Pedha — milk-fudge rounds with cardamom
Pedha (also spelled peda) are small, dense, off-white rounds of milk fudge — made by reducing milk and sugar to a thick paste, perfumed with cardamom and saffron, and shaped by hand. They are a temple offering across northern and western India and a staple of every Indian sweet-shop counter.
i. Origin & history
Mathura — the city of Krishna's childhood in Uttar Pradesh — is famous for its Mathura ke pede, which has a deep brown colour and slightly caramelised flavour. Saurashtra in Gujarat is famous for the cream-coloured kesar pedha.
ii. Ingredients
Makes 20 servings · scroll the side panel to adjust
- 1 litre whole milk
- 150 g caster sugar
- Large pinch saffron, steeped in 1 tbsp milk
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tbsp ghee
- Slivered pistachios
iii. Method
- Simmer milk in a heavy wide pan, stirring frequently, until reduced by three-quarters — about 45-60 minutes. The mixture will become a thick, sticky paste.
- Stir in sugar; simmer another 10 minutes. Add saffron, cardamom and ghee.
- Cook another 5 minutes until thick enough that it pulls away from the pan as you stir. Cool to barely warm.
- Shape into walnut-sized rounds with light pressure of the palm; flatten slightly; press a pistachio sliver into the top of each. Cool fully.
iv. Tips & common mistakes
- Use the freshest ingredients you can. The recipe relies on them.
- Read the method through first. Several steps must be ready in advance.
- Season patiently. Sweetness and salt are tuned at the end, not the start.
v. Variations
Mathura pedha is browned more. Saurashtra kesar pedha is saffron-rich. Doodh pedha is the plain milk version. Chocolate pedha is a contemporary innovation.
vi. Common questions
What is pedha?
Pedha is milk-fudge rounds with cardamom, from indian & south asian cuisine. They are a temple offering across northern and western India and a staple of every Indian sweet-shop counter
Where is pedha from?
Pedha is from the indian & south asian dessert tradition; the recipe and history are detailed above.
How long does pedha keep?
See the storage note in the Quick facts panel: 1 week refrigerated.