This is a list of Indian sweets and desserts, also called mithai, a significant element in Indian cuisine. Indians are known for their unique taste and experimental behavior when it comes to food. Many Indian desserts are fried foods made with sugar, milk or condensed milk. Ingredients and preferred types of dessert vary by region. In the eastern part of India, for example, most are based on milk products. Many are flavoured with almonds and pistachios; spiced with cardamon, nutmeg, cloves and black pepper; and decorated with nuts, or with gold or silver leaf.
North NameImageMain ingredientsCategoryArisa PithaRice flour, JaggeryFried, jaggery basedBal mithaiKhoya, cane sugar, caramelised sugar syrup Khoya fudgeBoondiGram flour (besan), ghee, sugar. Sugar syrup basedFaloodaVermicelli, Rose syrup, Milk, Kulfi, Basil seeds, fruit jelly Cold dessert/ beverageGajar PakCarrots, milk, sugar, ghee, cashews and raisins. HalvaGhevarFlour, ghee, kewra, milk, clarified butter, sugar, almonds, pistachio, saffron, green cardamom.Fried, sugar syrup basedGulab jamunFried milk balls soaked in sweet syrup, such as rose syrup or honey. Fried, sugar syrup basedImarti Sugar syrup, lentil flour. Fried, sugar syrup basedJalebiDough fried in a coil shape dipped in sugar syrup, often taken with milk, tea, yogurt, or lassi. Fried, sugar syrup basedKaju katliCashews, ghee with cardamom and sugar. BarfiKalakandMilk, cottage cheese.BurfiKheerA rice pudding made with milk, rice, sugar and dried fruitsPuddingKhirmohanChhena, sugar, semolina, water.Sugar syrup basedKulfiAn ice cream made with milk and sugar, with a variety of flavours such as mango, saffron, or cardamom. Ice creamLadduGram flour (besan), ghee, sugar.LadduLassi Yogurt, milk, nuts, can be made with mango.Yogurt drinkMotichoor ladduBesan flour, sugar.LadduMakhan BadaMaida flour, yogurt, oil, sugar. Sugar syrup basedMalpua Wheat or rice flour.Fried, sugar syrup basedNankhataiRefined flour, besan, ghee, powdered sugar, yogurt green cardamom seeds.BakedPethaFirm white pumpkin, sugar, kitchen lime, alum powder. Sugar syrup basedPhirniRice, sugar, nuts.PuddingRabriBoiled condensed milk, sugar, spices and nuts.PuddingSheeraSemolina, ghee, nuts, milk.PuddingSingoriKhoa, coconut, molu leaf.Milk-based Sohan halwaCorn flour, ghee, dry fruits. HalvaSoan papdi / PateesaBesan flour.BarfiMakuti Moong Dal, milkPudding
East NameImageMain ingredientsCategoryAmritiDeep fried vigna mungo, sugar syrup.Fried, sugar syrup based Chak-Hao kheerBlack rice, milk, sugarMilk-basedCham chamchhena, Flour, cream, sugar, saffron, lemon juice, coconut flakes.Milk-basedChandrapuliKhoa, sugar, ghee, coconut flakes.Coconut and milk basedChhena gajaChhena, sugar, ghee.Milk-basedChhena jalebiChhena, sugar, ghee.Milk-basedChhena Jhiliwhole milk, refined flour, powdered sugar, cardamom, oil/ghee for deep fryingMilk basedChhena kheeriChhena, sugar, milk.Milk-basedChhena podaSugar, chenna cheese.Milk-basedChuda GhasaRice Flakes (Poha), Sugar powder or Jaggery, Desi Ghee, Grated fresh Coconut, Pepper Powder, big cardamon powder, Dry fruits OptionalFlatten rice/rice flakes, sugar/jaggery, ghee basedCoconut Barfi Made from coconut, fine ground sugar, ghee, cardamom powder and milk.Coconut and milk basedJaynagarer Moagur, cow ghee, Kanakchur khoiFried and Rice-basedJolbhora Sandeshchhena, sugar, date palm jaggery syrupMilk based and filled with date palm jaggery syrupKheer sagarChenna, condensed milk, sugar, saffron, cardamom.Milk-basedKolar Borabanana, coconut, maida, sugar, oilFried and Banana-basedLabanga latikamaida, khoa, nutmeg (powdered), grated coconut, ghee, nuts, raisins, cardamom, cloves and sugarFried and sugar-syrup basedLedikeniChhena, sugar, ghee.Milk-basedLyangchaFlour, fried milk powder, sugar syrup.Milk-basedMalpuaYogurt, refined flour, ghee, fennel seeds.Milk-basedMihidanaBesan flour, sugar, ghee.Fried, sugar syrup based Mishti doiYogurt, jaggery.Milk-basedPantuaChhena, sugar, gheeMilk-basedPithaRice flour.Milk-basedPuri KhajaRefined flour (maida), pure ghee, sugar, refined cooking oil for frying (Pure ghee may also be used for frying)
Salt to tasteGhee and refined flour-basedRabriSweetened milk.Milk-basedRasabaliChenna, sweetened milk.Milk-basedRas malaiChhena, reduced milk, pistachioMilk-basedRasgulla Chhena, sugarMilk-basedSandesh Made from cheese, kneaded with fine ground sugar and molasses.Milk-basedSarpuriacream, sugar, maida, gheecardamom powderFried and Milk-basedSirir narujaggery and gram flour, mustard oil for deep fry Jaggery basedSarbhajasugar, cream, ghee, maidaFried, milk and sugar syrup-basedSitabhogChhena, rice flour, sugar, vermicelli/riceFried, rice, and sugar-syrup basedTaal-er boraSugar palm pulp, rice flour, sugar, oil, and cardamom.Fried, fruit-based
South NameImageMain ingredientsCategoryAdaRice flour, grated coconut, jaggery or sugarAda pradhamanRice Ada, coconut milk, jaggery, nuts, raisins, cardamomAdhirasam / Khajjaya / Ariselu Rice flour, jaggery, ghee, vegetable oil, elachi Arcot Makkan Peda Khoa, Maida, Sugar, cardamon powder, stuffed with nuts Similar to Gulab Jamun but stuffed with nuts. Famous in Arcot, Tamil NaduBandar ladduBesan, jaggery, cardamom powder, ghee, cashews and raisins, jaggery syrup, sugarLaddu, popular in Machilipatanam, Andhra PradeshBooreluChana dal, jaggeryKovilpatti Kadalai MittaiNuts (usually peanuts), jaggeryDharwad Pedha Milk, Sugar, Dharwadi buffalo milkBurfiDouble ka Meetha Loaf bread, milkGavvaluRice flourJaangiri Black gramFry syrup basedKakinada KajaWheat flour, sugarKozhukkattai Rice flour, Ground Nut, Jaggery, grated coconut Similar to Modak in Tamil NaduNeyyappamGhee, Rice flour, Jaggery, coconutKuzhi paniyaramBlack lentils and riceMysore PakBesan flour, sugar, gheeBurfiObbattu / Holige / Bobbatlu / Pappu Polelu / Boli Maida flour, Coconut or Channa Dal/Toor Dal, JaggeryBread Srivilliputtur Palkova Milk, Sugar Famous in Srivilliputhur, Tamil NaduAshoka HalwaMoong Dal, Wheat flour, sugarWell known in Thiruvaiyaru, Tamil NaduPalathalikaluRice flour, milkSakkarai Pongalrice, jaggery, cashews, gheePootharekuluRice flour, powdered sugar/gheeTirunelveli Halwawheat flour, sugar, ghee, nuts, cardamom A famous sweet in Tamil Nadu .Khubani ka meethaApricots, sugar syrupKesari batRava (semolina, ghee, sugar)Sheer khurmaVermicelli, pudding, milkUnni AppamRice flour, banana, jaggery, coconutKajjikayaluRice flour, jaggery, coconut
West
NameImageMain ingredientsCategoryAamras Mango, milkAnarsaSlightly fermented rice flour, jaggery, khus-khus seedsBasundiSugar, milkBebincaFlour, sugar, ghee, egg yolk, coconut milkBaked layered Christmas sweetDhondasCucumber, ravaBaked cakeDoodhpakMilk, rice, sugar, dry fruitsMilk-basedKaju katliCashews, gheeMahim halwaSemolina, sugarModakRice flour, coconut jaggery stuffingFriedMohanthalBesan, ghee, sugar and nutsPatoleoRice flour, coconut jaggery and grated coconut stuffingWrapped in turmeric leaves and steamedPuran poliWheat flour, gram, jaggeryBreadShankarpaliSugar, ghee, maida flour, semolinaShrikhand A creamy dessert made out of strained yogurt, often served with dried fruits such as mangoes.Yogurt-basedSutar feniMaida, sugar, ghee
Pan-Indian
NameImageMain ingredientsCategoryBarfi Milk PowderBarfiHalvaCorn FlourBoiledKheerMilk, vermicelli, sugar, nutsMilk-based, called Payasam in Southern parts of the countryLaddooMilk, flourLadduPeda Milk (khoya), sugar, saffronMilk-based
See also
List of Indian snack foods List of pastries
References
External links