Laddu (Laddoo) also known as Boondi Laddu- the most popular sweet of India- for north and south. With besan flour and sugar as it’s core ingredients, this ball shaped sweet is very special on occasions to share happiness and also for festival and religious occasions. You will see multiple variants of Laddu’s across the states,  with slight change in ingredients, color and even the size. I selected this sweet recipe to share today, for multiple reasons; one of-course is as my little daughter is completing her 18^th month today.

Ingredients

1. Besan/ gram flour (കടല മാവ് ) : 2 cups
2. Turmeric powder : A pinch
3. Cooking soda : A pinch
4. Water : 1cup+1Tbl-sp.
5. Ghee : 2 Tbl-sp
6. Oil for frying

For sugar syrup:

7. Sugar : 2 ½  cup
8. Water : 1 ¼ cup

For garnishing:

9. Chopped almonds : ¼  cup
10. Cardamom powder : ¼  cup

Method:

• In a bowl add the besan flour cooking soda and turmeric powder.
• Mix all together with a spoon.
• Add water little at a time (it will help to avoid lump formation) and make a thick paste and then add the left over water and make a smooth batter without any lumps.
• Finally add the ghee and mix it.
• Heat the oil in a thick bottom pan/kadai: T

This is the time to check the consistency of the batter , drop a little batter on the oil , it will came round shape means the batter is perfect .If the batter settled to the bottom of the pan, it means the batter is watery. If the batter is thick it won’t get the round shape.

• Now fry the boondies. Pour the batter through the ladle hole (hold the ladle just above the oil) If you hold the ladle too high , you won’t get round boondies.

• Cook the boondies just enough and then take it out and keep it in a kitchen towel (Make sure to not cook the boondies to make them crispy)
• Repeat the cooking process in multiple batches to finish the entire batter. Before using the ladle for each batch make sure to clean and dry it.

Sugar syrup.

• In a wide pan add the sugar and water; let it boil till the consistency of the sugar will be one thread (see tips).
• Now turn off the stove.
• Add the boondies at this stage into the syrup and mix it in the same time.
• Then add the cardamom powder and chopped almonds and mix everything together.
• When it is warm to handle, grease your hands with ghee and make lemon sized balls, squeeze excess sugar syrup and tight with your palms.

Tips:-

• Water quantity may very more or less according t the quality of the besan.
• How to test the one thread consistency : take a drop of sugar syrup and just touch with your thumb and index finger, can see a one thread is getting and hold in between the two fingers.
• Don’t over fry the boondies to make it crispy.
• Can add any kind of nuts and/or raisins for garnishing, according to your preference.
• Make the laddus when it is warm. Otherwise it won’t form balls.