Nirvana Odu

I was bored of ladoos! It’s time for Milk Peda to take over. This gorgeous rose pattern was a quick and all time love ! Yeah, my neighbour said so.

When I think about Diwali, pedas are the first thing that come to mind. Not just for their sweetness but the melt-in-your-mouth texture. In our house, ladoos always played second fiddle to pedas during this festival. Diwali prep meant all the ladies of the house sitting cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by bowls of boondi, gujiya dough, and stacks of silver foils for pedas. I’d hover around like a sugar-deprived ninja, waiting to steal a bite. I just can’t resist!

Grown up – I still love pedas, but I thought why settle for ordinary when you can make them extraordinary? That’s when I stumbled on this rose design. One attempt, and I was hooked. These pedas are not only easy to make, but they’re also so looked stunning!

Now, let me take you through the quick baby steps to make these beauties:

Thinking about Peda / Pera reminds me of Diwali. In Diwali, pedas played an important role instead of the ladoos!

All ladies in the house would sit down to make pedas, boondi, gujiya and some savories.
This is milk/doodh Peda !!
The process of making the Peda is super easy!
Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp ghee (because everything tastes better with it)
• 1/2 cup milk (the hero ingredient)
• 1 cup milk powder (where all the magic happens)
• Cardamom powder (for that festive kick)
• Powdered sugar (sweeten to taste, but don’t overdo it—you’re sweet enough!)
• Red and green food colors (optional, but why not go all out?)

How to Make It:

1. Start Stirring Like a Pro:
   • Heat 1 tbsp ghee in a non-stick pan (non-stick saves lives—or at least your pedas!).
   • Add 1/2 cup of milk and 1 cup of milk powder. Stir it like you mean it to avoid lumps.
2. Turn Up the Heat… But Not Too Much:
   • Add another 1/2 cup of milk and keep stirring. The mixture will turn smooth, thick, and glossy. This is your moment—don’t stop!
   • When the mixture starts leaving the pan (like a good roommate finally moving out), it’s time to take it off the heat.
3. Add Flavor and Cool Down:
   • While the mixture is warm (not hot!), add cardamom powder and powdered sugar. Mix until it’s all well combined.
   • Knead it into a smooth dough once it’s cool enough to handle.
4. Divide, Color, and Conquer:
   • Separate the dough into two portions. Add red food color to one and green to the other. Knead until the colors are evenly blended.
5. Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin’:
   • Roll out the red dough on a sheet of parchment paper. Use a bottle cap (or anything round and fancy) to cut out small circles.
   • Start rolling one circle into a tight tube (this will be the center of your rose). Add more circles around it, overlapping slightly, to create petals. Be gentle—roses don’t bloom under pressure!
6. Leaf It to Creativity:
   • With the green dough, cut out small half-moon shapes for leaves. Stick them onto your rose to complete the masterpiece.

Serve this beauty:

Your rose-patterned pedas are ready to wow the crowd! Place them on a beautiful platter and watch as people hesitate to ruin your creation… but only for a moment, because these pedas are too irresistible to ignore.

Every bite of this peda takes me back to the hustle and bustle of Diwali prep—the chatter, the laughter, and the sweet aroma of tradition wafting through the house. While this rose design is a modern twist, it’s still rooted in the love and creativity that define every festive recipe.