Petha — candied ash-gourd of Agra
Petha is the canonical sweet of Agra: cubes or wedges of ash gourd (winter melon) candied in sugar syrup until translucent and faintly chewy. The plain version is white and floral; modern versions are flavoured with saffron, rose, paan or chocolate.
i. Origin & history
Petha-making is reported to have begun under Shah Jahan, who reputedly commissioned a sweet to refresh the workers building the Taj Mahal. Agra now has hundreds of petha shops, many on the road named for the sweet itself.
ii. Ingredients
Makes 20 servings · scroll the side panel to adjust
- 1 kg ash gourd (white pumpkin / petha), peeled, seeded, cubed
- 1 tsp pickling lime (chuna) dissolved in 2 litres water (optional, for firmness)
- 800 g sugar
- 400 ml water
- 2 tbsp rose water
- Pinch saffron, steeped (optional)
iii. Method
- Prick ash-gourd cubes all over with a fork. Soak in lime water 2 hours (firms the texture). Rinse twice.
- Blanch in plain boiling water 5 min. Drain.
- Combine sugar and 400 ml water in a wide pan; bring to a boil. Add gourd; simmer gently 45-60 min, stirring carefully, until the gourd turns translucent and the syrup has thickened.
- Off heat, stir in rose water and saffron. Cool in the syrup overnight. Lift out and arrange on parchment to dry partially for several hours.
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
Kesar petha uses saffron. Paan petha infuses paan leaf. Angoori petha are small grape-sized. Chocolate petha is a modern Agra novelty.
vi. Common questions
What is petha?
Petha is candied ash-gourd of agra, from indian & south asian cuisine. The plain version is white and floral; modern versions are flavoured with saffron, rose, paan or chocolate
Where is petha from?
Petha is from the indian & south asian dessert tradition; the recipe and history are detailed above.
How long does petha keep?
See the storage note in the Quick facts panel: 3 weeks refrigerated.