Can I eat it: Canned gulabjamun

December 10, 2017 4:45 PM

We boughta can of gulabjamun, never having had it before, so I don’t know what it should look like. Floating in the can were some yellowish bits. I am hoping they are solidified ghee but would someone please reassure me we’re not going to get botulism? Pictures.
posted by lakeroon to Food & Drink (8 answers total)

That certainly looks like the texture and consistency of ghee, to me.
posted by Swisstine at 5:00 PM on December 10, 2017

Yep, totally looks like solidified ghee. If you heat the contents, as the can recommends, they should disappear entirely. Gulab jamun is my favorite Indian dessert, hope you enjoy it!
posted by briank at 5:10 PM on December 10, 2017

Response by poster: Thanks, guys. I did heat the bit that was stuck to the lid and indeed it melted. Turns out gulabjamun is delicious!
posted by lakeroon at 5:15 PM on December 10, 2017

I know you're joking, but you generally can't see botulism toxin, in case someone happens upon this in the future.
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 5:21 PM on December 10, 2017 [2 favorites]

Wait, gulabjuman is made of cheese? Really?
posted by RustyBrooks at 7:11 PM on December 10, 2017 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: It says “cheese balls” on the front but I detected no cheesiness, more like well-soaked bread pudding balls. There’s no cheese in the ingredients list either, although there is milk, as the third ingredient behind sugar and flour.
posted by lakeroon at 8:28 PM on December 10, 2017

I would guess they used a description of rasgulla, another famous Indian sweet, which is made from Indian cottage cheese. Gulabjamun though, is made from khoya (which is made from concentrating milk) sugar, flour and a few other things. Commercial versions may have more flour in them.
posted by ssri at 4:29 AM on December 11, 2017

Khoya is often described as an Indian cheese, and gulab jamun are frequently referred to in English as being made form cheese, even though it’s not entirely technically accurate. It’s a much easier shorthand for the unfamiliar than trying to explain what khoya is.
posted by Itaxpica at 6:30 AM on December 11, 2017