The variety of Indian sweets and desserts available in Indian sweet shops is mind-boggling. There is nothing similar in the Western culture. Every Indian festival and every happy occasion is celebrated by distributing sweets to family, friends, and neighbors.
Traditional Indian sweets come in multiple shapes, sizes, flavors, and colors. Some common categories, with endless permutations and combinations, are: barfi, halwa, laddu, and kheer or payasam as it’s called in South India.
Barfi is a cake-like sweet. It is usually some variation of thickened milk combined with different nuts and fruits, and cooked until all moisture is evaporated. Halwa is like a thick and dry porridge, and made with cream of wheat, and different flours and fruits. Laddu is made with different flours, grains, and nuts and shaped into small balls. Kheer or payasam is like a pudding, and usually contains milk.
Many sweets are made with khoa (mava) — fresh milk is boiled and cooked down until all water evaporates, leaving a thick, creamy dough, somewhat like fudge. It’s time-consuming to make khoa, but it adds a rich, creamy texture to barfis and other sweets.
Other popular sweets and desserts are made with cottage cheese and served in flavored sugar syrup, such as rasagullah and ras malai.
Many of these retro sweets and desserts are high in calories and fat, so moderation is key when consuming these rich desserts. Use low-fat alternatives when possible, and cut down the frequency and quantity of sweets you consume to maintain good health.
Here are some Indian desserts that are wonderful and quite easy to make. Try this traditional Kheer (rice pudding), or browse below for more recipes.
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