Imarti

100 gm urad dal

¼ tsp orange-red colouring

1 tsp cornflour/flour (option)

250 ml refined oil

For sugar syrup:

300 gm sugar

150 ml water

2 green cardamom

1. Wash and soak urad dal for about 4 hours.
2. Grind it very finely with as minimum water as possible.

3. Beat the urad mixture for about 10 minutes with a wooden spoon. 

4. The mixture would be so fluffy that if you drop a small portion in water the mixture would float.

5. Add ¼ tsp of the colour and the corn flour and mix well. 

6. The mixture should be of thick dropping consistency. 

7. If it is thinner, add more corn flour.

8. Take an icing bag in a glass as shown in the picture and fill it up with the urad mixture and keep it aside.

9. In a pan add the water and sugar. 

10. Crush the cardamom and add to the sugar mixture. 

11. Heat the mixture over medium heat till sugar syrup is little sticky between your two fingers.  

12. Remove it from the heat and pour it into a smaller bowl so that it will be easier to soak the imarti.                                                     

13. If you are trying out imarti for the first time, make a small cut at the end of the cone and practice the shape of the imarti on a plate few times.

14. Heat a flat bottom pan and add the oil.

15. The oil should be slightly warm. 

16. Shape your imarti one at a time. 

17. Fry on both side till crisp. 

18. Remove it from the oil.  Allow the excess oil to drip out.

19. Dip the imarti in the sugar syrup for some time and drain out the excess sugar syrup. 

20. You should get about 20 medium size imarti with the given amount. 

21. Serve hot. It is great !