Largest Jalebi

Jalebi the mouth watering sweet dish for many of us got elevated to international prominence. And the honours for the sweet was done by a   Shillong based local confectioner Kailash   Verma. Verma made the India born Jalebi   a sweet known across borders. So if the feat is unique even taste can cross geographical   boundaries to make the whole world dazzled by   the achievement. The north eastern state of Meghalaya has created a record for frying the largest jalebi. The main feature of the autumn festival organized by Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF) was a 15 kilograms, 75-inch diameter Jalebi-setting the world record for the Largest Jalebi. Five burners were put to good use to deep-fry the 'maida' flour batter in a pretzel shape. Jalebi is one of the most popular sweets in India and is served as the 'celebration sweet' of India. Delhi Misthan Bhandar is one of the oldest shops in Police Bazar, located in downtown Shillong. Meghalaya Tourism Minister, Conrad K Sangma and General Officer Commanding, 101 Area, Maj. Gen. K L Sethi, who were the adjudicators of the event, declared that Meghalaya set another world record for frying the largest jalebi.
The jalebi was made of 3kg flour, 60kg ghee and 80kg syrup and fried by 20 people in a round frying pan of 76-inch diameter. 

 It was fried in a specially fabricated 'karhai' by as many as six cooks with the support of 14 others who used 50 liter   of vegetable oil, 3 kg of flour and 30 liter of sugar syrup, Verma, proprietor of Delhi Mistan Bhandar, which is celebrating its platinum jubilee with the feat, said   that   the world’s biggest jalebi prepared by the popular sweet shop in city - Delhi Mistan marked the 75th years of its existence in Shillong. Six cooks and 14 helpers were involved in the making of the world’s biggest jalebi.

MTDF chairperson R.G. Lyngdoh hoped the world records would mark Shillong as a happening place and boost tourism. Sangma said Shillong was safe for tourists despite the bomb blasts in neighbouring Assam. 

Verma expressed great happiness after the record was officially declared   and said he was extremely proud   of the achievement.  It was Verma’s   Delhi Mistan Bhandar that took the initiative to fry   the largest   jalebi. So   it was indeed a great moment for them.

THE JALEBI RECIPE 

  Ingredients 
  2 cups all purpose flour (maida), 
  1½ tbsp. fine grained semolina or rice flour,
  ¼ tsp. baking powder, 
  2 tbsp curd (plain yogurt), 
  1¼ cups warm water, 
  ½ tsp. saffron threads, slowly dry-roasted and powdered, 
  4 cups sugar, 
  2 2/3 cups water,
  ½ tsp green cardamom seeds powder, 
  1½ tbsp. kewra water or rose water, 
  Ghee or vegetable oil for frying 

  Preparation 

  Mix the flour, semolina or rice flour, baking powder, curd and 3/4th cup of the water in a bowl (preferably a ceramic bowl). Mix well with a whisk. 
  Add remaining water and 1/8th tsp. of saffron powder, and whisk until smooth. Set aside for about 2 hours to ferment. Whisk thoroughly before use. 
  Prepare one string  syrup by dissolving sugar in the water. Just before the syrup is ready add saffron and cardamom powder. Heat oil in  a ‘kadhai’. 
   Pour the batter in a steady stream into the ‘kadhai’ to form coils. Make a few at a time. Deep fry them until they are golden and crisp all over but not brown. 
  Remove from the ‘kadhai’ and drain on kitchen paper and immerse in the syrup. 
  Leave in the syrup for at least 4-5 minutes so that they are thoroughly soaked. 
   Take them out of syrup and serve hot or let it cool n serve. 

The largest jalebi   weighed   15 Kilograms   measured 75 inches in diameter  was set by Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum          at Shillong, India on November 2, 2008.