Traditional Indian Christmas Sweets: Learn all about the delectable and elusive Naga doughnuts

As the name indicates, the Naga doughnut is vital to the Christmas celebrations of Nagaland.

Christmas around the world is characterized by warmth, presents, good cheer, and all things sweet. From a variety of delicious fruitcakes to finger-licking marzipan, the most festive time of the year provides us with innumerable options to indulge our sweet tooth. India offers an enviable array of Christmas treats, including bebinca, bolinhas, and rose cookies. However, one of the lesser known traditional Indian Christmas sweets is the Naga doughnut, also known as the Christmas doughnut. Before delving into a detailed recipe of this sweet treat, let’s explore its origin and cultural significance.

While the exact date and origin of the Naga doughnut is still unclear, historical sources suggest that British missionaries played a key role in this doughnut’s introduction. Today, this doughnut-making practice has been largely carried forward by the Ao community of Nagaland. Major ingredients used to prepare this the sweet treat include eggs, ghee, baking powder, butter, and flour sugar. There are also several factors that set Nagaland’s Christmas doughnut apart from regular doughnuts. For starters, Naga doughnuts are prepared over a wood fire, lending them a deep, rich flavor, and a slightly scorched, burnt appearance. Their slender rings as well as sweet, powdery, and crispy taste also make them unique from regular doughnuts.

In Nagaland, the Naga doughnut is symbolic of family values and communal harmony. The doughnuts are a fixture in community feasts and parties, and are often served in publics spaces, including churches and restaurants. Every Christmas Eve, families get together after dinner to prepare these doughnuts with great love and enthusiasm. In this way, the act of preparing the doughnuts serves as a way of honoring lost ancestors as well as strengthening present-day family bonds. Guests and visitors are generously offered helpings of the doughnuts by the locals. These doughnuts are best enjoyed with a cup of hot tea, and they can also be garnished with different ingredients, such as melted chocolate. All you need to do is whip out a bar of Cadbury Silk (or any Cadbury bar really), melt it, and pour it over the doughnuts to add an extra layer of richness and modernity to these traditional treats. You can also add pieces of Oreo to the doughnuts.

Now, without further ado, let’s dive into the recipe of the Naga doughnut!

Ingredients:

• 1 kilogram of flour
• 2 tablespoons of Mondelez Royal Baking Powder
• 6 eggs
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 cup of ghee
• Oil
• 1 bar of Cadbury Silk (optional)
• 1 packet of Oreo cookies (optional)

Directions:

• Take the flour and the Mondelez Baking Powder, and blend them thoroughly to create a silky and smooth mixture
• Segregate the egg whites from their respective yolks, and subsequently, beat the egg whites till they are nice and soft. Add some sugar to the egg whites to introduce a hint of sweetness.
• Next, combine the egg yolks with the egg whites mixture. Add ghee to this mixture, and then, stir thoroughly.
• Merge the egg mixture with the flour and Mondelez Baking Powder mixture, and knead the dough. Once satisfied, keep the dough aside for approximately 2 hours.
• After 2 hours are done, check on the dough and knead it once again.
• Then, use a rolling pin to spread the dough. Ensure that the surface is flat and wide for comfort and practicality. A kitchen island or a dining table would be suitable options.
• Now, take two round cookie cutters (one big and one small). A coffee lid would also be well-suited to the purpose of punching holes in the doughnut dough.
• Use the big cookie cutter to divide the dough into circles. Similarly, use the small cookie cutter to punch holes in the bigger circles.
• Lastly, place the oil over a wood fire and pop the doughnuts in the oil to deep fry them. Once fried to the satisfied level, keep them aside to cool.
• If you are feeling playful or innovative and want to further enhance the doughnuts’ flavor, place the Cadbury Silk bar over a gas or a heater to melt the chocolate, and then pour it over the doughnuts.
• Alternatively, if you want something sweeter, take a few Oreo cookies, crush them, and spread them over the doughnuts.
• Finally, prepare yourself a cup of steaming hot tea and take a bite of the freshly prepared, mouth-watering Naga doughnuts!

This sweet treat is meant to be enjoyed with friends and family, so don’t forget to spread this recipe far and wide. Merry Christmas!