Mathura Ke Pede

Ashadhi Ekadashi which is considered the most auspicious Ekadashi fast for Hindus was today. Yes I did fast today. Made healthy steamed buckwheat dhoklas for lunch and my husband's favorite sabudana khichdi for dinner.

As a part of my offering, I prepared special pedas using my mother-in-laws foolproof recipe. These pedas are very special. Pedas or Pendas are of so many types and flavors, but these ones are specifically from Mathura. Irregularly shaped, dark brown, slightly spiced, sugar coated ones are very popular in Mathura, the birth place of Lord Krishna. Hence these pedas are called Mathura ke Pede. I have fond memories of Mathura, and so these are my favorite.

Ingredients
1 cup soft, fresh mawa
1/4 cup regular sugar
1/4 cup+2 tbsp sugar powdered
1 tsp. clove powder
1 tsp. nutmeg powder
1 tsp. cardamom powder

• Grate or crumble fresh Khoya/mawa into a bowl. If mawa is dry, it will turn to hard pede. Add some fresh milk to soften it.
• To every 1 cup khoya/mawa/dehydrated milk add 1/4 cup regular sugar and keep it aside for 10-15 minutes.
• Powder 1/4 cup + 2tbsp. of sugar and set it aside. Also keep 1 tsp. nutmeg powder, 1 tsp. clove powder, and 1 tsp. cardamom powder ready. 
• Transfer sugar and mawa mixture into a heavy bottom nonstick pan.
• Roast the mixture over medium to low heat till it turns brown. 
• This process would take around 20-30 minutes.
• Turn off the heat.
• Turn off the heat.
• Immediately add 1 tsp. nutmeg powder, 1 tsp. clove powder, and 1 tsp.  cardamom powder. Mix well. These spices are really important. This is what gives these Pedas a distinctive flavor.
• Also add 1/4 cup of powdered sugar to the mixture while the mixture is nice and hot. Mix well. Keep 2 tbsp. powdered mixture aside for coating pedas.(I usually grind regular sugar in my mixer grinder to powder it. Keep your spices and powdered sugar ready before you start roasting mawa mixture). 
• Form small, irregularly shaped, rock like structures and roll them in some powdered sugar.

 Here is step-by-step pictorial recipe:

 Grate or crumble fresh Khoya/mawa into a bowl.
If mawa is dry, it will turn to hard pede. Add some fresh milk to soften it.

To every 1 cup khoya/mawa/dehydrated milk add 1/4 cup regular sugar and keep it aside for 10-15 minutes.

Powder 1/4 cup + 2tbsp. of sugar and set it aside. Also keep 1 tsp. nutmeg powder, 1 tsp. clove powder, and 1 tsp. cardamom powder ready. 

Transfer sugar and mawa mixture into a heavy bottom nonstick pan.

Roast the mixture over medium to low heat till it turns brown. 

This process would take around 20-30 minutes.

Turn off the heat. 

Immediately add 1 tsp. nutmeg powder, 1 tsp. clove powder, and 1 tsp.  cardamom powder. Mix well. These spices are really important. This is what gives these Pedas a distinctive flavor.

Also add 1/4 cup of powdered sugar to the mixture while the mixture is nice and hot. Mix well. Keep 2 tbsp. powdered mixture aside for coating pedas.

(I usually grind regular sugar in my mixer grinder to powder it. Keep your spices and powdered sugar ready before you start roasting mawa mixture)

Form small, irregularly shaped, rock like structures and roll them in some powdered sugar.

So easy!!

Deliciously Sweet and Spiced Pedas are ready to serve!!