Navratri Recipe: Malpua

Welcome to the fourth day of Navratri, or Chaturti. Today, it’s not about a special ingredient. It’s about a very specific dish. Chaturthi is dedicated to Goddess Kushmanda. She birthed the universe and light by producing the cosmic egg from her smile, and she resides within the core of the sun. She is worshipped as the creator of the entire Brahmand (universe).

On this day, malpua is offered as bhog to the goddess. It is believed to improve the devotee’s mental ability and decision-making power. Malpua traditionally uses khoya or evaporated milk. It’s soaked in sugar syrup, garnished with nuts and topped with a creamy dessert called rabri. Come, taste the warm glory of freshly-made malpua. You will understand why even the Gods decree it must be made during Navratri!

Preparation time: 30 min

Cooking time: 24 min

Servings: 4 portions

Ingredients:

For rabri:

• 1 litre milk
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ tsp saffron
• 1 tsp pistachios
• 1 tsp almonds
• 1 tsp cardamom powder
• 1.5 tsp cornstarch

For sugar syrup:

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• 1 saffron
• 1 tsp cardamom powder

For malpua:

• 1 cup maida
• ¼ cup semolina
• ½ cup khoya
• 2 tsp sugar (powdered)
• 1 tsp saunf
• 1 cup water
• 2 cups ghee

Preparation:

Rabri:

1. Mix all ingredients in a microwave-safe glass bowl ensuring no lumps are formed. Heat for 4 min at 80% micropower till the mixture turns saucy.

Sugar syrup:

1. Mix all ingredients in a microwave-safe glass bowl. Heat at 100% micropower for 8 min. Keep aside once done.

Malpua:

1. Take maida in a bowl, add sooji, khoya along with powdered sugar and saunf, followed by water. Whisk all of it together. Keep adding water to make a creamy-like mixture.

2. Preheat the magic tawa on H2 mode for 2 min and pour 1 tbsp of malpua batter. Heat further on H2 mode for 10 min.

3. Immerse malpuas in the sugar syrup for about 10-15 min.

4. Put rabri on top and serve.