Santa

A dear friends refers to ‘santa’ as the country cousins to ‘toshas’ elongated’ pieces of fried dough) and ‘dotis’ (small balls of fried dough). Despite this fact, they are all eaten on different days and for different reasons. According to custom, the ‘tol’ or ‘dind’ (hamper) that parents gift their married daughters on ‘tir muri’ (makar Sankranti), Diwali and Holi includes ‘santa’ among other specalities.

Makes 8 pcs

½ kg Plain Flour, Sifted
½ kg White Sesame Seeds
250g sugar
200g Ghee
Ghee or Oil for Frying
50-100 Plain Yoghurt
Pinch Baking Soda
Pinch Salt
Water or Milk, To Bind
50-100g Rose Petals
50-100g Dried Rockmelon Seeds
100g Coarsely Chopped Pistachios

In a bowl, combine the flour, yoghurt, ‘ghee’ baking soda and salt. Knead a soft dough with water or milk. Divide the dough into small portions and gently pat them into thick flat rounds.
Heat the extra ‘ghee’ in a deep frying pan and fry the dough pieces till they are ready and have turned a light brown. Drain and keep warm. In a ‘kadai’, heat the sugar and quickly begin to smack it against the sides of the ‘kadai’ with a short metal spatula till it thicknes. Lift the hot sugar, a little at a time, and spread it onto the fried dough rounds. Garnish with the rose petals, Melon seeds and chopped nuts.

Tip: Thickening the sugar is tricky so take care to prevent burns!!