India, Feb. 4 -- Originating in Karnataka's royal kitchens, the decadent Mysore Pak has made its way into the everyday celebrations of Indian families. This brainchild of Kakasura Madappa, a royal cook in the Mysore Palace kitchen, dating back to the 20th century, then deserves the spotlight for spinning together a flurry of flavours with a few basic ingredients.

Ingredients: Besan - 1/2 cup, sugar - 1.5 cups, water - 1/2 cup, ghee - 1 cup, oil - 1/4 cup; 1tbsp sugar for sprinkling

Method: First, sift the gram flour to remove any lumps. Grease a tray and set it aside. In a heavy-bottomed pan, combine sugar with 1 cup of water. Heat the mixture until it reaches a one-string consistency. To check, press a little syrup between your fingers...