Surati Ghari Recipe

Surati Ghari Recipe

Preparation Time: 1 hour



Ingredients:-

For Filling:

• Ricotta Cheese - 1 ½ cup
• Paneer (freshly prepared cottage cheese) - ½ cup
• Condensed Milk - ½ tin
• Sugar - ½ cup
• Ghee - 2 tbsp
• Fine Semolina (sooji) - ¼ cup
• Ground Almonds and Pistachios - ¾ cup
• Cardamom pods, ground - 15
• Saffron strands, 8 to 10, soaked in 1 tsp milk

For Poori:

• All Purpose Flour (maida) - 1 cup
• Ghee (clarified butter) - 1 tbsp
• Milk for binding
• Ghee - 1 cup

For Garnish:

• Ghee - 1 cup
• Powdered Sugar - 1/3 cup
• Almonds and Pistachios, Slivered (optional)

Method:-
For Filling:

1. Heat the ghee in a kadhai (or non stick saucepan)
2. Add the ricotta cheese and paneer.
3. Stir continuously over medium heat until the cheese and paneer are thoroughly mixed and all the water is absorbed.
4. In a separate saucepan, roast the semolina for about 3-4 minutes on medium heat.
5. Add to the cheese mixture.
6. Add the condensed milk and sugar and continue to stir. The water will gradually be evaporated from the mixture.
7. Add the almonds and pistachios, once the water is evaporated. Mix thoroughly and remove from heat.
8. Mix in the ground cardamom and saffron.
9. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
10. Make balls approximately 1" in diameter.

For Poori:

1. Add the ghee to the flour and mix well. Add enough milk to bind soft yet firm dough. Make small pea sized balls and roll out to thin pooris of about 3 " in diameter.
2. Preparing the Ghari:
3. Place a ball into each poori.
4. Pull up the sides to completely wrap the ball.
5. Carefully remove the excess dough from the top and make sure to press dough to seal.
6. Slightly press the wrapped ball to make the top flat but still about almost 1" inch thick.
7. Heat the ghee in a frying pan on low heat.
8. Fry the pooris on both sides till very light golden in colour.
9. Set aside for 3-4 hours to completely cool.

Decorating the Ghari:

With clean hands, whip the sugar and ghee until light and fluffy. Dip the Gharis and place on a waxed paper lined cookie sheet. Place slivers of almonds and pistachios on the top center. Set aside for the ghee to become firm. Your Ghari is now ready to serve.

TIPS AND VARIATIONS:

1. Be very careful while frying to make sure that the Ghari doesn't stick to the bottom of the frying pan.
2. The ghee for the garnish should be firm.