Sugar syrup is a simple dish that can make any dessert taste like heaven. It is a must-add to many traditional Indian desserts. All you have to do is mix sugar and water in a ratio of 2:1 and heat in a pan on low flame. Keep stirring the mixture slowly in between to ensure that the sugar is completely dissolved.
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However, if you have bought sweets for home, like gulab jamun, you might end up with extra sugar syrup that can be used to make other delicacies rather than throwing it away. Here is how to use it for other delights.
Shahi Tukda
It is one of the easiest traditional delights that you can make at home if you have leftover sugar syrup in your refrigerator. Cut the sides of bread slices and divide each into four triangular pieces. Deep fry these pieces in desi ghee until both sides turn brown and crispy. Dip these hot pieces in chashni and let them absorb the sweet flavour of it. You can serve them with rabri after topping them with a few strands of saffron and edible flowers.
Fruit Bowl
There is nothing better for breakfast or as a mid-meal snack than a bowl of fruits. Cut your favourite fruits like kiwi, mango, strawberry, banana, berries, etc. Add some yoghurt or hung curd and drizzle sugar syrup on the top. Keep the bowl in the refrigerator for the syrup to thicken a bit and enjoy this delicious bowl for a meal. You can consume it while you are fasting as well.
Puran Poli
Popular in Maharashtra and South India, puran poli is a sweet flatbread, quite similar to cheeni paratha. It is also referred to as obbattu, bakshamulu, holige, boli, poley, and bobbattlu. Add a few spices to the leftover sugar syrup and mix everything together. Cook the syrup with chana dal and add it to the flour. Knead the mix into a dough and make delicious flatbreads to feed your loved ones and guests.
Malpua
Malpua is a sweet dish made with fennel seeds, rice flour, semolina, and sugar. Instead of sugar, you can use sugar syrup. These are desi pancakes in which the batter is cooked in ghee and fried until its crust becomes crispy and golden brown. Once you take them out of oil, immerse them directly into sugar syrup and let them soak all the sweetness. Serve them hot after topping with pistachios and your favourite dry fruits.
Sweet Rice
Have you ever eaten meetha pulao or zarda pulao? It is often made during festivals or special occasions and offered to Gods. To make it, first, soak some rice. When you start cooking rice, pour some sugar syrup, saffron, and aromatic spices. Kesar will add fragrance and yellow colour. Once the dish is ready, top it with dry fruits, rose water or vanilla extract, and rose petals.
Amla Murabba
Amla murabba is not only a traditional sweet Indian dish but also a DIY Ayurvedic remedy often prescribed to people because of its potential health benefits. It is also served as a side dish in many households. Cook the soaked and pickled Indian gooseberries with sugar syrup and store them in an airtight container.