the Thinker

I remember, last week when my mother was starting from Kolkata to Chennai, she asked me on phone, “Do you want me to get something for you and your friends?” I did not have any personal choices of my own, since the joy of returning home was itself too comforting, greater than anything else.

I therefore looked at my friends and asked them if they would like to have something from Kolkata. They turned at me delighted and said in one voice, “Can she get Rasgullas?” Mom heard it on phone and started laughing.

When she came to Chennai, as per my friends’ requests she brought a small tin can with the label of ‘K.C. Das’s Rasgullas’ on it. You guys must be wondering whether this is another one of retrospective speeches…all those weepy and ‘senti’ things about how I felt for home etc.

Wait, Wait…it is not about all that. Well, I must give credits for this post to one of my fellow-bloggers – Saranyan. His interest in Rasgullas aroused me as well, to write on K.C Das’s Rasgullas.

For those of you who are unaware, what is a Rasgulla , I am providing a definition which I found basic, as well as, interesting in a site – “Cheese Balls in Sugar Syrup!” “This is a classic and very popular Indian sweet from Bengal made for special occasions and usually served cold. This is a very sweet dessert.”

Those who are wondering how it looks, well, it is a sugary-white, soft and sweet, syrupy ball, that slowly breaks into your mouth and releases all the sweet fluids within it. It is a traditional Bengali delicacy loved not only in Bengal but in other parts of India as well.

K.C Das and Sons were the first makers of this sweet, and it is to their credit that Rasgullas today are popular in Calcutta and in other parts of the country. Recently I heard that they patented their Rasgullas. Considering that they were the first to discover this delicacy, I wonder whether that could be contended.

For people who want to know more about K.C Das and the story of Rasgulla, I hope this link proves useful - http://www.bengalonthenet.com/puja/php/display.php?sec_id=10&sub_sec=8

I cannot give you the exact recipe, according to which K.C Das and Co. follow. But I found this recipe in the net – http://www.cuisinecuisine.com/Rasgulla.htm
Try it out and then let me know how the Rasgullas are. If they taste good, don’t forget to invite me.

Ps. I remember Saranyan asked me to load pics as well, problem is I don’t know how to…anyone to guide me?

Hey Amrita, thanks for the post. I didn't know that K.C Das was the first to make this gem :) its my most favourite sweet and I can easily swallow 10 at a time :) :)

do they sell K.C.Das sweets in chennai.

Do keep posting more interesting stuff on kolkata....you are a journo, so it will be good.  

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Amrita,
Rosagollas....K.C.Das's Rosagollas..Umm..Yummy..!!! I get the canned ones here..but they are no way near the hot ones I ate on the streets of Calcutta (Not Kolkatta) when I went there for an Interview in the early 80's.

Thanks for making my mouth water and welcome back.!! How is Bombay?  

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Hey, a recipe!!! That's great. These goodies look delicious. I think I can find all the ingredients to try this one out (it does look VERY SWEET!!!). Can you find out for me if the baking soda can be avoided or replaced by a natural ingredient (I prefer avoiding baking soda, for tasting reasons, whenever it's possible). Thanks for the links provided. As for images you should be able to copy/paste an HTML image search instruction somewhere in the FAQ section of blogger's home page. Then just search for any image on the net and change the URL on the original instruction you found.  

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This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.  

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Hi saranyan, You are most welcome, I did not know rasgullas are your fav sweet. I don't know whether they sell K.C.Das's rasgullas in Chennai but I bought rasgullas from Vasantha Bhavan while I was there, during Durga Pujas once. So you can try them out.

Hi Reflex, ha,ha, so you too are a rasgulla fan? Well let me confess, I love this South Indian sweet called Mysore Pac, which my friend treated me once. I wonder if half the people in Kolkata know about it..anyways, happy eating.

Hi Narayanan, How are you? You are right...there are many things in Kolkata which you might find outside Kolkata but still it might not be the same thing. I am not yet in Mumbai, still at home,will be leaving in a few days.

Hi Gonsings, all the best for your home-made rasgullas. I asked my mom and she said that when she used to make them at home she never used the soda. All she said is that you have to stir the mixture vigorously. So goodluck. Thanks a lot for the info on pics upload. I will try it out.  

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Oye Amrita..So ur mom got rosagullas? You didn't give me even one!! :(( (Oh, the other amrita gave me one though;))..
Get some for me when we catch up next!!  

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My fave sweet is the Rasmalai and someone from Kolkata insisted that they were made from Roshogollas (have no idea about the truth of that statement)!

Hmm... mouth-watering now! We only get Haldirams rasgullas in Singapore and I hate them! Perhaps your mom can send some over ;) Haha  

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hi reflex, hmm, thanks for the info. will try out mysore pac from Krishna sweets next time I go to chennai.

Anu, sorry, did not get the time to catch up with u otherwise would have surely fed you some. However, there is always a next time. I will get a can sometime for you. Promise.

hi ranj, Rasmallais. yum! well, yes in a way rasmallais are cousins to rasgullas. they are softer, dipped in milk. i don know whether they use the same rasgullas for the rasmallais. Haldiram's rasgullas! no idea never tasted them. However, you can always try out K.C.das someday if u come to Calcutta.  

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So are there any left? :-(
Not fair...
I thought Das was the first to commercialise it... When I was in Calcutta (Shakespeare Sarini Street or something like that) an old lady told me that Das's recipe was nothing like the original homemade ones... I had to agree with her... she had the pot full of them in her hands and I was afraid to lose them ! :-))  

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Hey that's a revelation!
To add pictures on your post...just use Picasa or Hello... (both are the same softwared apparently) You need to download it from the blogspot.com site, then set it up on your desktop, sign in into it once its loaded with the same sign in as you have on blogspot.com...
Use the user name (that you usually sign in as ie. Amrita and the password) You can then start uploading pics from your desktop!  

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Wise cook your Mom is, avoiding the baking soda... Thank you for asking her. And THANKS to her for sharing the information,
;)  

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Hi Eroteme, haha! I am sorry. I wish, could have saved some for you, but friends finished it all.If some day u come to Kolkata, do remind me, i will make sure u get your share.Well, yes but i heard from my grandparents that Das was the first to make it. However, I fully agree that homemade ones are sometimes more tasty than Das. By ways, nice post on your blog - 'blogger mense.'Was sorry to know you lost your mobile...any news about it?

Hi Perspective, Thanks for dropping and a greater share of thanks for sharing that valuablepiece of info abt uploading pics. I will download this software rightaway.

Hi Gonsings,
So you have made your rasgullas? Mom's are always the wiser cooks...you see the amount of years that they dedicate to the kitchen, imparts them with superior skills.  

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Hello Baby Varsha...welcome to my blog after months? years? ages? haha! don't flare up just joking...yes,i wish you were with me at my home, would have stuffed with the best delicacies of this world...and ofcourse big rasgullas! what has happened to your plump cheeks? I am sure you must be keeping goodcare of them!  

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hello baby varshu, how are you?do get inshape when you reach home rather than starving yourself, trying to lose weight."an aristocratic face with 'high cheekbones!" Aha! a very pronounced comment that one is...but for me you shall remain the same old dumbo with sweet plump cheeks which you love to pull! see ya dear, thanks for your good wishes,thats what is more imp to me now...looking forward to meet you again.loads oflove for you for the time being.  

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