Can ‘gulab ke pakode’ be your next monsoon favourite? Here’s what an expert has to say

According to Vriti Srivastav, flowers are not meant to be fried.

Gulab pakode, a very weird snack that is trending, is made by dipping rose flowers in besan coating and deep frying in hot oil. (Source: Freepik)

You must have heard of farm-to-plate, but have you heard of vase-to-plate? A street-side stall selling rose bhajiyas has caught the Internet’s attention, and we haven’t been calm since. How healthy are these floral pakodas, and should you consider adding them to your diet? Indianexpress.com spoke to Vriti Srivastav, a holistic dietitian, to understand the risks and rewards of indulging in this unique snack.

“Gulab pakode, a trending yet unusual snack, involves dipping rose flowers in besan coating and deep frying them in hot oil,” said Srivastav. According to her, this is not a snack anyone should consume for health reasons.

Rose has a cooling property that is beneficial in giving relief from acidity, body heat, heavy bleeding during periods, soothing rashes, reducing inflammation and calming the nerves. (Source: Freepik)

Health benefits of consuming rose

“Rose has cooling properties. It can give relief from acidity, body heat, heavy menstrual bleeding, soothing rashes, and can reduce inflammation and calm the nerves. However, it’s best consumed in forms like tea, gulkand, rose powder, or extract,” said Srivastav.

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However, Srivastav is of the opinion that deep frying rose with besan is not ideal for reaping these health benefits. “Flowers are not meant to be fried. Frying makes them heavy to digest due to the oil content and can diminish their nutrient value due to high temperatures.” she said.

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Srivastav recommended enjoying roses in more natural forms, such as petals in tea or gulkand, to maximise their cooling effects.

“Anybody with digestive issues, weight gain, deranged lipid levels, gallbladder removal, and acidity should stay away from this snack,” said Srivastav.

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