Pleasant November mornings, festive air, heavy odor of incense sticks complimenting the lure of golden yellow chaklis and perfectly rounded laddoos, paired with the perfect ambiance of glowing diyas and the pristine diwali puja, during Diwali our homes are filled with joy and festivity.
Brighten up your Diwali even more by biting into these healthy, delicious home-made laddoos.
Besan Ke Laddoo
Roast 500gm besan in 300 gm ghee over slow heat till it turns light golden in colour.
Now add 750 gm sugar to it and cook for half a minute more. Keep aside; add crushed dry fruits (pista, badam) and mix.
Make round balls (while the mixture is still warm). Store in airtight container when cool.
Sattu Ke Laddoo
Lightly roast 500 gm sattu with 500 gm jaggery.
Transfer this mixture to a large plate. Add elaichi powder, finally chopped cashews and pista, and knead and shape into laddoos, adding coconut milk as required.
Malai Laddoo
Heat ¼ cup ghee, add 1 cup sooji (semolina) and roast it stirring till light brown (about 5 minutes). Add 3 tbsp of desiccated (dried) coconut and briefly roast further for 2 minutes.
Mix in nuts (almonds, cashews, pista) and roast for 2 more minutes. Now mix ¼ cup malai, 1 cup powdered sugar powder, pinch of cardamom powder and add to the sooji, coconut mix. Let the mix cool for a bit, and then roll and shape the whole mixture into medium-sized laddoos while the mixture is still warm.
Date and Oatmeal Laddoos
Cook 100 gm dates in 100 ml fresh orange juice on low heat, until the mixture becomes like mash and allow it to cool.
Mix 100 gm oats, 1 tbsp honey and 1 tbsp pista and add to the cooed dates. Mix well. Line the mixture evenly in a tray lined already with ghee, let it cool it for a bit then roll into laddoos when still warm.
Peanut Laddoos
Boil 250 gm jaggery in 250 ml water to form a thick syrup. Now add 1/2 cup roasted peanuts, 1 cup cooked rice, pinch of cardamom powder and 1/2 cup dry coconut flakes. Stir, gently, add. Little bit of ghee. Let the mixture cool and bit and then gently roll out balls.
(Kavita is a nutritionist, weight management consultant and health writer based in Delhi. She is the author of Don’t Diet! 50 Habits of Thin People (Jaico), Ultimate Grandmother Hacks: 50 Kickass Traditional Habits for a Fitter You (Rupa) and Fix it with foods.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)