Agra Petha Recipe

Petha is a soft candy which is popularly made in Agra! It is made from ash gourd (also called Petha, Winter melon, or Boodu Kumbalakai). So, recently, I was craving for some, and I thought why not make some myself and share it with you all master chefs too! So here we are on how to make Agra petha recipe.

INGREDIENTS:-

1. Ash gourd (Petha/ Winter melon/ Boodu Kumbalakai) – 1kg
2. Sugar – 2cup
3. Limestone/ chuna/ sunna – 1tsp
4. Vanilla essence – 4 to 5 drops
5. Food color – a pinch
6. Water

HOW TO MAKE AGRA PETHA

1. Take a ripened ash gourd and slice it into cubes or any shape of your choice.
2. Make sure that the green peel and the seedy flesh is completely removed.
3. Now poke the ash gourd pieces using a fork from all sides and keep aside.
4. In a large bowl take 1litre water and dissolve 1tsp of limestone in it.
5. Now add the ash gourd cubes in it and soak for about 12 to 24 hours.
6. Wash the ash gourd cubes thoroughly 4 to 5 times in water.
7. Now in a deep pan or vessel boil 1 liter of water and get it to boil.
8. Add in the washed ash gourd cubes and cook it for 15 minutes.
9. Now transfer it into the ice-cold water and let it cool for 5 minutes.
10. Take a large Kadai and add 2 cups sugar and 1 cup water and let the sugar dissolve completely.
11. Now add a pinch of food color into the above sugar syrup. I have used saffron food color, you can use the color of your choice.
12. Now add in the ash gourd pieces and boil until the color of pieces turns transparent with occasional stirring.
13. Finally, add 4 to 5 drops of vanilla essence.
14. Once the ash gourd pieces turn transparent transfer it into a mesh and let it air dry for 12 hours.
15. Now the delicious Agra Petha is ready to be served.

Bon Appetit! Let us know if you have tried this and how your experience was!