Gujiya

Gujiya

Gujiya, also known as Gughara, Pedakiya, Karanji, Kajjikayalu, Somas, and Karjikayi, is a sweet, deep-fried dumpling that is a popular dessert in the Indian subcontinent. This delicacy is made using either suji (semolina) or maida (all-purpose flour), which is stuffed with a mixture of sweetened khoa (milk solids, also called mawa) and dried fruits. The dumpling is then fried in ghee to give it a crispy texture.
The earliest mention of gujiya dates back to the 13th century, when a jaggery-honey mixture was covered with wheat flour and was sun-dried. The preparation method of a typical gujiya/pedakiya is rather similar to that of a samosa, but the gujiya/pedakiya looks like an empanada. Shaped like a half moon, the gujiya or pedakiya is filled with a sweet mixture of grated and roasted dried fruits, khoa, grated coconut, and a hint of suji to lend it a grainy texture.