The Most Popular Indian Sweets that You Should Know About

When you hear of Indian cuisine, you probably imagine an enticing display of all kinds of curry dishes and rotis (flat Indian bread) right off the bat. But did you know that Indian cuisine has a wealth of delectable desserts as well, perfect for your sweet-tooth cravings or to top off a savoury meal?

We share with you a list of the most well-loved Indian desserts that will leave your mouth watering and your stomach aching to try these wonderful treats:  

Gulab Jamun:

This is likely the most popular dessert in Indian cuisine. It’s an ultra-sweet, sticky and irresistible treat for many. Gulab Jamun are soft, spongy balls made from flour and milk powder, fried, and soaked in syrup. A hint of cardamom and rose are included.

Kulfi:

This is the Indian version of ice cream, just much creamier and denser, since it isn’t whipped like regular ice cream before freezing. The milk is simply boiled to create a denser texture. Traditionally, Kulfi is flavoured with cardamom, but these days it is available in a variety of flavours like mango, pistachio, saffron, vanilla, and rose.  

Halwa:

This classic dessert came to India from royal Mughal kitchens. The main ingredient is grated carrots, and it is cooked in milk, sugar and a generous amount of ghee for that sumptuously buttery flavour. Saffron is also added for colour.

Laddoo:

This ball-shaped sweet is a staple in many Indian celebrations, and every region in India has its own version. It is generally made with chickpea flour, ground coconut or semolina. Milk, sugar, ghee and dried fruits are also added.

Barfi:

A renowned Indian fudge dessert, Barfi gets its name from the Persian word meaning “snow”. Its main ingredient is condensed milk, but it can come in a range of interesting and delicious flavours when ingredients like cashews and ground pistachios are added as well. This treat is commonly covered on top with silver foil. But don’t worry, the silver foil is perfectly edible!

Jalebi:

Deep-fried, coiled up strings of dough made from refined flour and then soaked in saffron sugar syrup, these dessert treats are very hard to resist indeed! You’ll find Jalebi sizzling away temptingly in food stalls everywhere you go in India.

Have we peaked your curiosity and appetite for Indian desserts yet? The ones described above are only a bare few of a whole range of dessert sweets in Indian cuisine, but they will definitely start you off on an exciting adventure in exploring India’s tasty delicacies.

Drop by the Curry Corner shop or visit our website if you prefer to order online, and get a taste of our own home-cooked desserts and authentic Indian meals. Get to know the original and most-loved Indian grocery, Curry place and Indian food takeaway in Melbourne if you want to taste truly authentic Indian dishes that satisfy the soul and palate. Once you try what we have to offer, we know you’ll want to come back for more.