Jalebi

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain yogurt
• ½ cup hot water
• 1 cup flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder, sifted
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• ¼ teaspoon saffron threads, powdered
• vegetable oil for deep frying

Method:

1. In a bowl, whip yogurt with a fork, slowly adding the water.
2. In another small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt and add to the yogurt mixture. Whisk to form a smooth, lump-free batter. Set aside.
3. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar and water and cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook until the syrup is lightly sticky, about 3 minutes longer. Stir in the saffron and remove from the heat.
4. In a wide saucepan, pour in vegetable oil to depth of 2 inches (5 cm) and warm over medium-high heat to 375 F (190 C) on a deep frying thermometer.
5. Pour the batter into a squeeze bottle, such as a ketchup dispenser. When the oil is hot, squeeze a few spirals of batter, each about 3 inches (7.5 cm) in diameter, directly into the oil.
6. Fry the pastries, turning once, until golden and crisp, about 1 minute. Using tongs, remove each pastry from the oil and immediately dip it in warm sugar syrup, immersing it fully, then transfer to a plate.
7. Cook the remaining batter in the same way.
8. Serve the pastries hot or at room temperature.