Handesh: Traditional rice flour & date mollases snack. This is very popular during Eid! This is my mother's recipe. There are different ways of making these- some people prefer to use sugar but for me it has to be handesh made with mollases. This snack bring backs good memories from Eid days with my parents and siblings. I remember my mum used to make them fresh for us when my dad came home from his Eid prayers. This can also be teared into small pieces and served in hot milk.
Here are the ingredients I use.
You can use the block of molasses pieces. To use this, you will have to melt it in a pot with bit of water on low heat. If you use this method for the molasses then the mixture will be a bit more runnier, so you will need less water for the mixture.
Add 2 cups of fine rice flour then add one cup of plain flour.
Add the molasses paste. If you want the colour of the handesh to be lighter then add less molasses and a bit more of the sugar. Taste the mixture as you go and adjust as required.
Gradually add the warm water to the bowl.
Whisk as you add the water.
Keep whisking. It should start to look like this. Add more water slowly.
The mixture shouldn't be too thick or too runny.
Once the mixture looks like this, whisk with an electric whisk. If you don't have a electric one then just carry on with the manual one. If the mixture still seems too thick then add a bit more water and carry on whisking until it's smooth.
Should look like this. Leave this to rest for 4-5 hours if you have time. If you leave it to rest, give it a good whisk again before frying.
Try the mixture to check the sweetness, if it's not sweet enough then add more sugar to your taste and whisk again.
If you leave the mixture in the fridge overnight, then take it out couple of hours before frying to bring it down to room temperature. Give it a good whisk before frying.
Put the mixture in a small jug before frying so it's easier to put in the oil in batches.
Add enough oil to deep fry. Make sure the oil is very hot and on high heat before you add it in. Make sure you use new clean oil for the handesh.
Gently place the mixture in- you can do a few at a time. The gas should be on high heat.
The bottom will start to get solid and it will start to rise up. Once it starts to rise up, you can put the gas down a bit for 1-2 minutes so the inside cooks.
After 1-2 minutes, put the gas up and turn them around.
When you turn them over, it should look like this.
Repeat the cooking process for the other sides until they look done.
Once they look done, take them out and drain on a tissue paper in a bowl.
Repeat the cooking process for the remaining mixture.
All done. These are best served hot.
These can be heated up in a pan before serving anytime.
Enjoy!
Servings 10