Ghughuti

घुघुती

Traditional sweet from the Uttarayani festival, the Kumaon region, Uttarakhand

Also spelled: ghughute, khajure

The festival bread-sweet of Makar Sankranti in Kumaon. Sweet wheat dough is shaped into little birds, knots and rings, deep-fried, and strung into garlands that children wear before sharing them with the crows on the morning of the ghughutia festival.

Ingredients

  • •Whole wheat flour, 2 cups
  • •Jaggery, melted in a little water or milk
  • •Ghee, 2 tbsp, plus oil for frying
  • •Fennel seeds, cardamom

How it's made

  1. 1Knead the flour with melted jaggery, ghee and the spices into a stiff dough.
  2. 2Shape small pieces into birds, rings, knots and swords.
  3. 3Deep-fry on a medium flame until deep golden.
  4. 4Cool and thread into garlands for the children, keeping a share aside for the crows.
This recipe is a general reference written for readers who want to know the dish. Quantities are to taste and every household cooks it a little differently.