Peda is a small, oval-shaped sweet cherished in Indian cuisine. These sugarplums are small but mighty in taste, boasting a rich flavor and soft texture. Traditionally, peda is made with just a few ingredients: dried milk solids (khoya or mawa), sugar, and a choice of spices. This delicacy originated centuries ago, with its roots traced back to the city of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, a holy city in Hindu mythology and the birthplace of Lord Krishna. During prayers, devotees offer different types of peda to Krishna, lovingly called Bal Gopal as one of their forms. Peda is a common sacred offering in temples.
Initially, it was a simple milk peda, but over time, it has evolved into many flavors and variations. The recipe has been passed down through generations, with skilled confectioners and sweet makers continually innovating to enhance its taste. Peda has a fascinating history, often mentioned in folklore, and its unchanging flavor evokes nostalgia for many Indians, giving this fudge-like sweet an impressive character.
Unveiling 4 irresistible Peda varieties
These bite-sized sweets are irresistible with several options to choose from. Follow along to check out some options.
1. Mawa Peda
Mawa, also known as Khoya or Khoa, is the key ingredient in this recipe. Making this treat is easy if you use store-bought mawa. However, for an authentic experience, the process of making mawa at home, while lengthy, is simple. Full-fat milk is slowly cooked down until it evaporates to one-fourth of its original quantity, resulting in mawa. The next steps are straightforward: add sugar, cardamom, and saffron milk to the mawa. Cook the mixture on a low flame until it starts to leave the sides of the pan, forming a dough. Once cooled, shape the dough into round balls to create these types of peda.
2. Kesari Peda
The word “Kesari” comes from “Kesar”, also known as Saffron. It is a golden-colored part of a flower(Crocus-Sativus) that has a strong exotic smell. This part of the flower is dried and used as a spice for flavoring, and also as a food dye color. Saffron’s cultivation is so tedious and pure that priests made saffron the official color for their robes. Among all the different types of peda, people consider it a special sweet that is often used for gifting and religious ceremonies.
3. Mathura Peda
This is a distinct group of pedas because they have the holy city of Mathura as their brand name. The sweet treat known as Mathura ka peda consists of mawa (khoya), sugar, and ghee flavored with cardamom (elaichi). After hours of cooking this mixture on low flame, it gets a rich golden brown caramelized color. Like Mathura Peda, there are a few other varieties which are also named after a place or a city. If you go to Mathura, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, you will experience the fame of Mathura ke Pede. It is well-known in all the sweet shops around that city.
4. White Peda
As the name suggests, White Peda is a soft, creamy mithai that melts in your mouth. Each bite overflows with goodness, making it an indulgent sweet delight. The simplicity of these type of peda is genuinely marvelous. Traditional white peda is made with mawa (milk solids), sugar, and ghee, with cardamom added for extra flavor. Garnishing with pistachios or rose petals provides a beautiful contrast to the pedas’ pristine white color, enhancing the classic treat’s appearance and taste.
Order Your Favorite Peda Online Now!
- Download and install the Swiggy App. Get it from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Install the app and open it.
- Login or Sign Up: If you’re a new user, you’ll need to sign up for a Swiggy account. You can sign up using your email and phone number. Or, you can use social media accounts like Facebook or Google. If you’re an existing user, simply log in with your credentials.
- Enter Your Location. You can enter your address or allow the app to use your device’s GPS to find it.
- Browse Restaurants. After you enter your location, you can browse the options. You can also use filters to narrow your search. You can check peda restaurants near me and select your favorite. You can place an order by tapping on them.
- Proceed to Checkout. Once you’re happy with your order, tap “Proceed to Checkout” to go to the payment screen.
- Choose Payment Method: Select your preferred payment method. Swiggy accepts many payment options. These include credit/debit cards, digital wallets, and cash on delivery (where available). Once everything looks good, tap on the “Place Order” button to confirm your order. Once your food arrives, enjoy your delicious meal!
Conclusion
Pedas and festivals go hand-in-hand and different types of peda are used as a gesture of love and happiness. A box of this sweet is a humble yet profoundly delicious choice to serve, gift or enjoy on any regular day. These types of peda are not just addictive and yummy but they also have a decent shelf life of 6-7 days in the refrigerator. It is a no-brainer to indulge in a number of different types of peda.
FAQ
1. Which state is famous in India for Peda?
All types of peda originated in the holy city of Mathura, which is now in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
2. Which Peda is best?
The golden-brown Mathura Peda is an iconic mithai and is one of the most loved peda. White Peda or Doodh Peda comes close as a preferred choice as well.
