This is a very easy recipe that requires very basic ingredients that are readily available in our pantry.
Recipe Courtesy: Mother in law :)
Ingredients:
2 cups of Semolina/Rava (fine quality)
3/4 cup of Gram Flour/Chickpea Flour/Besan
1 cup of ghee/clarified butter (1/2 cup of ghee for roasting the semolina and 1/2 cup of ghee for roasting the gram flour)
2 - 1/2 cups of sugar (I used the regular cane sugar)
1/2 tsp of cardomom/elaichi powder
1/2 tsp of jaifal/nutmeg powder
1 cup of water (for making sugar syrup)
Few raisins and cashewnuts cut into small pieces
Method:
1) In a not stick skillet or tava add 1/2 cup of ghee and once the ghee is hot add the semolina and roast it on a low flame. Keep on stirring it frequently so that the semolina is roasted evenly and doesn't burn from the bottom. Roast semolina till it becomes nice golden in color. This will take anywhere around 20 - 25mins. Transfer the roasted semolina into a plate and keep this aside.
Remember that the semolina will brown quickly when roasted on a medium flame but it will not be cooked thoroughly and will be raw . So be a little patient and cook it on a low flame until you see it change color.
2) In the same pan add the remaining half cup of ghee and once the ghee is hot add the gram flour /besan. Stir it nicely and roast it on a low flame till gives out a nice aroma and changes color to light brown. This will take around 10-15mins. Switch of the flame and keep this aside.
3) Now in a sauce pan add 1 cup of water and 2 - 1/2 cups of sugar. Keep this on a medium flame. Stir the sugar nicely. Let the sugar dissolve completely in the water. Once the sugar is completely dissolved let the sugar syrup come to a boil. Once it starts boiling let it boil for 1 minute. And then immediately switch off the flame.
Such kind of ladoo recipes requires something called as a one string consistency sugar syrup. However some people find it rather difficult to get this correctly. The above mentioned method is what my MIL follows and this method has never failed. This ladoo was prepared the same way.
4) Now add the roasted semolina, roasted gram flour/besan, cardomom powder and nutmeg powder to the sugar syrup. Mix everything thoroughly. Keep this mixture aside for half an hour.
5) After half an hour the mixture will harden a bit. Break the lumps with a spatula or with hands evenly. At this point the mixture will be warm to touch.
Make sure that that the mixture is a little warm to touch while shaping the ladoos. Else they wont bind tightly and will crumble.
6) Start shaping the ladoo by taking a handful of the mixture. Add a small piece of cashew in between the mixture and then start pressing it tightly between your palms and fingers. Keep doing it till you get a nice round shape ladoo. Use both hands if you find it difficult to make them using one hand. Do not fret if they are not perfectly round. :P.
7) Finally place a raisin on top of the ladoo and press it lightly. This step is optional. You can also mix the cashews and raisins in to the mixture and make ladoos.
8) Keep making the ladoos until the entire mixture is used up. This recipe will yield around 20 medium sized ladoos.
9) Transfer the ladoos in an air tight container. The ladoos will stay good for 8 - 10 days. Keep them in the refrigerator to increase the shelf life.
Wishing all my dear friends and blog readers a very Happy Ganesh Chaturthi.
Stay blessed everyone. :)
Stay blessed everyone. :)
