Agra ka Petha
Veg
Vegan
Candied translucent cubes of ash gourd (winter melon) cooked in sugar syrup until they take on a crystalline, jewel-like appearance — the defining sweet of Agra, sold in dozens of flavours including saffron, angoori (grape), and plain white. A GI-tagged confection inseparable from the city.
Cuisines
Brij
Best for
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Recipe
Prep: 30 min
Cook: 60 min
Total: 90 min
2-3 servings
Ingredients
| 500 grams | ash gourd (white pumpkin) |
| 1 teaspoon | lime (calcium hydroxide) |
| 2 cups | sugar |
| 4 cups | water |
| 1 teaspoon | rose water |
| — | few drops of kewra essence |
| — | green food color (optional) |
Instructions
- 1 Peel the ash gourd and remove the seeds. Cut it into 1-inch cubes.
- 2 Dissolve the lime in enough water to cover the ash gourd pieces. Soak the pieces in this solution for 2 hours.
- 3 Rinse the ash gourd pieces thoroughly under running water to remove any traces of lime.
- 4 Boil the pieces in water for about 10 minutes until they are slightly tender. Drain and set aside.
- 5 In a separate pan, combine sugar and water to make a syrup. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer until it reaches a one-string consistency.
- 6 Add the boiled ash gourd pieces to the sugar syrup and cook on a low flame until the pieces become translucent and absorb the syrup.
- 7 Stir in the rose water, kewra essence, and food color (if using). Mix well and cook for another 5 minutes.
- 8 Allow the petha to cool completely before serving.
Tips
Ensure the lime is completely washed off to avoid any bitter taste in the petha.