jalebis lighter from inside. You can feel like it is partially hallow inside when they are properly done. If they don’t turn lighter then the syrup will not be absorbed.
Sorry for the delay. Hope this helps.
Jayashree says
Very nicely explained.And sincerely too.
swasthi says
Thank you!
🙂
Naazira says
Hi
The dish came out well. Taste was superb. But the jalebi were transparent n doubled up in size while trying. What might have went wrong.
swasthi says
Hi Naazira,
Too much leavening or over fermenting the batter can make them very airy and transparent. Give it another try!
🙂
Swapna says
Hi Swasthi,
Thankyou for this wonderful recipe…My Jalebis came very well…Everyone relished those…Can’t Thankyou enough…
swasthi says
Hi Swapna
You are welcome! Glad to know!
Shazeyah says
is bicarbonate of soda the same as baking soda?
swasthi says
Yes it is the same
Mahira says
What can be the alternative of baking powder in jalebi? What can I use instead of baking powder?
swasthi says
Mahira,
Do you mean baking soda? There is no baking powder used here.
Mahira says
Yes baking soda!
swasthi says
You can try with 1.5 tsps of baking powder. I haven’t tried it but it should work
VS says
Eno
Shikha kapoor says
Hi I love your recipes have tried them and very happy to see the results… enjoyed these delicious recipes… so far I have tried samosa , dosa, Bhatia’s ,paneer butter masala and now going to try jalebis..😊
Your steps are easy to follow..
swasthi says
Hi Shikha
Thank you! Glad to know the recipes turned out good. Hope you enjoy the jalebis too.
Thank you
🙂
juggy says
what is curd ??
swasthi says
It is plain yogurt
Srivani says
Hi… Can I use leftover gulab jamun sugar syp for jalebi…. In that I have added elachi powder also…
swasthi says
Hi Srivani
Yes you can reuse.