Adding Cherries To Traditional Indian Sweets: Tips And Tricks

Cherries are a versatile fruit that can change the flavor of traditional Indian mithai. Whether you are preparing for a festival or just want to add a twist to your favorite mithai, cherries can be the secret ingredient that takes your mithai to the next level. From their color to their tart-sweet taste, cherries are a refreshing change to rich and decadent Indian desserts.

Adding cherries to your mithai is not just about garnishing; it is about texture and balance of flavors. From rich mithai like gulab jamun or lighter ones like rasgulla, cherries can be a flavor and visual pop that is hard to ignore.

You can use them fresh, preserved or even as a cherry compote depending on the mithai and your creativity in the kitchen. The key is to balance the cherries with the sweetness of the mithai and not let them overpower the classic taste you love.

Add The Sweet And Tangy Fusion Of Cherry To The Classic Rasgulla With This Recipe

A new spin on the classic rasgulla, this one has cherries to it and it is a game changer! It is a great way to introduce cherries in Indian sweets, here is how to make it:

Ingredients:

For the Rasgulla:

• 1- liter full cream milk
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 cups water

For Cherry Syrup:

• 1 cup fresh cherries
• ½ cup sugar
• ¼ cup water
• 2-3 cardamom pods
• 1-2 tbsp rose water

Method:

1. Heat the milk in a heavy-bottomed pan and bring it to a boil.
2. Once it boils, reduce the heat and add lemon juice to curdle the milk. Stir gently until the milk curdles and drain the curds using a muslin cloth.
3. Knead the chhena for 5-10 minutes until it becomes smooth and soft.
4. Divide the dough into small smooth balls, make sure there are no cracks
5. In a large pan, bring water and sugar to a boil to make a sugar syrup.
6. Add the chhena balls to the syrup gently and cook on medium heat. The balls will swell and become soft.
7. Once done, remove from heat and let the rasgullas cool in the syrup.
8. In a saucepan, combine chopped cherries, sugar, water and cardamom pods.
9. Bring it to a boil for 5-7 minutes, till the syrup is slightly thickened.
10. Once the rasgullas are cool, place them in a serving dish. Pour the cherry syrup over the rasgullas and garnish with a few pieces of fresh cherries.

6 Tips and Tricks to add Cherries to Traditional Indian Sweets

1. Use Cherry Syrup For Soaking

Cherries with sugar make a naturally sweet and tangy syrup. This syrup can be used to soak sweets like gulab jamun or rasgulla and add an extra layer of flavor. The syrup gives a fruity kick without overwhelming the sweetness of the sweets. While soaking, adjust the syrup to your taste to balance the flavor.

2. Use Fresh Cherries As Garnish

Fresh cherries make a beautiful and flavorful garnish for sweets like kheer, peda or barfi. Their bright color adds to the visual appeal of your dish. Simply chop the cherries or leave them whole depending on the size and presentation you prefer.

3. Make Cherry Syrup For Jalebi

Instead of using plain sugar syrup for your fried jalebis or imarti, try using cherry syrup. To do this, cook fresh or frozen cherries with sugar and water and then strain to get a smooth cherry syrup. Drizzle this syrup over your hot jalebi or imarti just before serving.

4. Add Cherries To Stuffed Sweets

In gujiya where you have a filling, add chopped cherries to it. Cherries mixed with dry fruits like cashews, almonds or pistachios are s a great combination. The cherries will keep the filling soft and add a burst of flavor in every bite.

5. Blend Cherries Into Milk Based Desserts

Cherries can be pureed and blended into milk based desserts like rabri, kesar peda or kulfi to give a fruity twist. By pureeing the cherries and mixing it into the dessert base you get a beautiful pink color and a burst of flavor. You can also mix cherry puree with condensed milk for a tangy sweet consistency which will enhance the richness of the dessert.

6. Freeze Cherries For Ice Creams And Sorbets

In summer try to add cherries to your homemade ice creams or sorbets. Blend fresh cherries with cream, milk and sugar for a creamy cherry ice cream or with water and sugar for a sorbet. The frozen cherries will add natural sweetness and texture to your frozen desserts. You can also use them as topping for a better presentation.