Holi is approaching and so our excitement. Gujia or Karanji is a sweet made on holi to celebrate the freshness of spring which starts on holi.
The moon which is full on this day shines bright and its reflection brings a sense of positivity on us. It marks the victory of truth over deceit , goodness over evil and its agni(holika dahan) purifies our soul.It is celebrated with colours which shows that a perfect life is full of different colours . One who lives ,indulge and experience the life as it comes is alive.Just filter out the goodness and leave the rest for the devil,since in the end the truth prevails.
SO here I present to you a common recipe :

Ingredients:
1. All-purpose Flour (maida) – 4 Cups
2. Sugar – 2 cups
3. Roasted Mawa (Khoya) – 2 cups
4. Coconut powder – ¹⁄₂ cup or according to taste
5. Cashew Nuts(cut in small pieces)(kaju) – 2 tbsp
6. Pistachios – 2 tbsp
7. Almonds (sliced or shredded )(badam)- 2 tbsp
8. Raisins(kishmish) – 3 tbsp
9. Cardamom powder ( ground elaichi)- 2 tsp
10. Nutmeg powder (jaiphal) – ¹⁄₂ tsp
11. Vegetable oil/ghee – 1 cup

Method:
1. Take 453g of ricotta cheese and heat it in a wok with 1 tbsp clarified butter or ghee. Make mawa out of it. for details follow this link Mawa.

2. In the same wok or pan roast the mawa for 3-4 mins until it starts secreting some ghee and the wok gets oily at the base. The mawa will harden a bit and will get little dark in colour . But don’t overcook it or it may get burnt.

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> 3. Now take it out in a bowl and let the khoya cool down to the room temperature.
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> 4. Add the dry-fruits,cardamom,nutmeg and coconut powder to it and mix them well with a spatula.
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> 5. In the meanwhile take flour in a paraat or large bowl and add oil in it or ghee and mix it well with hands such that you are able to hold the bind flour in your hand.Add water little by little and make a dough out of it.
> The dough should neither be tight nor too soft but just like the dough made for puris.
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> 6. Now the mawa-mix has cooled down,so you may go ahead and add sugar to it.Mix it well.
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> 7. From the covered dough , make small loi or rounds out of it,flatten them between palms.Roll out a circle out of it .
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> 8. Now place 1-2 spoonsful of mawa-mix in the semi-circle portion leaving the sides.
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> 9. Lift the other half and close it tightly with both hands such that no edge is left open and the air comes out. > > 10. Now take a fork and make marks all round the curve of the semi-circle such that u get a teeth-shape design and the layers are locked well.
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> 11. Now set the oven at 400 Degree F.Take a baking tray and sprinkle some dry flour over it and spread it well. Now layer the tray one by one with all the gujias as the tray can accomodate.
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> 12. Bake them till light golden brown.
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> 13. Take them out and let them cool to the room temperature. > > > > Your yummy gujias are ready. They are crisp from outside and soft from inside and that too non-oily and healthy.
> So indulge in sweets without any guilt..