Soan Papdi: The Untold Story Behind India’s Favorite Diwali Sweet

Lifestyle News: As Diwali approaches, homes across India come alive with the aroma of festive sweets and snacks. Among them, Soan Papdi has long held a special place in Indian households. Though its popularity has been challenged by richer sweets like kaju katli, mawa peda, barfi, gulab jamun, and rasgulla, Soan Papdi continues to be one of the most loved and widely gifted treats during the festival of lights. But have you ever wondered where Soan Papdi originated and what other names it goes by?

The Origins of Soan Papdi

According to Indian culinary experts, the origin of this sweet is linked to Punjab. In earlier times, Patisa was made along with besan laddoos in Punjab. Over time, Patisa gradually evolved into Soan Papdi. However, some people believe that Soan Papdi has its roots in Persia, where a similar sweet called Pashmak is made. Interestingly, the word Pashmak means “like wool,” which perfectly describes the flaky and fibrous texture of Soan Papdi.

How Soan Papdi Is Made

Ingredients Needed:

• Gram flour (besan)
• Refined flour (maida)
• 1 cup sugar syrup 
• Ghee
• 1 Cup water
• Chopped almonds and pistachios for garnish

Recipe:

To make Soan Papdi, first heat ghee in a pan and roast the maida and besan together until fragrant. Let the mixture cool and keep it aside. Next, prepare the sugar syrup. For this, add sugar and water to a pan and place it on the stove. Stir and cook continuously. To test the syrup, drop a little into a bowl of water if it dissolves, it isn’t ready yet. Keep cooking until the color changes slightly. Test again when the syrup forms a small solid ball, it’s ready. Now, pour the syrup into a plate to cool slightly. Once it’s warm, start stretching and folding it into rings repeat this around 20 times without breaking it. Add the roasted besan mixture and continue pulling and shaping it into thin strands. Continue until fine threads form and the texture becomes flaky. Finally, place it into molds or small bowls to set.