I can't even begin to describe how the house smelled whenever badi mummy (my grandma) used to make besan ladoos. If you have ever worked with besan (chickpea flour) and tried roasting it, you would know what I mean. It takes an extra sniff to brace in all of it, embracing it in all your senses. It's the aroma of home - sweet & comforting. If there is any indian mithai (sweets) which I choose over gulab jamuns, it has to be this. I just said that.
Similar to a never empty cookie jar on kitchen counters, there was hardly any time when besan ladoos were not stocked in my grandma's house, the only difference was that these were securely kept in a stained brass jar on the top most rack in the kitchen. Just so that we only eat them after having meals and not as a meal- highly addictive as they were. Sneaking in a couple of them with cold unsweetened milk before leaving for school is one of the best ways we relished them as kids.Some of you might contest how something loaded with ghee and sugar could possibly be a morning ritual but at times few foods become such a part of you that the nourishment becomes secondary, it's just the comfort of eating. Similar to donuts and coffee,I guess. Plus childhood could absorb in all those calories.
I think I never made besan ladoos after getting married.When mom visited me last year during my pregnancy days, she made a big batch and I was hooked again. Mindful, clean, healthy eating is fine but lets keep it away from the comfort such recipes evokes. This is one of those few recipes which takes me back in time, engages me in the memory of those years. I have put together a batch almost three or four times in last one year. Not that I eat them for breakfast but its a thorough guilty pleasure when I need sugar.
Besan(chickpea flour) ladoo (sweet confection) is an extremely popular no-occasion mithai in India.In homes these are served just to cater to sweet tooth after meals, for casual snacking or as an instant energy boost.Requiring just four ingredients, the recipe is very forgiving and gluten-free. Coarse chickpea flour is roasted in ghee till it starts emanating a nutty fragrance. Sugar, nuts and dried fruits are added and then the flour is rolled into small dumplings. Sweet and simple. You could add in a variety of nuts and seeds but I like to add only raisins. If the flour is not slow roasted properly, there will be raw after taste so bring lots of patience when you decide to make these. Other than that the recipe is a no brainer.
Ingredients (Makes 12-15 ladoos)
- ¾ cup ghee (measured at room temperature)
- 2 cup ladoo besan (coarse chickpea flour)
- ½ cup powdered sugar +⅓ cup crystal sugar
- 5-6 cardamom pods
- ⅓ cup raisins
Notes
- Coarse Chickpea Flour (Ladoo Besan/Mota Besan is easily avialbale in indian/pakistani stores)
- If you do not get coarse chickpea flour, add 2-3 tablespoon of fine semolina while roasting to get the right texture.If you do not want to add semolina and keep them gluten free,use usual chickpea flour that you could get but add lesser quantity of ghee (about ½ cup) than what is mentioned in the recipe, add more melted ghee later if you feel that the roasted flour-sugar mix is dry or if required when shaping the ladoos.
- The right texture for ladoos is coarse and chewy - they should not to stick to gums.
- You could use coconut oil in this recipe in place of ghee for a vegan version but frankly the taste changes totally and I did not like it much.
- I add a mix of powdered and crystal raw turbinado sugar to better the chewy texture though traditionally powdered sugar (boora) is used.
- The ladoos from this recipe are very moist so if in case you have a difficulty while shaping them, refrigerate the flour mix for 10-12 minutes and roll out. They will not fall apart once shaped into balls.
Method
In a large pot, combine ghee with besan and using your fingers combine well so that there are no lumps. Transfer the mixture to a heavy bottomed kadhai/wide pan. Put the kadhai on stove and let heat on medium low for 5-7 minutes. When the kadhai has warmed up, reduce heat to low.
Cook on a low flame, stirring continuously. The slow roasting is extremely important so as to ensure that the raw taste of besan is gone. Besan will slowly start changing color and you will smell a nice aroma. After about 30-35 minutes of slow roasting, you will also see ghee starting to separate on the sides. Take off the stove, mix in the raisins (or nuts if using) and set aside to cool.
While the mixture is cooling, crack open the cardamom pods and in using mortar and pestle crush the seeds to a fine powder.
Once the roasted besan is cooled (but not cold) and easy to handle, add in the sugar and cardamom powder. Combine nicely so that everything is mixed together. Make even sized balls. You can moisten your palms with little melted ghee (if required) while making balls.
Store up to two weeks at room temperature.
Anjana @ At The Corner Of Happy & Harried
I wish I could pluck one off the screen right now! Lovely!!
quarteracrelifestyle
You make the most delicious sounding sweets, I really am going to have to try some. Could I use butter for these instead of ghee do you think?
Tanvi
Butter will not work. But wait, how about making some ghee with butter and then use it. You can use this link from an earlier post to make ghee.
https://sinfullyspicy.com/2013/09/15/homemade-ghee-indian-clarified-butter/
Hope this works.
-xx
quarteracrelifestyle
Thanks for that 🙂
indy
beautiful and droolworthy!
sarahjmir
I actually dislike luddoo but am dying to eat the ones you made - they look unbelievably good!
Tanvi
Aww...thank you
Lail | With A Spin
I have never tried Besan Ladoo. Gotta try it sometimes. Drool worthy photos.
Tanvi
No kidding? You should really try one sometime!
Deepa
Delicious and lovely to look at ladoos. Seems to be unputdownable once you start having one.
Deepa
Tanvi
I finished a batch in 2 days. How about that? 🙂
Rosa Mayland
A fabulous teeat! This is something I'll have to try someday soon...
Cheers,
Rosa
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health
im not much of a besan ladoo person but your pictures are beautiful...my family will love this though.
spicesandpisces
Being a Bong...I am not a big fan of laddoos. The only thing I love is gond ka ladoo made my one of my student's marwari mother. BUT I must say, you made a Bong drool over your besan laddoos.
Tanvi
Don't tell me you do not like narkel naru? My husband's grandmother taught me once and I loved them but never tried them. They were amazing!
spicesandpisces
Sorry, I am not a big fan of narus either 🙁 I love sesame naru and chirer naru (made from flattened rice)Where do you live? I make them occasionally and I can send them to you.
Tanvi
Oh so sweet thank you for the offer. 🙂
Joyti
These look delicious. I'm usually not a big fan of laddoos (the only Indian sweet I really like is barfi because it's the only one that's not too sweet!). But these look delicious. Can you cut down the sugar, or will it ruin the texture?
Gorgeous photographs!
Tanvi
Thanks Joyti. Yes you can. You can skip the 1/3 crystal sugar and add more raisins for a nice sweet bite. Oh I love barfi too - the kola one specially. yum!
shonalika
Ahh, I remember ADORING these as a child, my grandmother used to make them brilliantly... I've not seen her/had laddoos in years, and I'm vegan now... but I think I'll one day need to wait for an occasion special enough to try a version of these - coconut oil can work wonders in place of ghee, though I might need to switch the quantities around a bit until I figured out what works ^^
Tanvi
Thanks Shonalika.I think its got to be a acquired taste.But coconut oil is definitely a substitute as I mentioned in the post.
citycakes
Those Besan landoos look incredible and the pictures are amazing! You did such a great job on this! I really enjoyed reading your post!
Tanvi
Thank you
afracooking
What an amazing use of chickpea flour. I only discovered it a few years back and really know no better than to use it for pancakes and similar. But these are just so fabulous!
Tanvi
Thanks Afra. Chickpea flour is immensely used in curries and desserts in India. You can browse my archives to check out few recipes, in case you are interested.
Kulsum
I might be the only one but I don't like besan ke laddooo ! But you are certainly tempting me to give it a second (or 100th) hehe chance 🙂
huntfortheverybest
they look yummy!