Jalebi is a South Asian snack made from fried dough spirals soaked in sugar syrup.
The batter is piped into hot oil or ghee in continuous circular patterns, creating bright orange or yellow coils. After frying, the pieces are immersed in sugar syrup, which gives them a glossy appearance and a crisp, sticky texture. Saffron, cardamom, or rosewater may flavor the syrup.
Jalebi is eaten across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and other regions. It can be served hot or cold and is especially common at festivals, celebrations, and street-food stalls. The batter may be fermented, depending on the regional recipe.
Jalebi is often confused with imarti, another syrup-soaked fried sweet. Imarti is usually made from urad dal batter and has a thicker, flower-like shape, while jalebi is commonly formed from a thinner batter into tighter spirals.