N
Nira's World
🍳 Recipe Card · India
Episode · India
Gujiya
Sweet crescent-shaped dumplings stuffed with nuts and dried fruit — one of India's most beloved festival sweets. Nira made these during Holi celebrations in Jaipur!
Ingredients
The Pastry
1
1½ cups plain flour
2
3 tbsp ghee or melted butter
3
Cold water to knead (about 5–6 tbsp)
4
Pinch of salt
The Sweet Filling
1
1 cup khoya (milk solids) or firm ricotta, crumbled
2
½ cup icing sugar
3
¼ cup desiccated coconut
4
¼ cup mixed nuts — cashews, almonds, pistachios — chopped
5
2 tbsp raisins or dried cranberries
6
½ tsp cardamom powder
How to Make It
1
Make the dough. Rub ghee into flour and salt until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add cold water a little at a time and knead into a firm, smooth dough. Rest covered for 20 minutes.
2
Make the filling. Mix khoya or ricotta with all filling ingredients. Taste — it should be sweet and fragrant. Chill for 10 minutes.
3
Roll & cut. Divide dough into 20–25 small balls. Roll each into a thin circle about 8cm wide.
4
Fill & seal. Place a heaped teaspoon of filling in the centre. Fold into a half-moon. Press edges firmly and crimp with a fork or your fingers into a rope pattern.
5
Fry with a grown-up. Ask a grown-up to heat oil on medium heat. Gently lower gujiya in — don't overcrowd. Fry 4–5 minutes, turning, until golden.
6
Cool & enjoy. Drain on paper towels. Leave to cool — the filling will be very hot! Dust with a little icing sugar if you like. Best eaten the same day.
Nira's Fun Fact
Gujiya is the star sweet of Holi, India's famous festival of colours! During Holi, people throw bright coloured powder at each other, dance, sing — and then sit down to eat Gujiya. Every family has their own secret recipe passed down through generations!
🗣️
Say it in Hindi!
"Bahut swadisht hai!"
This is very delicious! · (bah-hoot swa-DISH-t hay)
India