Gulab Jamun To Jalebi, Popular Indian Sweets That Have Foreign Roots

Milk-based sweet, originating in Persia, was introduced to India by Mughals. Made from milk powder and flour, it's deep-fried and soaked in sugar syrup. Image: Pinterest

Barfi, a sweet originating from Persia, is a fudge-like confection made from condensed milk, sugar, and flavorings like cardamom or pistachios, introduced to India by the Mughals. Image: Freepix

Rasgulla, a soft, spongy sweet made from chhena and semolina dough, originated in East India and was introduced by the Portuguese. Image: Pinterest

Jalebi, a West Asian deep-fried sweet, originated in India and was introduced by Persian and Arab traders. Image: Unsplash

Laddu, a Middle Eastern sweet, is a ball-shaped sweet made from gram flour, semolina, or coconut, introduced to India by the Mughals. Image: freepik

Chhena, the precursor to Indian paneer, originated in the Middle East and evolved into the beloved cottage cheese used in Indian sweets like Rasgulla and Sandesh. Image: Freepik

Kakasura Madappa, a palace cook during Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV's reign, created the Mysuru paka, a concoction of gram flour, ghee, and sugar. Image: Freepik