Urad Dal Laddoo

Laddoos are an Indian sweet made with Flour, Sugar, Nuts, Clarified Butter, and some flavorings. In many Indian households, one may find a jar full of laddoos consumed one at a time as a dessert after a meal. In different states, people make these laddoos with the flour that is more abundantly available there. Laddoos are also one of the most common desserts made during festivals. Since many festivals celebrated in India are based on the season, the ingredients used in making these Laddoos depend on the season. These ingredients align with the produce and follow the principle of eating according to the season to get the best health benefits. By aligning our consumption with the season's crop, we also stay in harmony with our environment. Ingredients are bought locally and are usually fresh. 

Laddoos have been mentioned in ancient Indian texts and mythological stories too. It is believed that way back around 500 BC, physicians would use Laddoos to give medicines to patients to make it easier for them to consume the bitter pills. 

People who don't have enough time to make at home or want to buy in huge quantities prefer buying from shops. During festivals, shops counters keep getting filled with these desserts and get sold out within no time. But many make Laddoos at home too. The ingredients are easy to find, the procedure is simple, and it doesn't take much time. In addition, Laddoos are easy to store and taste delicious. By making them at home, we can adjust the sweetness and richness according to our taste. We can also make sure that we use the best ingredients. And what is better than food made with our own hands for our loved ones.

Today I made Laddoo with some basic ingredients that I had at home. 

Ingredients ( for around 28 Lemon Sized Laddoos)

1. Urad Dal ( Black Lentils, skinned): 2 Cups

2. Ghee ( Clarified Butter ): 1/2 Cup

3. Gud (Powdered Jaggery): 2 Cups

4. Elaichi (Cardamom seeds): about 10 

6. Mewa (Mixed nuts -Cashews, Almonds, and Pistachios): About 1/2 cup.

Method :

1. I start with roasting the lentils by keeping the flame in medium heat for about 10-12 minutes till it browns a little and releases a nice aroma. Once done, take it out. While it is still a bit hot, grind it into a fine powder.

2. I take out the seeds of the cardamom and grind them into a powder along with the nuts.

3. Mix the hot Lentil powder with the Nuts and Cardamom powder. Then add Jaggery and Clarified butter and combine well. 

4. Before the mixture cools down completely, start binding into small balls as per your preference. I made Lemon sized balls. 

5. When all the laddoos are made, make sure you eat one and reward yourself for your effort. Also, although laddoos can be stored at room temperature in an air-tight container for days together, the best laddoo is the one that you eat immediately after making it.