Laddu is a favorite dessert and snack for old and kids alike. Laddu means “ball,” so anything sweet and round qualifies as a Laddu. You can make Laddus using almost any flour, puffed rice, other puffed grains, sesame seeds, or a mix of nuts and coconut. The basic ingredients are consistent—ghee and sugar—but beyond that, the possibilities are endless.
In the winter, my mother would make wheat flour Laddus with almonds, powdered ginger, nutmeg, poppy seeds, ghee, and brown sugar (absolutely delicious!). Moong Flour Laddu and Mixed Nut Laddu are also among my favorites. Traditionally, flour is slowly roasted in ghee on the stove, a process that can be pretty tedious. I’ve found that using the microwave to roast flour makes the process much easier and more consistent. Give it a try, and you’ll be amazed at how simple it is!
yield:
ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup regular besan
1/4 cup laddu besan
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup crushed, toasted almonds
1/2 tsp. cardamom powder
a pinch of salt
preparation:
- Melt butter in a microwave-proof bowl on high power for 2 minutes, covering the bowl partially to keep the butter from spattering while letting the steam escape.
- Add besan, mix well, and microwave for 2 minutes.
- Stir and microwave for one more minute. If besan is not brown and fragrant, cook for another minute.
- Add almonds, sugar, and cardamom, and mix well.
- When the besan mix is cool enough to handle without getting burnt but not too cold, or the butter will harden, shape it into one-inch-diameter Laddus. (If the mixture gets too cold and hardens, warm it in the microwave for a minute or two.)
- Cool completely until Laddus harden. Enjoy!
Copyright © Rashmi Rustagi 2012. All Rights Reserved.