PEANUT SESAME LADOO

 PEANUT SESAME LADOO

Most of us love to eat sweets ! We are ever ready to have one or the other of the many different types of sweets we make in India. A popular Indian sweet made in every Indian home is the Ladoo/Laddu.

Elsewhere in this blog, you will find recipes for different types of Ladoos such as:-

• Churmondo (Wheat Flour Ladoos) 
• Dates-Dry Fruits Ladoo
• Til ke Ladoo

Today's recipe is for a delicious ladoo made with just three ingredients: Peanuts, Sesame Seeds, and Jaggery. 

As you know, peanuts and sesame seeds have numerous health benefits. Peanuts are rich in protein , fat and fibre. Sesame Seeds are rich in nutrients vital to bone health. The third ingredient jaggery is again rich in many minerals and vitamins. It scores over refined sugar in many ways. 

Also, this recipe does not call for the use of ghee. So the good news is that these ladoos- in moderation, of course- are healthy as well being very tasty! 

I have adapted this from Peanut Sesame Ladoo or Palli Nuvvala Laddu by blogger Hari Chandana.

The quantities mentioned of the ingredients yielded me with 10-12 Ladoos. 

Ingredients:-

• Peanuts, 1 cup
• Sesame Seeds, (Til), 1/2 cup
• Jaggery, grated/powdered, 3/4 cup
• Cardamom, 2 :  Peel and powder / 

Method:-

In a thick-bottomed pan, dry roast the peanuts on medium flame for about 6-8 minutes stirring continuously till they crackle and they become brown in colour 

Remove from the pan and allow it to cool then remove the skin of the peanuts by rubbing them between your palms. Keep aside

In the same pan, dry roast the sesame seeds on medium heat stirring continuously till they turn golden in colour and start popping. Keep aside and allow it to cool.

In a mixer jar, grind together the roasted peanuts and the roasted sesame seeds, in pulse mode, to a coarse powder

To this add the grated/ powdered jaggery and pulse it again so that the jaggery gets well blended with the peanuts-sesame powder 

Transfer the contents to a plate, break up lumps if any and mix in the cardamom powder

Take small portions of this mixture and shape them into ladoos using your fingers and palms 

Store the Peanut Sesame Ladoos in air tight container

* Tips : Running the mixer in normal mode will result in the sesame seeds and peanuts releasing too much oil, hence we should use the pulse mode with frequent intervals 

DATES & DRY FRUITS LADOOS

 DATES & DRY FRUITS LADOOS

It is customary in our Indian homes to make some sweets for festivals and with Diwali coming up, everyone is busy preparing sweets and savories for the family. For the health conscious and for those who are advised to avoid or reduce their intake of sugar, Dates & Dry Fruits Ladoos is a welcome option that I would recommend. This is because unlike most traditional Indian sweets, this does not call for the use of  sugar or even jaggery as dates have their natural sweetness. 

Dates are supposed to be very good for health . They are nutritious and high in fibre apart from having several antioxidants. Likewise, dry fruits too are rich in proteins, minerals and fibre, so this combination of ingredients makes for a tasty as well as healthy sweet! Readers outside India would probably use the generic term " nuts" for what we call " dry fruits"! 

There are many ways one can make Dates & Dry Fruit Ladoos. I have used this method which is quite easy and does not call for too much effort. 

If you are using seedless dates, they can be used as such but dates with seeds need to be de-seeded. You can use a variety of dry fruits. Today I have used almonds, cashews, pistachios, walnuts and raisins. 

Please note that we should make the ladoos when the dates and dry fruits mixture is cool enough to handle, without allowing it to cool completely. 

While signing off, here's wishing you and your family a Very Happy Diwali. Enjoy, but stay safe!! 

Ingredients:-

• Seedless Dates, (Khajur) 2 cups 
• Ghee, 1 and 1/2 tbsp
• Almonds, (Badam), chopped, 1/2 cup
• Cashewnuts, (Kaju), chopped, 3 tbsp 
• Pistachios, (Pista), chopped, 3 tbsp
• Walnuts, (Akhrot), chopped, 3 tbsp 
• Raisins, ( Kishmish), 2 tbsp
• Poppy Seeds, (Khus Khus), 2 tsp
• Cardamom (Elaichi ) Powder, 1/2 tsp

Method:-

Keep the dates in a microwaveable dish and microwave on high for about 30 seconds

( This will soften the dates)

Allow it to cool and transfer the dates to a mixer jar 

Grind  the dates to a coarse paste without adding any water. Keep aside

In a thick bottomed kadhai, heat the ghee and lightly fry the almonds, cashew nuts, pistachios and walnuts till they get roasted and give off a fragrance 

Next add the raisins and poppy seeds and roast for 1-2 minutes 

To this add the dates paste prepared earlier and stir continuously till the dates and nuts get well blended

Switch off the gas, add the cardamom powder and mix once again

Transfer the content to a plate and allow it to cool for a few minutes

When it is cool enough to handle, apply a little ghee to your palms and lightly knead the dates and dry fruits mixture 

Using your palms and fingers, shape the dates and dry fruits mixture into ladoos 

Store in airtight container