Imartis

• 1 cup urad dal (skinned black lentils)
• 2 tablespoons rice flour
• 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
• Oil or ghee, for deep frying
• 1.5 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• Few drops of lemon juice
• A pinch of orange food color (optional)

1. Wash and soak the urad dal in enough water for 4-5 hours or overnight. Drain the water and grind the dal to a smooth paste using very little water.
2. Add rice flour, saffron threads, and cardamom powder to the batter and mix well.
3. Heat oil or ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the sugar syrup by mixing sugar, water, lemon juice, and orange food color (if using) in a pan. Bring it to boil and then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes until it reaches one-string consistency. Keep it warm on low heat.
5. To make the imarti, fill a piping bag with the batter and cut a small hole at the bottom.
6. Squeeze the batter in a circular motion to form rings into the hot oil. Fry them until they turn golden brown and crisp.
7. Remove the imartis with a slotted spoon and immediately immerse them into the warm sugar syrup.
8. Soak the imartis in the sugar syrup for 5-10 minutes.
9. Remove the imartis from the syrup and place them on a wire rack to cool.
10. Serve the imartis hot or cold as desired.

Enjoy your delicious homemade imartis!