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Gujarati Magas, step by step on video
See how the besan is rubbed with ghee and milk, sieved, roasted in ghee until light pink, sweetened and set.
15:18 · Recipe video · Cooking with Siddhi
Magas is the Gujarati style of making besan burfi, with coarse chickpea flour, ghee and sugar. It is a popular Gujarati Diwali sweet.
The besan is rubbed with a ghee and milk mixture, rested and sieved, roasted in ghee until light pink, then mixed with powdered sugar and cardamom, spread, garnished and cut like a burfi. Follow the steps carefully for a soft, melt in the mouth magas.
Every recipe on Cooking with Siddhi is cooked in my own kitchen before it goes live.
Why you will love this Gujarati magas
- Diwali favourite: a popular Gujarati Diwali sweet.
- Melt in mouth: soft magas.
- Step by step: follow it properly for perfect magas.
- Ready in 25 to 30 minutes: plus setting time.
Ingredient notes
- Besan: 500 g coarse chickpea flour.
- Ghee: 1/4 cup mixed with the warm milk, plus 300 ml for roasting (250 ml first, 50 ml more if dry).
- Milk: 1/4 cup, warm.
- Sugar: 1 cup, powdered, added in two halves.
Gujarati Magas Recipe
Gujarati magas, or besan burfi: coarse besan rubbed with ghee and milk, sieved, roasted in ghee until light pink, mixed with powdered sugar and cardamom, set and cut like a burfi.
Ingredients
- 500 g coarse chickpea flour (besan)
- 300 ml clarified butter (ghee), for roasting
- 1 cup sugar, powdered
- 1/4 cup warm milk
- 1/4 cup clarified butter (ghee), to mix with the milk
- Sliced dry fruits, to garnish
- 1/2 tsp cardamom, coarsely crushed
Instructions
- Mix ghee and milk. Add the warm milk to the 1/4 cup ghee and mix well.
- Rub the besan. In a large bowl, add the chickpea flour and 2 to 3 tbsp of the ghee and milk mixture. Crush the flour between your palms so it turns grainy. Repeat, making sure there are no lumps. Pat the top to set it and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Sieve. After 15 minutes, mix the flour again with your palms and pass it through a sieve onto another plate.
- Roast. Heat a kadhai on a low flame. Pour in 250 ml ghee and immediately add the sieved flour. On a full flame, roast for about 2 minutes, stirring continuously.
- Roast until light pink. If the mixture is dry, add the other 50 ml ghee and keep cooking. Roast, stirring continuously, until light pink. Switch off the flame and transfer it to another bowl to cool.
- Cool. To cool it faster, place the bowl in a larger bowl of ice and water. Keep it a little warm.
- Add sugar. Add half of the powdered sugar with the crushed cardamom and mix. Add the other half and mix again.
- Mash. Mash it between your palms until the ghee starts to separate and the mixture becomes softer. Knead for a few seconds. Add more sugar to your liking and mash well.
- Spread and garnish. Take it out onto a plate, spread it evenly and garnish with the dry fruits.
- Set and cut. Let it set for 15 to 20 minutes, then cut it into rectangles like a burfi.
Recipe by Siddhi Panchal.
Tips for Gujarati magas
- Use coarse chickpea flour.
- Rub the besan with the ghee and milk mixture until grainy, with no lumps, and sieve it after resting.
- Roast until light pink, adding the extra 50 ml ghee only if the mixture is dry.
- Add the sugar while the mixture is still a little warm.
What to serve with Gujarati Magas
Cut the magas into rectangles and serve it at Diwali. For more festive sweets, try my Peanut Ladoo, Mawa Gujiya and Makai Halwa.
Gujarati Magas FAQs
What is magas?
Magas is the Gujarati style of besan burfi, made with coarse chickpea flour, ghee and sugar.
How is the besan prepared before roasting?
Siddhi rubs the besan with the ghee and milk mixture until it is grainy, rests it for 10 to 15 minutes and sieves it before roasting.
How do I know the besan is roasted?
Roast it, stirring continuously, until it turns light pink.
When does the sugar go in?
Once the roasted mixture has cooled but is still a little warm. Add it in two halves with the cardamom.
How long does it take?
About 10 minutes of prep and 15 to 20 minutes of cooking, so 25 to 30 minutes, plus 15 to 20 minutes to set.
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