Khoya or mawa is a dairy product. Khoya is used in making many sweets dishes and gravy vegetables. In India it is considered as one of the important dairy products and in many houses it is very commonly used. It is like Ricotta cheese.

Kala Jamuns are dark colored, black or almost black ( as the name "Kala" implies which means black in Hindi), Indian cheese balls which are soaked in sweet syrup These versions are larger and darker in color than the other famous "Gulab Jamuns".Jamun is an Indian fruit, shaped a little like a date and of dark purple color. This sweet name kala-jamun is supposedly named after them.

The major differences between Gulab Jamuns other than the appearance is the inclusion of Khoya along with Paneer.

Note: The jamun made from store bought khoya and Paneer will have a slightly rough edge than the ones home made. I have tried both and the difference is mind boggling. Of course with lack of time, the former is preferred. In that case, soaking the jamuns in a warm syrup for at least 6-7 hrs helps a tad bit.

(Kala jamun still absorbing sugar syrup and with crystalized sugar sticking to it and coconut adorning its top!) Kala Jamuns are dark colored, black or almost black ( as the name "Kala" implies which means black in Hindi), Indian cheese balls which are soaked in sweet syrup These versions are larger and darker in color than the other famous "Gulab Jamuns".Jamun is an Indian fruit, shaped a little like a date and of dark purple color. This sweet name kala-jamun is supposedly named after them. The major differences between Gulab Jamuns other than the appearance is the inclusion of Khoya along with Paneer. Note: The jamun made from store bought khoya and Paneer will have a slightly rough edge than the ones home made. I have tried both and the difference is mind boggling. Of course with lack of time, the former is preferred. In that case, soaking the jamuns in a warm syrup for at least 6-7 hrs helps a tad bit.
Ingredients
  • 2 cups Khoya (available in Indian Stores)
  • 3/4 cups Paneer (Indian cottage cheese)
  • 2-3 tbsp plain flour
  • 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
  • milk to bind, approx 1-2 tbsp
  • 2 1/2 cups sugar
  • 4 cups water
  • pinch of saffron
  • few drops of rose essence ( optional)
Method
1.

Grate the Khoya and Paneer and mix well.

2.

Add the flour,cardamom powder and mash them all together till everything gets combined well. For the store bought varities, a potato masher would be a great idea(!!). If dry, add few drop of milk to bind them together.

3.

Meanwhile prepare the sugar syrup. Combine the sugar and water and bring to a boil. Simmer till the syrup reaches a single thread consistency.Add the saffron and the essence and store well.

(Dip the spoon in the syrup, take it out carefully (it would be HOT), touch it with the tip of your forefinger to pick a drop of syrup. Touch your forefinger with your thumb and pull apart slowly, to see how many threads are stretched between your finger and thumb. When you get a single thread, switch off the heat)

Now make small balls, about the size of ping pong balls making sure the surface is smooth. You can shape it into an oblong or just a round.

4.

Heat Ghee -for deep frying – ( it tastes much better than just vegetable oil and this is the authentic preparation), drop a pinch of dough in it, and if it comes up immediately, then lower the heat to a minimum and drop the balls in the ghee.

5.

The trick is to keep the heat minimum and cook the balls for a long time till it gets dark. If on high heat, the outer layer gets cooked faster but the insides remain uncooked.Drop them in the syrup immediately. Usually when the temp is v low, the syrup starts becoming a solid mass soon, so keep it inside a preheated Oven to keep it in a liquid state.

Soak it for a while and you are ready to feast a Bengali special!. Decorate it with dessicated coconut or nuts :)

6.

Drop them in the syrup immediately. Usually when the temp is v low, the syrup starts becoming a solid mass soon, so keep it inside a preheated Oven to keep it in a liquid state.

Soak it for a while and you are ready to feast a Bengali special!. Decorate it with dessicated coconut or nuts :)

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2 Member Reviews

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By Sunita on Sep 30, 2010

hi dk

you were right my kala jamun came like a balloon but the taste was heavenly dk melting in the mouth plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz see the picture and hope u like it

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By Padmajha on Jul 20, 2010

Divi,I made this for Lil Angel just now and as I am writing this she is savoring ever bit of the jamuns.We love it.Lil Angel says we should send u some\"smiley\"..

I used store brought ingredients and made it in half an hour.Very very simple.Thanks for sharing such a delightful treat!!\"smiley\"

39 Comments

By sunita on Oct 8, 2012

Thanks for the recipe!! I am looking for a gluten free recipe for Kala jamuns. Instead of plain flour can we use something else?

By sachin on Apr 25, 2012

i was lucky it was just going to burn ; but i say : it was aowsome :wink: :) :-P

By sachin on Apr 25, 2012

:wink:

By Preeti Arora on Mar 31, 2012

I have made many time kala gulab jamun. I love it. Its realy yammy and my faverate.

By Personage on Dec 12, 2011

We make these at my house all the time, all different kinds. Personally,I love them! They are sweet and really tasty, a great desert and delicious snack(they are not good for daily habitual eating; not healthy i mean, but good occasionally) you should all try them!! :lol: :wink:

By cheryl S. on Jul 4, 2011

Are you saying that making the paneer and the Khoya at home will make the Kala Jamuns more superior than if you bought the paneer and khoya at the store? I will be making this tomorrow. Can't wait!

By Priya Nambiar on Sep 30, 2010

Hi Dk, I would love to try out the kala jamuns. Could you please tell me whether a 400gms paneer slab which we get in indian store wil make 3/4cup and how much koya slab will we need. Thanks, Priya

By DK on Aug 21, 2008

Hi Anon

I have personally not used bisquick for this recipe so am nto sure how it will come out although I have read on net of Kala jamun made using it. one of those links would be this.

http://209.85.141.104/search?q=cache:FUo4-zYNJ_cJ:www.daawat.com/recipes/indian/sweets/kaalajamun.htm+Bisquick+in+kala+jamun&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

Hope this helps

By Anonymous on Aug 20, 2008

can we use bisquick instead of all purpose flour?

By DK on Aug 4, 2008

Hi Sadia

I used home made Khoya...but u can use any brand u get from the local indian store..as Imentioned in the post - the outcome willbe little harder than the ones made from home

By sadia on Aug 4, 2008

what brand of khoya do u use?

By DK on Jul 25, 2008

Hi Sadia

Thank you for ur generous comment. For gulba jamun u use only hariyala mava or Khoya to make the jamun mixed with some maida/flour along with cardamom. Shape into balls and soak in sugar syrup.

Yes U can use that brand of Khoya although I would tell you that the outcome will be little harder than the usual jamuns.

Hope this helps :)

By sadia on Jul 24, 2008

hi Dk. i love ur jamuns.i have a question that if we want to make gulab jamun not kala jamun what should we do?

and one more question.i m in USA too.i found nanak khoa in indian grocery stores.can i use that one??

By RML on Apr 4, 2008

Hello Dhivya,
I love sweets so much.Jamuns look sooooooo yummy.The pics are mouth watering and they look so professional.Keep going..
Madhuri

By Meeta on Mar 30, 2008

Bee said it best - I am too chicken to make them too but kudos to you for making these so perfect jamuns. Yum!

By Swati: Sugarcraft India on Mar 27, 2008

You make it look so easy DK..They certainly are mouthwatering!!!

By Lisa on Mar 26, 2008

I would certainly like to try one of these drops of bliss right now. Nothing like an Indian cheese treat. An informative, mouthwatering post.

By Cynthia on Mar 26, 2008

Yet again, I have learnt something new. Never heard of khoya before.

By easycrafts on Mar 26, 2008

Perfectly made---loved it

By Red Chillies on Mar 25, 2008

Jeez, I love kala jamoons and did not know they were this complicated. Loved your step by step pictures. Gives complete idea.

By Sandeepa on Mar 25, 2008

No, no your entry will be right there on the top in the round up if I don't go back to the ashes that is :D

Lovely jamuns and your step by step pics are lovely

By Vanamala on Mar 25, 2008

Fantastic!!! nice step by step pics

By Seena on Mar 25, 2008

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Siri on Mar 25, 2008

wah wah kya baat hain! kala jamuns mast lag rahe hain! tu kya changi khaana banati hain re..:D.. I am sooo *j* of u..;))

Hugs,
Siri

By Namratha on Mar 25, 2008

Perfect and delicious Dhivya, I've been planning to make these too...

By Laavanya on Mar 25, 2008

The jamuns look amazing.. DK and I love the step by step photos!

By bee on Mar 25, 2008

that is a beautiful demo of how to make kala jamuns. i'm too chicken to try it.

By Seema on Mar 25, 2008

Khob Bhalo Chee!!! I love Kala Jamuns :-)

By sowmya on Mar 25, 2008

jamuns looks so good and delicious..am surely going to try this ..

By Saswati on Mar 25, 2008

DK...feel like eating them rt now...they look perfect:)

By Jaya on Mar 25, 2008

I want that now ,can i Have some ..LOl.
just add little bit of elaichi Dana while making the small ping pongs ,it will taste more ..
it looks so Gorgeous ..
Hugs and smiles
jaya

By Srivalli on Mar 24, 2008

Div, that looks fab..its great to know you made everything at home..

and that dig on shondeepa..yeah..just be sure she doesn't disappear again..:D...

By Nags on Mar 24, 2008

that just looks so yummy!!

By Divya Vikram on Mar 24, 2008

The jamuns loonk too tempting..

By Cham on Mar 24, 2008

Kala jamun are wonderful DK :)

By Miri on Mar 24, 2008

Looks delicious - I have always admired people who have the patience to make jamuns from scrathc at home....never tried it myself!

By Mansi Desai on Mar 24, 2008

aah, that looks heavenly DK! I just love kaala jamun:D

By TBC on Mar 24, 2008

Fabulous looking jamuns!

By Kalai on Mar 24, 2008

Gorgeous jamuns, Dhivi!! You make it look so easy! :)