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This is a list of Indian sweets and desserts, also called mithai, a significant element in Indian cuisine. Indians are known for their unique taste and experimental behavior when it comes to food. Many Indian desserts are fried foods made with sugar, milk or condensed milk. Ingredients and preferred types of dessert vary by region. In the eastern part of India, for example, most are based on milk products. Many are flavoured with almonds and pistachios, spiced with cardamon, nutmeg, cloves and black pepper, and decorated with nuts, or with gold or silver leaf. [1]
Name | Image | Main ingredients | Category |
---|---|---|---|
Arisa Pitha | Rice flour, Jaggery | Fried, jaggery based | |
Apple Halwa [2] | Apple, Milk, Ghee | Halva | |
Boondi | Gram flour (besan), ghee, sugar. | Sugar syrup based | |
Gajar Paak | Carrots, milk, sugar, ghee, cashews and raisins. | Halva | |
Ghevar | Flour, ghee, kewra, milk, clarified butter, sugar, almonds, pistachio, saffron, green cardamom. [3] | Fried, sugar syrup based | |
Gulab jamun | Fried milk balls soaked in sweet syrup, such as rose syrup or honey. [4] | Fried, sugar syrup based | |
Imarti | Sugar syrup, lentil flour. | Fried, sugar syrup based | |
Jalebi | Dough fried in a coil shape dipped in sugar syrup, often taken with milk, tea, yogurt, or lassi. [5] | Fried, sugar syrup based | |
Kaju katli | Cashews, ghee with cardamom and sugar. [6] | Barfi | |
Kalakand | Milk, cottage cheese. | Burfi | |
Kheer | A rice pudding made with milk, rice, sugar and dried fruits [7] | Pudding | |
Khirmohan | Chhena, sugar, semolina, water. | Sugar syrup based | |
Kulfi [8] | An ice cream made with milk and sugar, with a variety of flavours such as mango, saffron, or cardamom. [9] | Ice cream | |
Laddu | Gram flour (besan), ghee, sugar. | Laddu | |
Lassi | Yogurt, milk, nuts, can be made with mango. | Yogurt drink | |
Motichoor laddu | Besan flour, sugar. | Laddu | |
Makhan Bada | Maida flour, yogurt, oil, sugar. | Sugar syrup based | |
Malpua | Wheat or rice flour. [10] | Fried, sugar syrup based | |
Nankhatai | Refined flour, besan, ghee, powdered sugar, yogurt green cardamom seeds. | Baked | |
Petha | Firm white pumpkin, sugar, kitchen lime, alum powder. | Sugar syrup based | |
Phirni | Rice, sugar, nuts. | Pudding | |
Rabri | Boiled condensed milk, sugar, spices and nuts. [11] | Pudding | |
Sheera | Semolina, ghee, nuts, milk. | Pudding | |
Singori | Khoa, coconut, molu leaf. | Milk-based | |
Sohan halwa | Corn flour, ghee, dry fruits. | Halva | |
Sohan papdi, pateesa | Besan flour. | Barfi | |
Bihari Makuti | Moong Dal, milk | Pudding. |
Name | Image | Main ingredients | Category |
---|---|---|---|
Amriti | Deep fried vigna mungo , sugar syrup. | Fried, sugar syrup based | |
Cham cham | Flour, cream, sugar, saffron, lemon juice, coconut flakes. | Milk-based | |
Chandrapuli | Khoa, sugar, ghee, coconut flakes. | Coconut and milk based | |
Chhena gaja | Chhena, sugar, ghee. | Milk-based | |
Chhena jalebi | Chhena, sugar, ghee. | Milk-based | |
Chhena Jhili | whole milk, refined flour, powdered sugar, cardamom, oil/ghee for deep frying | Milk based | |
Chhena kheeri | Chhena, sugar, milk. | Milk-based | |
Chhena poda | Sugar, chenna cheese. | Milk-based | |
Chuda Ghasa | Rice Flakes (Poha), Sugar powder or Jaggery, Desi Ghee, Grated fresh Coconut, Pepper Powder, big cardamon powder, Dry fruits Optional | Flatten rice/rice flakes, sugar/jaggery, ghee based | |
Coconut Barfi | Made from coconut, fine ground sugar, ghee, cardamom powder and milk. | Coconut and milk based | |
Jaynagarer Moa | gur, cow ghee, Kanakchur khoi | Fried and Rice-based | |
Kheer sagar | Chenna, condensed milk, sugar, saffron, cardamom. | Milk-based | |
Kolar Bora | banana, coconut, maida, sugar, oil | Fried and Banana-based | |
Labanga latika | maida, khoa, nutmeg (powdered), grated coconut, ghee, nuts, raisins, cardamom, cloves and sugar | Fried and sugar-syrup based | |
Ledikeni | Chhena, sugar, ghee. | Milk-based | |
Lyangcha | Flour, fried milk powder, sugar syrup. | Milk-based | |
Malapua (dessert) | Yogurt, refined flour, ghee, fennel seeds. | Milk-based | |
Mihidana | Besan flour, sugar, ghee. | Fried, sugar syrup based | |
Misti doi | Yogurt, jaggery. | Milk-based | |
Pantua | Chhena, sugar, ghee | Milk-based | |
Pithe | Rice flour. | Milk-based | |
Puri Khaja | Refined flour (maida), pure ghee, sugar, refined cooking oil for frying (Pure ghee may also be used for frying) Salt to taste | Ghee and refined flour-based | |
Rabri | Sweetened milk. | Milk-based | |
Rasabali | Chenna, sweetened milk. | Milk-based | |
Ras malai | Chhena, reduced milk, pistachio | Milk-based | |
Rasgulla | Chhena, sugar | Milk-based | |
Sandesh | Made from cheese, kneaded with fine ground sugar and molasses. [12] | Milk-based | |
Sarpuria | cream, sugar, maida, ghee cardamom powder | Fried and Milk-based | |
Sirir naru | jaggery and gram flour, mustard oil for deep fry | Jaggery based | |
Shorbhaja | sugar, cream, ghee, maida | Fried, milk and sugar syrup-based | |
Sitabhog | Chhena, rice flour, sugar, vermicelli/rice | Fried, rice, and sugar-syrup based |
Name | Image | Main ingredients | Category |
---|---|---|---|
Anarsa | Slightly fermented rice flour, jaggery, khus-khus seeds | ||
Basundi | Sugar, milk | ||
Bebinca | Flour, sugar, ghee, egg yolk, coconut milk | Baked layered Christmas sweet | |
Dhondas | Cucumber, rava | Baked cake | |
Doodhpak | Milk, rice, sugar, dry fruits | Milk-based | |
Kaju katli | Cashews, ghee | ||
Mahim halwa | Semolina, sugar | ||
Modak | Rice flour, coconut jaggery stuffing | Fried | |
Mohanthal | Besan, ghee, sugar and nuts | ||
Patoleo | Rice flour, coconut jaggery and grated coconut stuffing | Wrapped in turmeric leaves and steamed | |
Puran poli | Wheat flour, gram, jaggery | Bread | |
Shankarpali | Sugar, ghee, maida flour, semolina | ||
Shrikhand | A creamy dessert made out of strained yogurt, often served with dried fruits such as mangoes. [14] | Yogurt-based | |
Sutar feni | Maida, sugar, ghee |
Name | Image | Main ingredients | Category |
---|---|---|---|
Barfi | Milk Powder | Barfi | |
Halva | Corn Flour | Boiled | |
Kheer | Milk, vermicelli, sugar, nuts | Milk-based, called Payasam in Southern parts of the country | |
Laddoo | Milk, flour | Laddu | |
Peda | Milk (khoya), sugar, saffron | Milk-based |
Halva is a type of confectionery that is widely spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa, the Balkans, and South Asia. The name is used for a broad variety of recipes, generally a thick paste made from flour, butter, liquid oil, saffron, rosewater, milk, turmeric powder, and sweetened with sugar.
Indian cuisine consists of a variety of regional and traditional cuisines native to the Indian subcontinent. Given the diversity in soil, climate, culture, ethnic groups, and occupations, these cuisines vary substantially and use locally available spices, herbs, vegetables, and fruits.
Punjabi cuisine is a culinary style originating in the Punjab, a region in the northern part of South Asia, which is now divided in an Indian part to the east and a Pakistani part to the west. This cuisine has a rich tradition of many distinct and local ways of cooking.
Kulfi is a frozen dairy dessert from the Indian subcontinent. It is often described as "traditional Indian ice cream". Kulfi originated in 16th-century Delhi during the Mughal era. It is part of the national cuisines of India and Pakistan. It is also popular in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Middle East.
A falooda is a Mughalai cold dessert made with vermicelli. It has origins in the Persian dish faloodeh, variants of which are found across West, Central, South and Southeast Asia. Traditionally it is made by mixing rose syrup, vermicelli, and sweet basil seeds with milk, often served with ice cream. The vermicelli used for preparing falooda is made from wheat, arrowroot, cornstarch, or sago.
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.
Maharashtrian or Marathicuisine is the cuisine of the Marathi people from the Indian state of Maharashtra. It has distinctive attributes, while sharing much with other Indian cuisines. Traditionally, Maharashtrians have considered their food to be more austere than others.
Sindhi cuisine refers to the distinct native cuisine of the Sindhi people from Sindh, Pakistan. Sindhi cuisine has been influenced by Central Asian, Iranian, Mughal food traditions. It is mostly a non-vegetarian cuisine, with even Sindhi Hindus widely accepting of meat consumption. The daily food in most Sindhi households consists of wheat-based flat-bread (Mani) or rice accompanied by two dishes, one gravy and one dry with curd, papad or pickle. Freshwater fish and a wide variety of vegetables are usually used in Sindhi cuisine. Restaurants specializing in Sindhi cuisine are rare, although it is found at truck stops in rural areas of Sindh province, and in a few restaurants in urban Sindh.
Hyderabadi cuisine, also known as Deccani cuisine, is the cooking style characteristic of the city of Hyderabad and its surrounding area in Telangana, India.
Ghevar or Ghewar is a disc-shaped Rajasthani sweet with a honeycomb-like texture, made from ghee, maida, and sugar syrup. It is traditionally associated with the month of Shraavana and the festivals of Teej and Raksha Bandhan. It is a part of Rajasthani tradition and is gifted to newly married daughter on Sinjara, the day preceding Gangaur and Teej. It is also one of the Chhapan Bhog served to the Lord Krishna. Besides Rajasthan, it is also famous in the adjoining states of Haryana, Delhi, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
Cuisine of Uttar Pradesh is from the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) located in Northern India. The cuisine of UP has a large variety of dishes. The cuisine consists of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes of different varieties. Being a large state, the cuisine of UP share lot of dishes and recipes with the neighboring states of Delhi, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand and Haryana. Braj, Awadhi, Kannuaji, Kauravi, Bundeli, Bagheli and Bhojpuri are famous subtypes of cuisine of the state.
Awadhi cuisine is a cuisine native to the Awadh region in Northern India and Southern Nepal. The cooking patterns of Lucknow are similar to those of Central Asia, the Middle East, and Northern India and western India with the cuisine comprising both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. The Awadh region has been influenced by Mughal cooking techniques, and the cuisine of Lucknow bears similarities to those of Central Asia, Kashmir, Punjab and Hyderabad. The city is also known for its Nawabi foods.
Turkish delight or lokum (/lɔ.kʊm/) or halgoum is a family of confections based on a gel of starch and sugar. Premium varieties consist largely of chopped dates, pistachios, hazelnuts or walnuts bound by the gel; traditional varieties are often flavored with rosewater, mastic gum, bergamot orange, or lemon. Other common flavors include cinnamon and mint. The confection is often packaged and eaten in small cubes dusted with icing sugar, copra, or powdered cream of tartar to prevent clinging. In the production process, soapwort may be used as an emulsifying additive.
Aloo gosht is a meat curry, and is a popular dish in North Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi cuisine. It consists of potatoes (aloo) cooked with meat (gosht), usually lamb or mutton or beef, in a stew-like shorba gravy. It may be considered a curry, stew, or shorba depending on the way the dish is prepared, the types of spices used and what country or particular region it was made in. The dish can be served and eaten with plain rice or with bread such as roti, paratha or naan.
Gajar ka halwa, also known as Gajorer halwa, Gajarno halwo, Gajrela, Gajar pak, and carrot pudding is a carrot-based sweet dessert pudding made by placing grated carrots in a pot containing a specific amount of water, milk, sugar, and cardamom and then cooking while stirring regularly. It is often served with a garnish of almonds and pistachios. The nuts and other items used are first sautéed in ghee, a type of clarified butter from the Indian subcontinent.
Saraiki cuisine refers to the native cuisine of the Saraiki people in central Pakistan. It is one of the key part of the Pakistani and South Asian cuisines. The style of cooking is present in the Saraiki-speaking region of southern Punjab, as well as parts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northern Sindh and northeastern Balochistan. Saraiki food comprises many unique local dishes, and also shares influences with neighbouring regional cuisines. The metropolitan city of Multan is a hub of Saraiki cooking.
Suji ka Halwa or Mohan Bhog is a type of halvah made by toasting semolina in a fat like ghee or oil, and adding a sweetener like sugar syrup, honey, or jaggery powder. It can be served for breakfast or as a dessert item. The basic recipe is made with just semolina, sugar or honey, ghee, and sometimes milk. Variations on this include dried or fresh fruits, nuts, shredded coconut, and other toppings. Wheat flour is often used as a substitute if semolina is not available, but virtually any starch can be used to make Suji ka Halwa.
... Kulfi is the traditional Indian ice cream and has a strongly characteristic cooked-milk flavour and dense icy texture. ... The basis of making kulfi is to reduce a large volume of milk down to a very small concentrated amount ...