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Gola ganda
گولا گنڈا (gola ganda): Karachi's shaved-ice ball soaked in bright syrups and drizzled with condensed milk
Nothing says summer evening at Clifton beach or Burns Road quite like the clatter of a gola ganda cart, where a block of ice is shaved on a hand plane, packed round a stick into a fist-sized ball and doused in rose-pink, mango-orange and purple kala khatta syrups. It melts fast in the Karachi heat, so children lick it from the bottom as it drips, and the fancier stalls serve it in a plate with condensed milk, desiccated coconut and a pinch of chaat-style salt on the sour syrup. At home a hand ice shaver or a powerful blender makes snow fine enough to press into balls. The most common disappointment is ice crushed too coarsely, which will not hold together and lets the syrup run straight through. Chef's tip: freeze the ice from boiled and cooled drinking water in a shallow tray, and put the glasses or plates in the freezer too, so the gola keeps its shape for longer.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the ice
- 1 ¾ lb ice cubes, made from safe drinking water
Syrups and toppings
- 4 tbsp rose syrup
- 4 tbsp mango syrup or mango cordial
- 4 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 pinch black salt (kala namak)
- 2 tbsp desiccated coconut (optional)
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Shave or blend 1 ¾ lb ice cubes, made from safe drinking water in batches to a fine, fluffy snow; if using a blender, pulse in short bursts and stop before it turns to slush.
Step 2: Mix 4 tbsp kala khatta (jamun) syrup or blackcurrant cordial with 1 tbsp lemon juice and 1 pinch black salt (kala namak) in a small jug so the purple syrup is sweet, sour and a little salty.
Step 3: Scoop a quarter of the snow into a cupped hand (wear a clean glove or wrap it in a clean cloth) and squeeze it firmly round a wooden ice-lolly stick into a tight ball, or pack it into a chilled glass.
Step 4: Drizzle the ball in stripes with 4 tbsp rose syrup, 4 tbsp mango syrup or mango cordial and the kala khatta syrup, letting each soak in before adding the next.
Step 5: Lay the gola on a chilled plate, pour over 4 tbsp sweetened condensed milk and scatter with 2 tbsp desiccated coconut if using.
Step 6: Serve at once with a spoon for the syrupy snow that collects on the plate.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 50 g
- Fat
- 3 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does gola ganda take?
- About 10 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sweetened condensed milk?
- Oat, soy or almond milk, same amount (use unsweetened for savoury dishes).
- What can I use instead of lemon juice?
- Lime juice, same amount.
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