Gulkand (Rose Petal Jam)

I remember as a kid the festive celebrations used to start early with mom, grandma and aunts preparing many festive delicacies at home. For us kids, it was the best time to peek into the kitchen to get a glimpse and aroma of those traditional recipes. Till now, I associate festivals with an onset of winters and taking out those woollen clothing.

Living outside India doesn’t change the charm of those festivals and Indian sweets (mithai) with it. I try to cook those recipes so that my kids too get to enjoy and can remember them as well. Though nowadays it is not difficult to get the things outside India as well but preparing them from a scratch has its own charm.

Do you agree with me?

I tried for a recipe which calls for Gulkand (Rose Petal Jam) as one of the ingredients and I couldn’t find it anywhere and I tried searching online but no recipe for Gulkand using the dried rose petal and again I had no fresh rose petals.

Gulkand Recipe

Dried Rose petal – 1cup

Sugar – 1/2 cup (depends on the sweetness)

Fennel seeds – 2 tbsp

Cardamom powder – 1 tsp or just coarse cardamom

Water – 1/4 cup

Method

1. In a pan take dried rose petals, sugar and water. Simmer on the low flame for 5-10 mins. I think we can replace with jaggery as well but not yet tried.
2. Add fennel seeds and cardamom it.
3. Let it be on the low flame for another 5 mins and check that it is slightly thicker in consistency.
4. Cool down before transferring it to a glass container.
5.  You can store it in the fridge for months.

Apart from using it in the cooking, there are some of the health benefits of it as well.

Some of the health benefits of Gulkand

• Gulkand is rich in antioxidants and acts as an energy boosters
• It is generally recommended to eat in Summers as Gulkand has cooling properties so helps to give relief from sun strokes, nostril bleeding and dizziness.
• Gulkand helps to regulate irregular periods and excessive bleeding.
• It also helps to reduce body odour and excessive perspiration
• It also improves appetite and digestion.

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