petha recipe | petha sweet | agra petha recipe | angoori petha with detailed photo and video recipe. a translucent or white coloured candy or dessert recipe made from ash gourd or raakh laukee. it is a famous in north indian particularly in agra and hence it is also known as agra petha recipe. having said that, this recipe deals with angoori petha or kesar petha made with saffron flavour as an additional step.
this is one recipe, i have been receiving several requests from my readers and i was not comfortable sharing it in the first place. well, it took me 4 attempts to master this recipe and i was always messing with the texture and crispiness. as a matter of fact, when i started this blog i never thought i would be sharing such complex dessert recipes like agra petha recipe. i always believed that some recipes are always made and distributed by halwai or by the professional chef at bakery or restaurants. but i had to respect my readers and their requests and hence i am posting this recipe with my version. the traditional or the popular version is the plain petha recipe, but in this, i have added saffron flavour for angoori petha recipe.
furthermore, some important tips, suggestions and recommendations while preparing agra petha recipe. firstly, the recipe requires a lot of patience and tolerance, and it is not a one day job. hence, if you are in a hurry then i would recommend to buy it from the store, rather than getting your hands dirty. secondly, once the ash gourd cubes are properly soaked in limestone water, it has to be cleaned thoroughly. otherwise, the petha would have a bad smell once it cooked with sugar syrup. lastly, saffron is not essential and can be prepared without it to make just white coloured petha recipe. alternatively, you can also use chocolate, kewda and coconut flavour for the different experience.
finally, do visit my other indian sweet recipes collection with this post of agra petha recipe or angoori petha. it includes recipes like gulab jamun, besan laddu, rava ladoo, malpua recipe, boondi ladoo, khaja recipe, palkova, ash gourd halwa and aate ka halwa recipe. further, do visit my other related recipes collection like,
agra petha video recipe:
recipe card for agra petha recipe:
petha recipe | petha sweet | agra petha recipe | angoori petha
Ingredients
- 500 grams ash gourd / winter melon / boodu kumbalakai
- ½ tsp limestone / chuna
- 1½ cup sugar
- 3 pods cardamom / elachi
- few saffron / kesar
- pinch saffron food colour
- 1 tsp kewda water
Instructions
- firstly, slice ash gourd to cubes removing the skin and seed flesh completely.
- now poke the ash gourd pieces from all sides. keep aside.
- in a large bowl take 4 cup water and dissolve ½ tsp limestone / chuna.
- now add in chopped ash gourd and stir well.
- soak for 24 hours mixing in between every 3 hours.
- rinse and wash ash gourd pieces by rubbing each and every cube.
- now in a saucepan heat 4 cup water and get to a boil.
- add in washed ash gourd pieces and cook stirring occasionally.
- boil for 12 -15 minutes .
- further, in a large kadai take 1½ cup sugar, 3 pods cardamom, few saffrons and pinch saffron food colour.
- also, add ¼ cup water and dissolve sugar stirring well.
- once the sugar dissolves, add in cooked ash gourd.
- stir well, and boil for 10 minutes.
- now place the petha in a plate or a wire mesh to cool completely for at least 12 hours.
- finally, serve agra petha or store in an airtight container and enjoy.
how to make angoori petha with step by step photo:
cleaning & soaking ash gourd:
- firstly, slice ash gourd to cubes removing the skin and seed flesh completely.
- make sure to remove the skin completely, else petha will not be firm.
- now poke the ash gourd pieces from all sides. keep aside.
- in a large bowl take 4 cup water and dissolve ½ tsp limestone / chuna.
- stir well, dissolving limestone completely.
- now add in chopped ash gourd and stir well.
- soak for 24 hours mixing in between every 3 hours.
- after 24 hours, ash gourd pieces have turned whitish and firmer.
- drain off the limestone water completely.
- rinse and wash ash gourd pieces by rubbing each and every cube.
- wash them at least 5 times removing all the traces of limestone.
cooking kesar petha recipe:
- now in a saucepan heat 4 cup water and get to a boil.
- add in washed ash gourd pieces and cook stirring occasionally.
- boil for 12 -15 minutes or until the ash gourd pieces are cooked yet retain their shape.
- drain off the water and rinse with cold water, to stop the cooking process.
- further, in a large kadai take 1½ cup sugar, 3 pods cardamom, few saffrons and pinch saffron food colour.
- also, add ¼ cup water and dissolve sugar stirring well.
- once the sugar dissolves, add in cooked ash gourd.
- stir well, and boil for 10 minutes.
- also stir occasionally, until the sugar syrup thickens and turns honey consistency.
- now add 1 tsp kewda water for more flavour.
- boil until the sugar syrup turns thick and glossy.
- now place the petha in a plate or a wire mesh to cool completely for at least 12 hours.
- finally, serve agra petha or store in an airtight container and enjoy for a month when refrigerated.
notes:
- firstly, use fresh ash gourd as they will be more form.
- also, add colour and flavour of your choice, to make it more attractive.
- additionally, to prepare white petha, do not add any colour.
- furthermore, angoori petha is rolled in desiccated coconut.
- finally, cool the agra petha completely before serving to get a crisp outer sugar layer and juicy inside.