{"id":"recipe_7884dcad5b","slug":"rasgulla","title":"Rasgulla","description":"Soft, spongy, and iconic Indian cottage cheese dumplings soaked in a delicate, cardamom-scented sugar syrup.","serves":4,"time":{"prepMinutes":30,"cookMinutes":30,"totalMinutes":60,"activeMinutes":45},"ingredients":[{"id":"ingredient-1","original":"1 liter full cream milk","name":"Cream","quantity":1,"unit":"l","usQuantity":"4 1/4","usUnit":"cup","form":"liquid","notes":"full cream/whole milk","group":"Chhena","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-2","original":"2 tablespoons lemon juice","name":"Lemon Juice","quantity":30,"unit":"ml","usQuantity":2,"usUnit":"tbsp","form":"liquid","notes":"diluted with equal parts water","group":"Chhena","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-3","original":"1 teaspoon semolina (sooji)","name":"Semolina","quantity":5,"unit":"g","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"tsp","form":"fine","notes":"fine variety","group":"Chhena","optional":true},{"id":"ingredient-4","original":"1.5 cups sugar","name":"Sugar","quantity":300,"unit":"g","usQuantity":"1 1/2","usUnit":"cup","form":"granulated","notes":"white","group":"Syrup","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-5","original":"4 cups water","name":"Water","quantity":1,"unit":"l","usQuantity":"4 1/4","usUnit":"cup","form":"liquid","notes":"","group":"Syrup","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-6","original":"3 green cardamom pods","name":"Green Cardamom Pods","quantity":3,"unit":"piece","usQuantity":3,"usUnit":"piece","form":"pods","notes":"slightly crushed","group":"Syrup","optional":false}],"instructions":[{"id":"instruction-1","text":"Boil the milk in a large heavy-bottomed pan. Once it reaches a boil, turn off the heat and wait for 1 minute.","group":"Prepare Chhena","title":"Boil the milk in a large heavy-bottomed pan","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Prepare Chhena"},{"id":"instruction-2","text":"Gradually add the diluted lemon juice to the milk while stirring gently. Once the milk curdles completely and the greenish whey separates, stop adding the acid.","group":"Prepare Chhena","title":"Gradually add the diluted lemon juice","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Prepare Chhena"},{"id":"instruction-3","text":"Strain the curdled milk through a muslin or cheesecloth. Rinse the chhena under cold running water to remove the lemony taste.","group":"Prepare Chhena","title":"Strain the curdled milk through a muslin or cheesecloth","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Prepare Chhena"},{"id":"instruction-4","text":"Squeeze out the excess water and hang the cloth for about 30-45 minutes until the chhena is moist but not dripping.","group":"Prepare Chhena","title":"Squeeze out the excess water and hang the cloth","timerMinutes":45,"sourceTitle":"Prepare Chhena"},{"id":"instruction-5","text":"Transfer the chhena to a plate, add semolina, and knead with the heel of your palm for 5-8 minutes until the texture is smooth and slightly greasy.","group":"Shape Rasgulla","title":"Transfer the chhena","timerMinutes":8,"sourceTitle":"Shape Rasgulla"},{"id":"instruction-6","text":"Divide the dough into small equal parts and roll them into smooth, crack-free balls.","group":"Shape Rasgulla","title":"Divide the dough","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Shape Rasgulla"},{"id":"instruction-7","text":"In a wide pressure cooker or a large deep pot, combine sugar, water, and cardamom. Bring to a boil at 100°C (212°F).","group":"Cook in Syrup","title":"Combine sugar, water, and cardamom","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Cook in Syrup"},{"id":"instruction-8","text":"Gently drop the balls into the boiling syrup. Cover with a lid and cook on medium-high heat for 12-15 minutes. The balls will double in size.","group":"Cook in Syrup","title":"Gently drop the balls","timerMinutes":15,"sourceTitle":"Cook in Syrup"},{"id":"instruction-9","text":"Turn off the heat and let them cool completely in the syrup before serving. They are best served chilled.","group":"Finish","title":"Turn off the heat and let them cool completely","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Finish"}],"notes":"Ensure the chhena (cheese) is kneaded until completely smooth to avoid cracks in the balls. Do not open the lid while boiling the rasgullas as the temperature drop can cause them to shrink.","cuisine":{"group":"Desi","specific":["Bengali"]},"course":["dessert"],"cookingMethod":["boil","simmer"],"equipment":["Heavy bottom pan","Muslin cloth","Pressure cooker or deep pot","Mixing plate"],"diet":["vegetarian","gluten_free"],"allergens":["milk"],"difficulty":"medium","yield":{"amount":16,"unit":"piece","note":"Makes approximately 16-18 medium-sized rasgullas"},"makeAhead":{"instructions":"Rasgullas can be prepared and kept in the syrup up to 2 days ahead of time for better absorption."},"storage":{"food":{"instructions":"Store in the sugar syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator.","reheatingNotes":"Can be served cold or slightly warm by microwaving for 10 seconds."}},"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_7884dcad5b%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=397f7b7c-b54c-4c48-89f3-06add571ff69","imageAlt":"Rasgulla — recipe cover","aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","sourceUrl":"","tags":["sweet","bengali sweets","paneer","chhena","syrup","diwali","festive"],"schemaVersion":1,"sourceTitle":"Rasgulla","sourcePublishedAt":"2026-02-04T17:35:01.758Z","sourceUpdatedAt":"2026-02-04T17:35:01.758Z","related":[{"id":"recipe_c7386513c8","slug":"meethi-lassi","title":"Meethi Lassi","description":"A refreshing and creamy traditional Indian yogurt drink sweetened with sugar and delicately flavored with green cardamom.","serves":2,"time":{"prepMinutes":5,"cookMinutes":0,"totalMinutes":5,"activeMinutes":5},"cuisine":{"group":"Desi","specific":["Punjabi"]},"course":["dessert","side"],"difficulty":"easy","diet":["vegetarian","gluten_free"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_c7386513c8%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=1dba5e4c-1975-4b21-b98b-9b2c36dcca33","imageAlt":"Meethi Lassi — recipe cover","tags":["lassi","yogurt-drink","sweet","refreshing","indian-beverage","punjabi","cardamom"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":6,"stepCount":4},{"id":"recipe_3ab4587e11","slug":"mysore-pak","title":"Mysore Pak","description":"A classic South Indian delicacy, this Mysore Pak is a rich, buttery, and porous sweet made with gram flour, sugar, and plenty of ghee.","serves":12,"time":{"prepMinutes":10,"cookMinutes":20,"totalMinutes":30,"activeMinutes":20},"cuisine":{"group":"Desi","specific":["South Indian"]},"course":["dessert"],"difficulty":"hard","diet":["vegetarian","gluten_free"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_3ab4587e11%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=b99a4e0d-f2c2-41e5-80b4-1f33ee6f963f","imageAlt":"Mysore Pak — recipe cover","tags":["traditional","festive","sweet","buttery","south indian"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":4,"stepCount":8},{"id":"recipe_c015d6c046","slug":"gajar-ka-halwa","title":"Gajar Ka Halwa","description":"A classic North Indian carrot pudding, slow-cooked to perfection with milk, ghee, and sugar, flavored with cardamom and garnished with crunchy nuts.","serves":4,"time":{"prepMinutes":15,"cookMinutes":45,"totalMinutes":60,"activeMinutes":30},"cuisine":{"group":"Desi","specific":["North Indian"]},"course":["dessert"],"difficulty":"medium","diet":["vegetarian","gluten_free"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_c015d6c046%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=f95a3989-1fbd-40c5-bfe0-ca1df73a6576","imageAlt":"Gajar Ka Halwa — recipe cover","tags":["sweet","carrot","halwa","indian dessert","winter recipe"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":7,"stepCount":6}]}