gulab jamun

[ goo-lob jo-moon ]

noun

1. a dessert originating in South Asia, typically made from a dough of milk solids, flour, and ghee that is shaped into small balls and deep-fried, then soaked in a sugar syrup flavored with cardamom and rose water.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gulab jamun¹

First recorded in 1915–20; from Hindi gulāb jāmun, jāman, literally “rose berry, rose water berry,” ultimately from Persian gol “flower” + āb “water” + Hindi jāmun “black plum”; julep ( def )

Example Sentences

There were gulab jamun, jaleebi, laddoo and barfi…just to name a few.

From Salon

“Gulab jamun? They’re even better than my mom’s.”

From Literature

The dessert carts arrived, and she loaded up with more food than she could fit in her stomach—a dynamite dulce pot to eat before it detonated, giggly gulab jamun, ridiculous rum cakes doing stunts, and meddlesome mochis trying to wiggle their way into your satchels and pockets.

From Literature

Author Tarana Hussain Khan in her book Deg to Dastarkhwan describes it as a dish of sweet and savoury rice studded with sweet gulab jamun and meatballs.

From BBC

That feeling has hit me hard recently, as I have attended South Asian weddings for friends and family with my fiancée Liezel — celebrations filled with sparkling, sequined, brightly colored Desi outfits; arms with bangles and mehndi body art; and buffet tables with kebabs, naan, curries and gulab jamun for dessert.

From Seattle Times