October 26, 2021

Besan Ladoo – Besan Ke Laddu

Name: Besan Ladoo - Besan Ke Laddu
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 4 cup Gram flour/Besan (fine); 1 tsp Semolina (fine, optional); 1 cup Ghee (thick); 2 cup Powdered sugar (grind the regular sugar); 1.5 tsp Cardamom powder (freshly ground); 5-6 Cashew nuts (chopped, optional); 5-6 Almonds (chopped, optional); 5-6 Pistachios (chopped, optional)

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Besan ladoo is a very popular sweet dish from India. These are melt-in-your-mouth sweet balls made during festivals and special occasions. Besan ladoos are a perfect addition to your Diwali sweets. This dish is made with very few ingredients like gram flour, powdered sugar, ghee, and cardamom powder.

Besan is roasted in pure ghee until it releases a nutty flavor and golden brown color. After that sugar and cardamom powder is added to the roasted besan mixture.

The most important part of making besan ladoo is roasting the besan patiently with some ghee on low heat. If you roast the besan too quickly on medium-high heat, the result will be raw tasting besan ladoos.

Traditionally, besan is added to the melted ghee and roasted on low heat for a long time patiently. I like to dry roast the besan at the beginning. It helps to roast the besan perfectly without adding too much ghee.

You will find two types of gram flour for making ladoo. Use a good quality gram flour for making great tasting ladoos. I personally use Swad or Deep brand besan (fine flour). I have added some fine semolina while roasting the besan – ladoo will not stick to your mouth but it’s completely optional.

Ghee also plays an important role in great smelling tasty ladoos. I prefer homemade ghee over store bought.

Combining some nuts in the besan ladoo mixture adds some crunch while eating the ladoo. You can add roughly chopped cashew nuts, pistachios, and almonds to make them more special for festivals but it is totally optional.

Ingredients

Gram flour/Besan
Semolina
Ghee
Powdered sugar
Cardamom powder
Cashew nuts
Almonds
Pistachios

Step By Step Besan Ladoo Recipe

In a kadhai or pan, add besan, and dry roast it on low to medium heat.

Keep on roasting the besan frequently without burning it. While roasting the flour, use a spatula to break the small lumps in the flour. Repeat the same process for 20 minutes.

Make a well in the roasted besan in the center, add some ghee, and melt it. Keep two tablespoons of ghee aside to add later.

Mix besan and ghee very well. Next, add fine semolina and keep roasting the besan for about 15 minutes continuously. Do not let the besan form any lumps. Break down the lumps with a spatula.

Add 1 tbsp ghee in the mixture. Roast it for 10 minutes on low heat. Keep pressing and roasting the besan with a spatula for that perfect soft and creamy texture.

Next, add another tbsp ghee in the mixture. Roast the besan further on low heat for 15-20 minutes or until it turns golden brown in color.

Carefully transfer the besan to a big mixing bowl and let it cool down for about 25-30 minutes.

Add powdered sugar little at a time and mix it well with the roasted besan.

Next, keep on rubbing the mixture with the palms of your hands. It will smooth out the mixture and ghee will start releasing from it – which will help form smooth ladoos.

Add some cardamom powder and chopped nuts to the roasted besan and mix it well.

Take 2-3 tbsp of ladoo mixture and shape it into a smooth round ball.

Repeat the same step with the remaining mixture and form ladoos.

Keep the ladoos on a plate to air dry them.

After 10-15 minutes, with your finger slightly move each ladoo in a circular motion which will help the laddo not to stick at the bottom and will make it easy to lift from the plate without breaking.

After 30 minutes, they will completely get dry and then you can store them in an airtight container.

Tips For Making Besan Ladoo

Use a heavy bottom pan for roasting the besan.
Dry roasting the flour at the beginning helps to roast the besan perfectly.
Roasting the besan continuously and patiently on low heat is very important.
I have added 1 tsp fine semolina while roasting the besan – ladoo will not stick to your mouth but it’s completely optional.
Depending on the thickness/type of the pan, quantity, and temperature setting the amount of time for perfectly roasting the besan will change.
When the mixture starts releasing ghee, becomes soft, gives off a nice aroma, and turns golden brown, the besan is fully roasted.
If you cool down the roasted besan for longer or overnight then just heat it again for 1-2 minutes and break the besan with your fingers before adding powdered sugar to it.
Once you add the sugar and if you feel that besan is not roasted properly, you will not be able to roast it again. Make sure to roast the besan evenly on low heat – you may taste some roasted besan before adding sugar and roast on low heat as needed.

How To Store The Besan Ladoo?

You can store the besan ladoos in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 month.

Store besan ladoos in an airtight container for about 2 months in the refrigerator.

Warm the besan ladoo for 2-3 seconds in the microwave if you decide to store them into the refrigerator before eating. Leave the besan ladoo on a countertop for 20-30 minutes and enjoy!

Diwali Snacks Recipes

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