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A traditional Indian sweet made of delicately layered, crispy pastry, deep-fried to golden perfection and soaked in a fragrant sugar syrup. This flaky dessert is a festive favorite, known for its incredible texture.
Prepare the Dough
Make the Layering Paste (Satha)
Shape the Khaja
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A traditional Indian sweet made of delicately layered, crispy pastry, deep-fried to golden perfection and soaked in a fragrant sugar syrup. This flaky dessert is a festive favorite, known for its incredible texture.
This indian recipe takes 60 minutes to prepare and yields 6 servings. At 440.6 calories per serving with 4.55g of protein, it's a moderately challenging recipe perfect for dessert or snack.
Fry the Khajas
Prepare the Sugar Syrup
Soak and Finish
Add a few strands of saffron or a teaspoon of rose water to the sugar syrup for a more fragrant and royal flavor.
Garnish the khajas with finely chopped pistachios, almonds, or dried rose petals after dipping them in syrup.
To make a vegan version, replace the ghee with an equal amount of vegetable shortening or coconut oil.
The combination of refined flour and sugar provides a quick source of carbohydrates, which the body converts into energy. This makes it a potent energy booster, ideal for festive occasions.
Indulging in traditional sweets like Khaja is often associated with celebrations and happiness. Consuming such treats can trigger the release of endorphins, promoting a sense of well-being and comfort.
The most common reason for soggy khajas is frying them at too high a temperature. They must be fried slowly on low heat to cook through and become crisp. Another reason could be a sugar syrup that is too thin, which makes them absorb too much moisture.
To get beautiful layers, roll each dough circle as thinly as you can. Apply the 'satha' (ghee-rice flour paste) evenly between each layer and, most importantly, roll the final log as tightly as possible.
Once completely cooled, store Khaja in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh and crispy for up to two weeks.
Yes, you can easily make this recipe vegan by substituting the ghee with vegetable shortening, coconut oil, or any neutral-flavored vegetable oil.
Sugar syrup can crystallize if it's overcooked or if there are sugar crystals on the side of the pan. Adding a small amount of lemon juice, as mentioned in the recipe, helps prevent crystallization by breaking down the sucrose.
Khaja is a traditional festive dessert and is not considered a health food. It is high in calories, refined carbohydrates, and fats due to being deep-fried and soaked in sugar syrup. It should be enjoyed in moderation as a special treat.
One serving of Khaja, which is approximately 3 pieces (115g), contains around 590 calories. The exact number can vary based on the amount of ghee and sugar syrup absorbed.