Badusha is a flaky deep fried Sweet that is soaked in sugar syrup and popularly made during Deepavali. This Sweet can be made as regular shape or with pleated sides. Mini Badushas are also very popular. Balushahi is the North Indian version of this Badusha, made with slightly different measurement.
It feels good to be back at the desk typing out this post. Peddu is doing better now. School reopened yesterday and they were supposed to wear their Deepavali attire. We felt so bad that he was missing out the fun. Chinnu was saying he will go to school only if Peddu goes with him, finally agreed knowing he will get to wear a "colour dress". Konda's school never follows this custom, so it was a pleasant surprise hearing that the boys school at least follows. Reminded me so much of my childhood, when we used to wear our Deepavali dress to school. Somehow I always remember having a day off after the festival.
Maybe it is with me growing up, but I have been feeling that festivals these days seem to have lost the glam and clam and serene feeling that comes to you. These days it always seem to be so hurried, people seem to be interested in lot other things like what's special on TV rather than actually going out to meet friends and relatives. Since we don't have any relatives living in the same city, it is only friends that we visit or who visit us. Somehow the Diwali day seem very long, long because we used to get up as early as 3 or 4 in the morning and it just goes on and on.
Amma used to start the Deepavali Snacks preparation some ten days ahead. She used to prepare so much for distribution and for ourselves. It was always Athirasam, Kaja, Rava Laddoo, Gulab Jamun as special on the menu. Athirasams and Kajas get done ahead while she normally prepares her killer Rava Laddoo and Gulab Jamun the previous day. Savory snack were always Ribbon Pakoda, Muruku and Mixture. It used to be a full time eating parade! Apart from this list other items are added on ad hoc basis.
As a child, I don't remember any Deepavali being spent not having any of these items on the day. But as years passed, the list got shorten, so much so that Dad sometimes suggests we buy outside. Amma would never hear any of it. She continues to make these but in smaller quantities.
After marriage, especially after blogging, Amma makes sure she asks me what special to make on each festival day. And Athamma never fails to remind me that we will have to try a new dish for the blog. It was the same this year too, only we couldn't execute what was planned. I was happy that at least we got to make Badusha. This was one sweet which we never tried ourselves.
It was during my college days that we got to know a cook who was a specialist in making Festival Sweets and Savories. Amma used to call her for making Kai Murukku, Laddoos, and Badushas. She used to come couple of days ahead and make it all at home and what fun it used to be! The way she used to twist her hand to make the Kai Murukku was simply such a great art. It was a Murukku that is completely shaped with fingers. And her Badushas were melt in the mouth, filled with sugary syrup that can make you crave for more. The sweets stay good for 10 days, of course only if you don't complete them all before that shelf life
Amma had this recipe with her for long time, every year planning to make it, somehow never doing it. So we were determined we should do it. With the discovery of Meenakshi ammal's book, she the had double resource to cross check. Since it was a first time experiment, we tried out with only 4 cups, which yielded about 30 medium or small Badushas.
We planned to make it when Peddu was sleeping, so it a was hurried job, I managed to get this through most of the steps. But before frying the entire batch, Peddu woke up, so had to give the camera to Konda to click the pictures. Yeah I have a budding photographer at home, who takes pretty pictures of the dish on hand, including many poses of herself in between. In between each shot there was one accompanying picture of Konda with varying expressions and she managed to click some of Amma too.
I made out plain Badushas and Corner Pleated ones. Out of the two, the pleated ones turned out more soft and sugary.
The pictures were taken as we cooked and there are no pretty pictures to share. I never got around taking them. And ten days later is not exactly the time to click pretty pictures of the sweet, even if some managed to stay put.
Step By Step pictures of making Badusha
Measure out the flour
Add the baking soda and shift well
Add the butter to the flour
Crumble well to get this texture.
well more like this.
Knead to a pliable dough.
Pinch out small balls
Flatten between your palms and make a dent in the middle like the above.
Deep fry the badusha in batches on medium heat.
To make the badusha with pleats or folds, flatten the ball like the above,
Start folding from a point in and out like above.
You will have something like this..
Deep fry these again in hot oil over medium flame.
Meanwhile, have the syrup cooking
Dip the fried badhushas in the hot sugar syrups
Allow them to cool over a plate.
Badusha Recipe | How to make Badhusha Step by Step Recipe
Makes 25 to 30 mini Badushas
Ingredients Needed
For the Badusha
4 cups All Purpose Flour / Maida
175 gms Butter
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1 & 1/4 cups Water
For Sugar Syrup
1.5 cups Sugar
A Pinch Cardamom
1.5 cups Water
1 tsp Milk (opt)
Cooking Oil for frying (you can add 3 tsp of ghee if you so wish)
Method to prepare:
To make the Badusha
Shift the flour along with Baking soda.
Get the butter to room temperature if it was refrigerated. Crumble the flour with the butter well until you know the flour is completely mixed with the butter.
Slowly add the water and start kneading the flour into a dough. Keep kneading until you get a dough that is very soft but elastic in texture. When you punch it, it should punch back. It is very important to have the dough very pliable and soft.
We didn't rest the dough but you can allow it to rest for 10 mins if you need.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a Kadai or Pan.
When you are set to fry the Badushas, pinch out small balls from the dough. Circle them between your hands to form perfect balls. Then using your palm, press them down to form a circle. Then press your index finger in the middle to make a dent. It mostly punches back, but make sure you press the hole down.
Now I don't know the reason why this dent is made. But I am guessing it is basically to give a shape and look, plus the required shape to get cooked differently on all sides.
How to make the pleated Badushas.
To pleat the corners, after you have made the circles start from one side, press out and press in. Continue doing this to join the start line. You will end up having a disc that looks like pleated on the outer edge with a bulge in the middle.
Once you have about 4 to 5, fry them in batches on medium flame. Ensure the heat is maintained at the same level so that it gets cooked in the inner well.
When it is cooked on both sides, drain them on a kitchen towel.
How to make the Sugar Syrup:
Mix the sugar with water and melt it. I normally strain it to remove the impurities. But you can add 1 tsp of milk which will get the impurities to surface to the top, which can be easily removed.
Continue cooking till you get one thread consistency. This can be checked by touching the syrup between your index and thumb. You will see one thread formed when you move your fingers away from each other.
At this stage add the cardamom, let it cook for few more seconds and switch off the flame.
To make the sugary Badushas
Dip the cooked Badushas into the hot syrup, press down well using a ladle. Allow a couple of minutes of standing time, remove out of the pan. It will absorb syrup when both are quite hot.
If the Syrup gets cold, you can heat it again on low flame. If required add little water to thin it.
Once all the Badushas are done, spread them on a plate, allowing it to cool down a bit.
These are normally supposed to stay good for 10 days when stored well.
Badusha Recipe | How to make Badhusha Step by Step Recipe
Ingredients
For the Badusha
- 4 cups All purpose flour / Maida
- 175 gms Butter
- 1/4 tsp Baking Soda
- 1 & 1/4 cups Water
For Sugar Syrup
- 1.5 cups Sugar
- A Pinch Cardamom
- 1.5 cups Water
- 1 tsp Milk opt
- Cooking Oil for frying (you can add 3 tsp of ghee if you so wish)
Instructions
To make the Badusha
- Shift the flour along with Baking soda.
- Get the butter to room temperature if it was refrigerated. Crumble the flour with the butter well until you know the flour is completely mixed with the butter.
- Slowly add the water and start kneading the flour into a dough. Keep kneading until you get a dough that is very soft but elastic in texture. When you punch it, it should punch back. It is very important to have the dough very pliable and soft.
- We didn't rest the dough but you can allow it to rest for 10 mins if you need.
- Meanwhile, heat the oil in a Kadai or Pan.
- When you are set to fry the Badushas, pinch out small balls from the dough. Circle them between your hands to form perfect balls. Then using your palm, press them down to form a circle. Then press your index finger in the middle to make a dent. It mostly punches back, but make sure you press the hole down.
- Now I don't know the reason why this dent is made. But I am guessing it is basically to give a shape and look, plus the required shape to get cooked differently on all sides.
How to make the pleated Badushas.
- To pleat the corners, after you have made the circles start from one side, press out and press in. Continue doing this to join the start line. You will end up having a disc that looks like pleated on the outer edge with a bulge in the middle.
- Once you have about 4 to 5, fry them in batches on medium flame. Ensure the heat is maintained at the same level so that it gets cooked in the inner well.
- When it is cooked on both sides, drain them on a kitchen towel.
How to make the Sugar Syrup:
- Mix the sugar with water and melt it. I normally strain it to remove the impurities. But you can add 1 tsp of milk which will get the impurities to surface to the top, which can be easily removed.
- Continue cooking till you get one thread consistency. This can be checked by touching the syrup between your index and thumb. You will see one thread formed when you move your fingers away from each other.
- At this stage add the cardamom, let it cook for few more seconds and switch off the flame.
To make the sugary Badushas
- Dip the cooked Badushas into the hot syrup, press down well using a ladle. Allow a couple of minutes of standing time, remove out of the pan. It will absorb syrup when both are quite hot.
- If the Syrup gets cold, you can heat it again on low flame. If required add little water to thin it.
- Once all the Badushas are done, spread them on a plate, allowing it to cool down a bit.
- These are normally supposed to stay good for 10 days when stored well.
I wish to thank all my friends and readers who wrote back reading this post. I was overwhelmed with the wishes.
kanthi says
Badusha looks tempting and truely delicious
Smitha says
THis is another sweet which I haven't tried by my own and always meaning to try..i will have to try soon!...they look beautiful Srivalli!
Paaka Shaale says
I'm glad that Peddu is doing alright now. The badusha looks so tempting.
Sailaja Damodaran says
Looks very yummy........
rekhas kitchen says
super recipe valli Badusha luuks so tempting.
Preethi Sriram says
Wow ... Nice recipe.. My Lalli amma ( mother in law ) used to do that yummy.
Now i think i can even give a try. it looks so simple
Priya says
Badusha looks excellent, very useful for many of us..
Happy Cook says
Looks so so yumm. Wish i could grab few.
Hari Chandana says
Wowwwwwwwwwwwww... Badusha looks so so so tempting and delicious.. Amazing job dear.. thanks for sharing.. lovely step by step photos 🙂
Divya Vikram says
I remember my grandma making badushas on occasions. ooks perfect Valli. Hope Peddu is alright now 🙂
Sukanya says
The Badusha looks so perfect. I tried making it before but not so successful so never tried after that. But seeing your step by step procedure, I think I will give it another try.
Hamaree Rasoi says
Badusha looks wondeful. So tempting. Thanks for sharing the comprehensive recipe for the preparation.
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
jayasree says
I love that pleats around badusha..looks very artistic.
lata raja says
hope the little boy is alright now. Pity he did not get to enjoy all of these yummies.
and wah wah to A for good pictures. is she putting hers up in her blog? will head there if so.
Sitting the laptop on the floor and tapping the keyboard away is painful on the back of the palm....hence there are a few more read-only days from me..with occasional comments.
Srivalli says
Thank you friends..it was good, planning to make more this weekend. Yep Peddu is better now.
Lataji, pls take care. Sitting down on the floor gets worse after a while. Konda is paiting a lot, will have to get her put them on the blog
dr.antony says
Tempting !!
KamalKitchen says
looks awesome..hey is this a version of balushahi that they have up north?
thanks..
Chow and Chatter says
love your step by step posts really helped when I made your halwa!
indianspicemagic says
Looks yummy..... I love this
Aparna says
These are gorgeous. Have never made them myself yet, but I shall (before next Diwali, I hope!) 😀
sabina says
Hi Valli,
Am sabina previously asked u some doubts abt murukku,,,i've got the rice ready and put it to dry plannd to make murukku tmw...so day aftwer badhusha i wud like to know how many mini badhusha's tis above said qty yeilds..so i can measure according to my requirements...am leaving to mom's place nxt week for christmas...so planning to make sweets for christmas to distribute to my friends...pls can u reply to my post asap..Thanku...Will get back with my feedback ...
Srivalli says
Sabina It gave about 25 mini ones. Hope it comes out well
Sashank Krishna says
It's very nice and yummy!
Anonymous says
Good