Mathura Peda Recipe | Soft Khoya Peda | Diwali Special Sweet
Mathura Peda (Khoya Peda)
Soft, grainy khoya pedas with deep caramel colour — a Diwali classic from Mathura
Mathura peda is a beloved North Indian mithai — crumbled khoya (mawa) slow-roasted until deep caramel brown, scented with cardamom, sweetened with bura (coarse sugar), and shaped into signature flat pedas rolled in tagar for a snowy finish. Perfect for Diwali, Janmashtami, and every festive platter.
Ingredients
Main
- 400 g khoya / mawa (dried milk solids), crumbled
- 2–3 tbsp desi ghee (for roasting; plus a little extra if the mixture looks dry)
- 1 tsp green cardamom powder (elaichi)
- ¾–1 cup bura / tagar (coarse powdered sugar), or regular powdered sugar
- Extra bura / tagar, for rolling and coating
Instructions
- Roast the khoya. 0:24 Crumble the mawa into a heavy-bottomed pan. Roast on low–medium heat, stirring continuously, until it turns a deep caramel brown. Low and slow roasting is the secret to the colour and nutty flavour.
- Add ghee and cardamom. Turn off the heat. If the mixture looks dry, add a little ghee, then mix in the cardamom powder.
- Sweeten. Let the roasted khoya cool until just warm (not hot). Mix in the bura until it comes together like a soft, pliable dough.
- Shape and coat. 1:51 Roll into smooth balls, press the centre lightly to flatten into the classic peda shape, then roll in extra bura for the traditional snow-dusted look.
- Serve. 2:08 Let the pedas set for a few minutes, then serve at room temperature or store in an airtight container.
Pro tip: Roast the khoya on low heat and keep stirring — rushing gives pale pedas without the signature caramel depth. Mix in the sugar only when the mawa is warm, not hot, so the pedas stay soft and grainy instead of hard.
The Story Behind This Dish
Mathura peda takes its name from the ancient temple city of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, closely associated with Lord Krishna. Halwais there have sold these caramel-hued, khoya-based pedas for generations, and the sweet has become a staple of Janmashtami and Diwali celebrations across North India.
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