Sweet Boondi in Cardamom Sugar Syrup

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Candy confections Medium

Tiny golden pearls of fried gram flour batter tossed in cardamom sugar syrup until they are coated and set. They are crunchy-sweet and dry to the touch. Makes 12 servings in about 4 hr 20 min.

Prep 20 min

Cook 120 min

Cooling 2 hr

Total 4 hr 20 min

Servings 12

Diet Dairy free, Vegan

Ingredients

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servings

1 ¼ cups (150 g)gram flour (besan), sifted
1 pinchbaking soda
⅔ cup (150 ml)water, for the batter
3 ⅓ cups (800 ml)neutral oil, for deep frying
¾ cup (150 g)granulated sugar
6 tbsp (90 ml)water, for the syrup
½ tsp (1 g)ground cardamom
2 tbsp (15 g)pistachios, chopped

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Instructions

Whisk the gram flour, baking soda and water to a smooth batter that is slightly thicker than pancake batter. Rest 10 minutes.
Heat the oil to 340 F (170 C). A drop of batter should rise quickly without browning.
Hold a slotted ladle with fine holes just above the oil, pour a few spoonfuls of batter over it and tap so tiny droplets fall in. Fry 30 to 45 seconds until pale gold and lightly crisp.
Lift out and drain on paper towels. Fry the rest in batches.
Boil the sugar and water in a pan for 5 to 7 minutes to a sticky one-thread syrup (about 225 F / 107 C); stir in the cardamom.
Toss the warm boondi in the syrup, stir until coated, and spread on a tray. Leave 1 to 2 hours until the syrup is absorbed and the sugar crystallizes.
Sprinkle with chopped pistachios.

Tips

Test the oil with one drop; if it browns instantly it is too hot.
Keep the batter slightly thick for round pearls.
Add the boondi to warm syrup, not boiling, so it doesn't turn soggy.
Hot frying oil and sugar syrup can cause severe burns; use a deep pot and never leave oil unattended.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make sweet boondi in cardamom sugar syrup?

Plan on 20 minutes of prep and 2 hours of cooking, plus 2 hours to chill. The recipe makes 12 servings.

How should I store sweet boondi in cardamom sugar syrup?

Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.

Can I make sweet boondi in cardamom sugar syrup ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Is this recipe vegan?

Yes, as written. Check that packaged ingredients such as chocolate, sprinkles and plant butter are labeled vegan.

Boondi is made of tiny pearls of chickpea (gram) flour batter fried and soaked in sugar syrup, eaten as a sweet or used in laddu. Serve it with masala chai.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

172 Calories / serving

8.7g Fat

22.4g Carbs

1.5g Protein

12.6g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~2064 cal · 104g fat · 269g carbs · 18g protein · 151g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.