Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Besan Laadu


In Maharashtra, the last important festival of the year is Diwali! Diwali comes sometime in October- November and usually lasts for 5 days. These 5 days bring lots of joy and happiness and are a perfect time to visit near and dear ones! Diwali is the festival of lights and the festival of yummy foods n snacks. :D It is celebrated with a lot of crackers and lots of sweets!

Talking more about the 5 days of Diwali.. The first day is Vasubaras, where cows and calves are worshipped. The second day is Dhantrayodashi, where people worship their important business/work related documents. Also books are worshipped as part of Saraswati Puja- for the goddess of wisdom. The third day is LaxmiPujan, the day when goddess Lakshmi is worshipped. Since money is considered equivalent to goddess Lakshmi, people worship money and gold and other precious things! The fourth day is Bali Pratipada or Diwali Padwa, the day of victory of god over evils.. This is the day when married women butter their husbands, pray for them and then get expensive gifts and jewellery! The last day is Bhaubeej (Bhaiduuj) which is celebrated to respect the brother sister relationship.. The sisters get gifts from their bros on this day.. My bro calls this day as “Sister’s Day 2”, “Sister’s Day 1” being “Raksha Bandhan” and always questions me why it’s always me who gets the gifts n not vice versa. :D

On the morning of Lakshmi Pujan, people wake up early and have a bath with scented utana (special powder made from chandan and other herbs) before sunset. Women draw beautiful rangolis infront of their house and light diyas. Children wear new clothes and burst crackers. Around breakfast time, all family members gather together and feast on all delicacies prepared for Diwali :)

Talking of foods, other than readymade mithais, the ladies prepare an array of sweets and snacks at home. The most common Maharashtrian Diwali snacks include the chamchamit Chiwda, crispy Chaklis, spicy Shev and Kadbole and namkeen Shankarpale. The sweets include various Laadu- Rawa Laadu, Besan Laadu, Dry fruits Ladoos Chirote, Anarse(fried stuff prepared from Rice Flour), Karanji(fried stuff with coconut filling) and sweet Shankarpale! In continuity to my last three posts for festive foods, the sequence of some of the festive foods for RCI Maharashtrian Cuisine comes to an end with the Besan Laadu for Diwali, a sweet/laddus prepared from Gram Flour! Happy Diwali in advance ;)

Besan Laadu



What you need:

2 cups Besan (Gram Flour)
1 cup Ghee
1 cup Sugar, powdered
2 tsp Cardamom Powder
Dry fruits- Golden Raisins, Almonds, Cashews (if desired)

How to proceed:

1) Sieve gram flour
2) Roast Gram flour in ghee till the typical odour of gram flour goes off
3) Continue roasting till it starts becoming reddish and then leave aside to cool for some time
4) When it cools, the besan is in form of lumps. Break these lumps using your hands. If this becomes too hard, heat it for some time
5) Now add sugar and mix well.
6) Add dry fruits and cardamom powder
7) Taking some mixture in your hands, roll into ladoos. If its too hard to roll (if ladoos easily break off), add some more ghee.
8) Store in an air tight container and enjoy for next few days ;)

11 comments:

FH said...

Now this is my fan sweet.I have one too at FH.Look absolutely delicious Aarti.I will try your version next time:)

Ramya's Mane Adige said...

wow!!!!!!! Your besan laddu looks really very good. Will definitely try it sometime. Thanx :)

Richa said...

wow, laddu screen varun khaichi iccha hot ahey, too good! love the besan laddu!

DEEPA said...

My husband really loves sweets ..This is so yummy ..will surely try one's

Arts said...

Thanks Asha,
Would try out ur version of adding milk.. but i 'lll hate to burn my hands.. so prefer this ;)

Ramya, Thanks for ur kind words

Richa, uchaal mag ;)

Thx Deepa, lemme know if ur husband loves them :)

Nupur said...

The photograph is so gorgeous! The laadus look rich and delicious. I have only made these once, a few years ago, This year I will make it a point to try them for Diwali...your recipe makes it look easy.

Dhana said...

Aarti, your post has been longing for Diwali and all its treats now!

Arts said...

Thx Nupur,
These are really very easy.. Kaku aahet towar banaun ghe.. doghi asle ki patapat hotata! :) experience mhanun sangte.. Mom mala ladu bandhaila baswaichi :D

Hey Dhana,
U can celebrate anything anytime when u r away frm ur family

Unknown said...

very nice to see & read it,
like I just feel hungry for besan Laddoos!!! it looks soooo nice.
I'll make this as you given here.

Thanks a lot.

p said...

too good Dear!Am gonna try it today so checked your your version before starting!Photo pathawte,but I want them as good as yours..hope hotayet..
Prachi Kulkarni

Anonymous said...

Kiti sundar disat aahet laadu...Taste la tyahuni sundar asnaar...Liked it very much ! I will try these.
Thnx,
Sunita