Place of origin | India |
---|---|
Region or state | Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Northern Andhra Pradesh,Southern area of Nepal close to Bihar (Birgunj, Janakpur, Biratnagar) |
Main ingredients | Wheat flour, sugar, Cooking oil |
Variations | Kakinada Kaja, Tapeswaram Kaja, Pipra Khaja |
Khaja is an Indian deep-fried pastry, commonly filled with fruit or soaked with sugar syrup.
Khaja, plain or sweet mentioned in Silao, was a wheat flour preparation fried in ghee similar to Chandrakala, a flaky dessert from South India. [1] Khaja is believed to have originated from the eastern parts of the former state of Magadh and the former United Provinces and Magadh. Silao, Nalanda districts of Bihar, [2] and is also native to state of Magadh [3] [4] as well as regions like Kutch and Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Refined wheat flour with sugar is made into layered dough, with or without dry fruit or other stuffing, and lightly fried in oil to make khaja. [5]
In his 1872–1873 expedition to Silao, renowned British archaeologist Joseph David Beglar, talks about the sweet that dates back to King Vikramaditya and describes the sweetmeat. There is a famous folk tale that the Lord Buddha was offered Silao Khaja as he traveled through Silao on his way from Rajgir to Nalanda. There are Buddhist sites nearby Silao. [6]
It is one of the famous sweets of Silao and is related to emotions of all Magadh people. It is also offered as an offering Magadh. International sweets of Magadh.
Khajas from Silao and Rajgir in Bihar are almost entirely similar to baklava, whereas the ones from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are made with thicker pastry sheets, and are generally hard. [5] [7]
The batter is prepared from wheat flour, mawa and oil. It is then deep fried until crisp, before being soaked in a sugar syrup known as Paga, the pastry absorbing the syrup. Kaja served in of Kakinada, a coastal town of Andhra Pradesh, are served dry on the outside and soaked with sugar syrup on the inside.
Khaja sweet is popular in Magahia and Bihari in Magadha. This sweet is a part of Chhath Puja, given as a gift at the daughter's wedding in Magadh Bihar.
In December 2018, the popular delicacy from the Nalanda district of Bihar, known as Silao khaja, has been given a Geographic Indications Registry (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai. Tourists who visit the Buddhist sites of Rajgir and Nalanda also enjoy silao khaja. [8]
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Laddu or laddoo is a spherical sweet from the Indian subcontinent made of various ingredients and sugar syrup or jaggery. It has been described as "perhaps the most universal and ancient of Indian sweets."
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Mithai (sweets) are the confectionery and desserts of the Indian subcontinent. Thousands of dedicated shops in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka sell nothing but sweets.
Indian breads are a wide variety of flatbreads and crêpes which are an integral part of Indian cuisine. Their variation reflects the diversity of Indian culture and food habits.
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Ariselu or Arisa is an Indian sweet from Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana. It is also called Kajjaya in Kannada, Adhirasam in Tamil Nadu, Neyyappam in Kerala ,Anarsa in Marathi, arsa or anarsa in Uttarakhand, Bihar and Jharkhand.
Kakinada Kaja is a traditional sweet pastry from Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, India, known for its unique taste and preparation. It comes in two main varieties: the hollow, cylindrical Gottam Kaja and the layered Madatha Kaja, each offering distinct textures and flavours. The dessert holds significant cultural importance in Andhra Pradesh, with efforts underway to obtain a Geographical Indication (GI) tag to preserve its legacy. Along with the related Tapeswaram Kaja, it remains a beloved delicacy throughout the Telugu states.
Gujhia, also known as Gughara, Pedakiya, Purukiya, Karanji, Kajjikayalu, Somas, and Karjikayi, is a sweet, deep-fried pastry that is a popular dessert in the Indian subcontinent. This delicacy is made using either suji (semolina) or maida, which is stuffed with a mixture of sweetened khoa and dried fruits. The dumpling is then fried in ghee to give it a crispy texture.
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Makhan Bada is a traditional dessert originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is also known as Balusaahi and is similar to a glazed doughnut in terms of Ingredients, but differs in texture and taste. Makhan Bada also resembles Rajasthani Baati in terms of size & preparation but resembles more with Medu Vada in terms of shape. In South India, a similar pastry is known as badusha.
Bihari cuisine is eaten mainly in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, as well as in the places where people originating from the state of Bihar have settled: Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mauritius, South Africa, Fiji, some cities of Pakistan, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Jamaica, and the Caribbean. Bihari cuisine includes Angika cuisine, Bhojpuri cuisine, Maithil cuisine and Magahi cuisine. Dal Puri
Tapeswaram is a village in Mandapeta mandal of Konaseema district, Andhra Pradesh. The Uma Agastheswara Temple in Tapeswaram has a great importance and is believed to be constructed by Agasthya.
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