Gulab Jamun in Kunafa Nests

This fusion Indian dessert comes with Kunafa nests as the base. It is filled with fresh or thick, unsweetened cream and mini Gulab Jamuns. Finally, topped with chopped pistachios for a little colour.
The kunafa is also sweetened with a drizzle of sugar syrup. Using unsweetened cream in this dish really helps balance the taste of this overall sweet dessert.

Gulab Jamuns are very soft in texture and it works really well with the crispiness of the Kunafa. This dessert is a blend of flavours and textures and it really is so wonderful!

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Fusion

Difficulty: Easy

Servings

12-24

servings

Total time

1

hour 

30

minutes

Ingredients

• 250gm Kunafa dough

• 1/2 cup melted butter

• 180gm Gulab Jamun Mix

• 150gm Fresh Cream

• Pistachio, for garnish

• Sugar syrup

• 3 cups granulated white sugar

• 4 cups water

• 2 Tbsp lemon juice

• 5 Cardamom pods

• 1 Tsp Saffron

Directions

• Start with the Sugar syrup, add the sugar and water in a saucepan on medium heat. Stir until all sugar is dissolved and let it come to a boil.
• Remove from heat and mix in the lemon juice, cardamom and saffron. Pour 3/4th of this syrup into a wide dish, this will be for the Gulab Jamun to be soaked in and the rest would be used to pour over the Kunafa nests later.
• Follow the instructions of your Gulab Jamun mix to make the dough.
• Make smaller balls with the dough about 1-2cm in diameter and deep fry them as per instructions until you get a golden brown exterior and it is cooked all the way through.
• Soak the Gulab Jamun for at least 45minutes in the prepared dish with sugar syrup.
• Meanwhile, prepare a cupcake baking pan by greasing it with non-stick spray and preheat the oven to 180°C.
  
  
• Take a thin strip of the kunafa dough, it should be a little long and using the melted butter and a pastry brush, coat the dough with butter evenly on all sides.
• Now, using your fingers twist the dough strands to create something like a nest about the size of your cupcake mould and stuff it into it. Ensure the base and the sides have enough Kunafa and is lightly pressed, so that it holds shape after baking.
• Create all the Kunafa nests and bake for about 12-15 minutes until the dough turns crisp and gets a light golden colour. Let it cool.
• For arranging, first put your Kunafa nests in the serving plate, apply a layer of fresh cream on the base. Put around 2-3 mini Gulab Jamuns on top and pour a little sugar syrup which was set aside on the Kunafa nests.
• Repeat for all, serve with chopped pistachios on top and enjoy!!