India’s affair with sweets and desserts is not new. From the sweet sakkarai pongal to the ghee-enriched asoka halwa, there are many marvelous Indian creations that can make any sweet lover get hooked for life. So let’s rediscover some delicious Indian desserts worth trying; we are sure you will love them. Pinky Promise!
For most Indians, desserts are a regular part of their cuisine and are consumed daily. Yes, you read it right!
These Desserts or sweets are made with good quality milk products like yogurt, cream, and butter and are sweetened with sugar or syrup and may include nuts. As these desserts only consist of satvik or pure items, they are also offered to the deities and used during religious celebrations & festivals.
Most of these desserts are very different from western desserts, and although they can look a bit different, Indian desserts are delicious and should receive your attention. If you are a sweet tooth person, traditional Indian desserts are worth discovering. These desserts are extremely common in Indian food culture and you can find them listed on menus at almost all Indian restaurants and in street food vendors across the country.
These Indian desserts taste mostly sweet because they are made from a mixture of dairy and sugar. Still, some of them can also be sour in nature because of the presence of fruits such as mangoes and lemons, while others can have a whole new taste due to spices like saffron & cardamom.
Let us have a look at the different types of desserts which you can give a shot without having further thoughts:
Asoka Halwa
With a smooth, glossy texture, this halwa will just melt in your mouth, and before you know it, you will already be in love with it. It is also known as moong dal halwa in many parts of India. This dessert is extremely famous in Thiruvaiyaru, a place in Thanjavur district Tamilnadu; this dessert is mostly served at weddings there.
It is a delicious sweet prepared using moong dal, all-purpose flour, ghee, and sugar. Whether Diwali, Birthday, or any other festive occasion, this halwa takes all the attention. Because of its amazing taste, this dessert finds its place in almost all places and amongst all age groups. Indulge in this yummy halwa, and you can taste many flavors in just one spoon.
Sakkarai Pongal
Sakkarai Pongal, also known as Sweet rice pongal, is one of India’s most common & traditional sweets. For any festival or auspicious occasion, sakkarai pongal must be there. Rice, moong dal, jaggery, and ghee are the main ingredients for this dessert. In India, this Sakkarai Pongal is made with Paal Pongal or Ven Pongal & Special five Vegetables on the famous Pongal festival.
This sweet treat is shared with family & friends. With its creamy and porridge-style texture, Sweet Pongal is one of the favourite dishes savoured in Tamil Nadu, especially during festivals. Rice and dal are cooked and mashed, mixed with jaggery juice and ghee to get ghee-dripping, melt-in-mouth Sakkarai Pongal!! As all of us know, Desserts can make you go wow. It’s a warm blanket on a cold winter evening, and without a doubt, Indian desserts come on top of the list. So next time you crave a sweet treat, don’t forget India’s favourite, Sakkarai Pongal.
Gulab Jamun
Happiness comes in round shapes. This dessert got its name from two words: gulab, meaning rose, and jamun, referring to the purple-colored jamun berry fruit. This good old dessert is made with khoya, fried golden, and dipped in saffron-induced sugar syrup.
This dessert is an all-time favourite of all Indians, and you can find them in almost every Indian Household at any given point of time. Seriously! This dessert is present in almost 90% of weddings. Gulab Jamun is the people’s favorite choice to keep at their parties. It is a delicacy popular in every state of India and a savoured dish in every nook of the country.
Often served along with garnishing of dried nuts like almonds to enhance flavor, this famous dessert can be found at multiple festivals, weddings, birthdays, etc. This is possibly the most popular dessert in India. Being super sweet and sticky, these spongy balls are wickedly irresistible!
Kulfi
As the name suggests, Kulfi can keep you cool all day long. The ice cream cum dessert is characterized by its unusual, conical shape, which is actually the result of using traditional, special molds with tight-fitting lids.
Kulfi is made with traditional Indian ingredients such as pistachio, rose water, and saffron. It can sometimes also consist of flavor fruits such as berries. It is believed that Kulfi was invented by the ancient inhabitants of the Himalayas.
Don’t get confused; there are major differences between Kulfi and regular ice cream. Because of its making process, Kulfi has less air and is denser than regular ice cream. The milk with which it is made gets more concentrated through cooking.
These cool kulfis can be found in any Indian street stall, sold by vendors called kulfiwalas. Today you can get amazing flavors like Malai, Kesar Pista, and Gulkand to all new exotic flavors of kulfis like Blueberry, Coffee Walnut, and Roasted Almond. Sometimes, it can also be served as falooda kulfi, with thin noodles and dried fruits.
Carrot Halwa
Just wake up any Indian in their sleep and question them about their fond memories of the Winter season??
You will get only one answer, that is Gajar Ka Halwa or as you know, carrot Halwa.
Made usually during winters, this sweet pudding has a mild sweetness, and the combination of flavors can simply blow your mind. Amazing striking colour, with an enchanting aroma and great taste and flavour, these Gajar ka Halwa are a perfect go-to dessert for any occasion.
The grated carrots are slowly cooked by simmering them in full-fat milk and then sweetened with sugar and flavouring with cardamom powder and cooked in desi ghee or clarified butter which gives it a unique aroma and taste. These are served garnished with chopped nuts.
It is one dessert that no one can say no to.
Sweets & desserts are an integral part of Indian cuisine. There’s a wide variety of Indian desserts, made from all kinds of ingredients, like condensed milk, nuts, fruits, flour, and more. If you are living abroad and missing your Indian sweets or want to try something new, Indian desserts should be on top of your list.
You can also check out the madras diaries for their extremely authentic taste. Based in Amsterdam, this Indian restaurant understands your love for Indian food and brings authenticity and great taste to your palate. You will also be transported back to India due to their restaurants’ vibrant and colourful design aspects. Be it Crispy Indian Dosa to Soft-Soft idli; this restaurant has it all.
If you have a sweet tooth, Indian desserts are the best option to satisfy your cravings!
