Introducing our unique twist on the Gujarati classic Fada Lapsi - this is Caramel Lapsi. I add a rich caramel sauce instead of sugar to give a deep, warm, toffee-like sweetness.
You might think that caramel is an odd flavour combination for Indian sweets, but prepare to be pleasantly surprised! I use it in my caramel lassi and caramel badam malai peda and they've been huge hits with my family. And even salted caramel in these air fryer baklava.
After all, even makhandi halwa is a traditional South Asian dessert but is made with special techniques to caramelise sugar!
Traditional fada lapsi is usually sweetened with jaggery or sugar. The caramel gives the lapsi a deeper, buttery sweetness without needing to make a separate syrup.
It melts into the cooked cracked wheat and makes the whole dessert taste richer. Then, I keep the flavouring simple with cardamom only.
Caramel Lapsi Ingredients
Fada
Fada is cracked wheat, also called broken wheat, crushed wheat or dalia.
Roasting it in ghee first gives the lapsi its nutty flavour and helps stop it becoming mushy.
Ghee
Ghee gives the best aroma and richness for Indian sweets.
I like using homemade ghee from unsalted butter but shop-bought pure butter ghee works too.
Caramel
I have used tinned caramel or dulce de leche which keeps the recipe quick and easy.
Nuts
I have used whole cashews and slivers of almonds and pistachios which are added half way through toasting the cracked wheat. They can burn if added too early. I also like to reserve some for garnishing later.
Cardamom
Cardamom works beautifully with caramel. I like using homemade cardamom powder which is fresh but shop-bought works equally well.
How to Make Caramel Lapsi
- Step 1: Toast cracked wheat in ghee on low heat until light brown.
- Step 2: About half way through, add the nuts and keep toasting gently.
- Step 3: Pour over boiling hot water.
- Step 4: Cook covered until the cracked wheat has softened and develops a porridge like consistency.
- Step 5: Add the caramel and mix in well.
- Step 6: Add the cardamom powder and remove from the heat. Serve warm!
Serving Ideas
Traditional lapsi is usually served in a Gujarati thali.
I like being a bit more inventive with caramel lapsi. Warm lapsi is really good with my eggless vanilla ice cream that I make in the ice cream maker or a delicate cardamom sweet whipped cream.
I guarantee it would be the talk of the table when served as part of a Diwali dinner menu.
As always if you make this recipe, be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe and tag me on Instagram @jcookingodyssey or #jcookingodyssey. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!
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📖 Recipe
Caramel Lapsi
Ingredients
- 1 cup cracked wheat
- ¼ cup ghee
- 1 ¼ cup caramel or dulce de leche
- 3 cup boiling water
- 2 tablespoon cashews whole
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 3-4 tablespoon mixed nuts pistachio and almond slivers
Instructions
- Heat ¼ cup ghee in a pan and add 1 cup cracked wheat . Toast gently on low heat for approximately 5 minutes then add 2 tablespoon cashews and 3-4 tablespoon mixed nuts. Continue cooking until the wheat is light brown.
- Pour in 3 cup boiling water (you may want to start with 2 cups) and mix well. Cover with a lid and allow the wheat to cook until soft. Add more water if needed.
- Add 1 ¼ cup caramel and cook until the caramel mixes in and the lapsi thickens.
- Add 1 teaspoon ground cardamom and remove from the heat. Mix well and serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
PLEASE NOTE: Nutritional values are estimated by a computer and may vary based on ingredients and portion sizes. For personalised dietary advice, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
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Anonymous says
can I make in instant pot? If so how much time should I pressure cook for instead of 3 whistles?
jcookingodyssey says
Hello, yes this can be made in an Instant pot. I would say 15 minutes on high pressure and 10 minutes NPR.
Priya Satheesh says
Delicious sweet and the lovely clicks gives a festive mood ! Loved it !
Shobha says
We Sindhis also make lapsi .. I love the one with jaggery.