Agra Petha is a special delicacy which is said to be invented in Mughal era. In India, as the saying goes, unity in diversity, in every state and district, there is a special cultural tradition. According to the tradition, you can see the different varieties in the food too. One such dish is this Agra Petha.
In this article:
How Agra Petha is made?
The raw material used to make Petha is Ash Gourd. There are two major variants of the Petha, one is using sugar and the other is using honey. Following is the method of making Petha.
- First cut the ash gourd into small pieces of about 2 inches long and boil it in water for about 5 – 7 minutes until they are tender but not mushy.
- Drain the water and rinse the ash gourd pieces in cold water.
- In another pot, mix sugar and water and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and let it simmer until the sugar syrup reaches one string consistency. If you are making the petha out of honey then this step can be skipped.
- Once the sugar syrup is ready add lemon juice, cardamom powder and mix it well.
- Add the cooked ash gourd pieces to the sugar syrup and let it cook for another 10-15 minutes or until the syrup has thickened and coated the ash gourd pieces. Same can be done with honey too.
- Now add the desired flavor such as Saffron, Rose water etc
- Remove from heat and let it cool and then store in Airtight container or in the refrigerator.
Foreigners who come to Agra love to eat honey petha. Honey petha can be preserved for approximately 15 days. Similarly, Petha made out of sugar has a shelf life of upto one month.
The story behind the invention of Agra Petha:
Agra Petha is said to be invented 350 years ago during the Mughal Era. There are many speculations on how it got invented. But two stories are very popular among the localists.
- Akbar’s wife Jodhabai was suffering from an illness and was taking too much medicine. On one of her birthdays, she ordered Birbal, the court minister, and said to pepare something which should serve both as sweet as well as medicine. Rumors say that Agra Petha was invented that way.
- Another rumor is that, Shahjahan after building the Taj Mahal, ordered people to make a dessert which should look as elegant as the marble of Taj Mahal and be translucent. And that is how Agra Petha came to existence.
Health benefits of Agra Petha:
Agra Petha is a traditional sweet made from Ash Gourd and sugar syrup. The health benefits of Petha are as follows:
- Low in calories – Agra Petha is a low-calorie sweet, making it an excellent option for people who want to satisfy their sweet cravings without worrying about gaining weight.
- Good source of fiber – Petha is made from ash gourd, which is high in dietary fiber. Fiber aids digestion, lowers cholesterol levels, and helps control blood sugar levels.
- Rich in vitamins and minerals – ash gourd is a rich source of vitamins A and C, which are essential for skin and eye health, respectively. Minerals found in pumpkin include potassium, magnesium, and iron.
- Antioxidant properties – Ash gourd has antioxidant properties that help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals.
- Boosts Immunity – Ash Gourd has Vitamin C which boosts the immune system and helps fight against viruses and infections.
Overall, Agra Petha can be consumed in moderation as part of a healthy, balanced diet. However, it is important to note that it contains a high amount of sugar, so individuals with diabetes or those watching their sugar intake should consume it in moderation. Honey Petha is the very good alternate option for people having diabetes. Still moderate consumption is recommended.
Tons of varieties of Agra Petha!
As the time passed by, people invented so many varieties of Petha. It is now available easily at many shops at Agra. One can get the Pethas in different sizes and different flavors. We tried so many different flavors and brought home some to share it with our friends and family.
Angoori pethas are the ones we recommend. They are small in size, spherical and are easy to eat. They come in lot of flavors. The famous ones are Saffron, Chocolate, fruity flavors like green apple, lemon, orange, pomogranate, grapefruit and also available in chocolate flavors. The honey variant is a must try.
Also try the pan flavor Petha which is the fast selling and favorite of many. The Pethas look so colorful and tempting when seen in the display shelf of all the shops. But no one knows how hygienically it’s made. So buy the Agra Pethas only from branded shops that to after tasting it at the spot. Else you will be easily scammed.
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