Gujhia
Gujhia, also known as gujiya, gujia, gughara, pedakiya, purukiya, karanji, kajjikayalu, somas, or karjikayi, is a sweet, deep-fried pastry that is a popular dessert in the Indian subcontinent.
Etymology
The earliest mention of gujiya dates back to the 13th century, when a jaggery-honey mixture was covered with wheat flour and was sun-dried. The preparation method of a typical gujiya/pedakiya is rather similar to that of a samosa, but the gujiya/pedakiya looks like an empanada. Shaped like a half moon, the gujiya or pedakiya is filled with a sweet mixture of grated and roasted dried fruits, khoa, grated coconut, and a hint of suji to lend it a grainy texture.Preparation
Gujhia is made by mixing suji with maida, which is stuffed with a mixture of sweetened khoa, powdered sugar, coconut and dried fruits like raisins, crushed almonds, walnuts, cashews, and pistachios. The dumplings are then fried in ghee to give them a crispy texture.Gujhias are particularly popular in the Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Bihar regions of India, where they are prepared during Holi and Diwali festivities.
In Bihar, dry ones are called pedakiya and are particularly eaten during Chhath. There are two types of pedakiya made in Bihar: one with suji/''rawa and another with khoa. In suji pedakiya, suji is roasted in ghee with sugar, almonds, cardamom, raisins, and other nuts and then deep-fried in ghee. In khoa pedakiya, pure khoa is mixed with nuts and sugar and then deep-fried.
Similar dishes are found in several regional cuisines in India, such as ghughra in Gujarat and karanji in Maharashtra. Chandrakala are half-moon shaped, while the circular discs are suryakala in Tamil Nadu, garijalu in Telangana, kajjikayalu in Andhra Pradesh, and karjikayi or karigadubu in Karnataka. All of these dishes are fried sweet dumplings made of wheat flour and stuffed with dry or moist coconut.
In Goa, nevri or neuri'' is a similar sweet prepared on the occasion of their festivals, such as Ganesh Chaturthi for Hindus and Christmas for Christians.