Malpua, a sweet deep-fried pancake dipped in sugar syrup, is one of India’s most popular and oldest desserts, having been around for hundreds of years. Malpuas are essentially consumed on special occasions such as Holi, Janmasthami, or any rituals that include fasting. But you don’t have to wait for a festival to enjoy this delicious dish. Let’s share with you about the sweet and interesting history of Malpua while you are enjoying a bite or devouring the entire piece of this sweet heaven.
Malpuas got the first mention in the oldest Veda, the ‘Rigveda,’ approximately 5000 years ago. The dish was known as ‘Apupa’ during the Vedic era, and it was made with barley flour and shaped into flat cakes that were fried in ghee and then dipped into honey before serving. The apupa has evolved over time, with changes in its composition, but the preparation has remained the same throughout the years.
According to works of literature from the second century CE, apupa was made with wheat flour, milk, clarified butter, sugar, and the spices cardamom, pepper, and ginger, as well as other ingredients. Pupalika was a small cake made of rice or wheat that was fried in ghee and filled with jaggery. Apupas stuffed with various ingredients were also popular at the time.
Apupa evolved into Malpua as a result of cultural influences and scientific experiments over time. Malpua with egg and mawa became a favourite in Islamic cuisines. In recent times, Malpuas prepared with a base of refined flour are served as a dessert or snack. In Bihar, sugar is generally added to the batter before frying in refined oil or ghee.
In some parts, the batter for Malpua is prepared by mashing ripe bananas or coconut, then adding flour and water or milk into it. Malpuas taste the best when served hot with some toppings of rabri (thickened milk) or khoya (dried milk solids). Some people also like to add dry fruits or nuts to enhance the flavour and texture of Malpuas.
Malpua is not only a mouth-watering dessert but also a symbol of India’s rich and diverse culinary heritage. It reflects the influence of different cultures and regions on Indian cuisine over centuries. It also showcases the creativity and innovation of Indian cooks who experimented with different ingredients and methods to create this unique dish.