Gulgula Recipe: Fiji-Style Sweet Banana Fritters
, by Domalco, 2 min reading time
Soft, sweet gulgula (fritters) made with ripe kela (banana), flour and sugar. A classic Diwali mithai (sweet) and after-school treat in Fiji.
Photo: Yulin Wang / Unsplash
Gulgula (sweet fritters) are little golden balls of sweet batter, fried until crisp outside and soft and fluffy inside. In Fiji they're usually made with very ripe kela (banana) and are one of the easiest mithai (sweets) to make for Diwali, pujas or an afternoon chai (tea). Kids love them.
Fiji Hindi words in this recipe
- gulgula (sweet fritters)
- kela (banana)
- maida (plain flour)
- cheeni (sugar)
- doodh (milk)
- elaichi (cardamom)
- mithai (sweets)
- kadhai (deep, round frying pan)
- chai (tea)
Ingredients
Makes about 25 · Prep 10 min · Cook 20 min
- 3 very ripe kela (bananas)
- ½ cup cheeni (sugar)
- 2 cups maida (plain flour)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp ground elaichi (cardamom)
- Pinch of salt
- About ½ cup doodh (milk)
- Oil for deep frying
Method
- Mash. In a large bowl, mash the bananas and sugar together until smooth.
- Mix. Add the flour, baking powder, cardamom and salt. Stir in the milk a little at a time to make a thick, sticky batter that drops slowly from a spoon.
- Rest for 10 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a kadhai or deep pan over medium heat, to about 160–170°C.
- Fry. Drop tablespoons of batter into the oil (use a second spoon or a wet finger to push it off). Fry 5–6 at a time for 4–5 minutes, turning, until deep golden brown and cooked through.
- Drain on paper towels. Serve warm, or cool and store for Diwali visitors.
Tips
- The riper the banana, the sweeter the gulgula. Black-spotted bananas are perfect.
- Medium heat is key. Too hot and they brown outside while staying raw inside.
- Flavour ideas: add a handful of grated coconut, a pinch of nutmeg, or a few sultanas.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make gulgula without banana?
Yes. Replace the bananas with an extra ½ cup of milk and 2 tbsp more sugar for plain gulgula.
How long do gulgula keep?
2–3 days in an airtight container, which makes them a good make-ahead Diwali sweet.
Cook it with Domalco
Find kadhais, cookware and mixing bowls at our Ba and Lautoka stores, or shop online with free delivery on orders over $100. Serve your Diwali sweets on our sweet trays and tableware, and see our Diwali pooja checklist.