Malpua

Malpuva in Marathi

Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 8 to 10 malpuas

Ingredients:
Pancakes::
1 cup All purpose flour (Maida)
3/4 cup Khova
2 tbsp semolina (rava/ sooji)
1 pinch baking soda
1.5 cups milk (room temperature)
1 pinch of salt
2 pinches saunf
Sugar Syrup::
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 tsp cardamom powder
1 pinch saffron
For garnishing::
2 tbsp pistachio, crushed coarsely
Few saffron strands
1/2 cup ghee (tip)

Method:
1) Take a medium bowl. Add maida, khova, semolina, milk, and salt. Mix well. To make it smooth, blend it in a blender for 15 seconds. After blending, add saunf. Keep it aside for 15 minutes. Consistency of the batter should be similar to idli batter, medium thick and free-flowing.
2) To make sugar syrup, add sugar, cardamom powder and water into a saucepan. Boil for 5 to 6 minutes. Dip a spoon in the sugar syrup and put a small drop in a plate. Once it's handleable, pinch it between index finger and thumb. If you see a single thread then the sugar syrup is ready. If you don't see any thread, then boil for a couple more minutes. When you get the one thread consistency sugar syrup, turn the heat to very low to keep the it warm.
3) Once sugar syrup is ready, start making pancakes for malpua. Take the batter and add a pinch of baking soda. Mix well.
4) Heat a small frying pan. Add a tbsp of ghee. Once ghee is hot, turn the heat between medium and high. Add a ladleful of batter and spread gently. Flip to the other side. Cook both the sides well.
5) Transfer immediately to the sugar syrup. Soak for 2 minutes, garnish with pistachios and saffron. Serve hot.
Likewise prepare all the malpuas.

Tips:
1) Malpua tastes delicious only if eaten warm and fresh. It will loose its taste and texture if kept for longer.
2) I have shallow fried malpuas with as little ghee as i could. You can fry malpuas in the ghee. In that case, you may need more ghee.
3) Do not fry malpuas in oil. It won't taste good.
4) Malpuas can be served alongwith some rabdi.
5) Try to make thin malpuas. Thin malpuas taste much better than thick malpuas. Hence adjust the batter consistency accordingly.