Snow-Balls
Hey Foodies… How is this festive season going for you all? Back in India, all malls/stores must be jam-packed with people, tailors/readymade garment stores must have long lines for stitching or getting colorful outfits ready, city areas must be full with kids (along with their parents) buying varieties of fire-crackers! It’s a fun time… What do you say?
Nothing out of these things I see around, yet I feel the Diwali vibrations in every corner of my home :) What all are you cooking for these days? Sweets, Snacks… I guess, delectable meals do not need any special day to celebrate, but during this festive season, I’m sure to cook many new dishes… Cooking all days n enjoying every moment in kitchen will be my way to celebrate this festival :) And I’m sure to get good hands on sweets! Yes… that’s something I do only when I’ve some special occasion in-house. This diwali I want to overcome my fears of making authentic sweets!
My mum has a thakorji seva at home n for a daily evening prasad, mum makes ‘Tiny Laddoo’ (which is called BantaJi in Vaishnava’s term). Till the time I was there, I waited every morning to get that laddoo straight in my hand from prasad bowl :D Here, I don’t have that option available with me, so thought to make the same Laddoos by myself!!! So what if I haven’t got lalan in my small home-mandir, I still have Yamuna Maharani’s Chhaviji to offer these sweet, little laddoos :)
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup Semolina
1 cup Coconut
1/4 cup Ghee
1 cup Sugar
Salt, a pinch
1/4 cup Water
1/4 tsp Cardamom Powder
2-3 tbsp Chopped Nuts
STEPS TO FOLLOW:
- Take sugar and water in a non-stick pan and bring it to boil for 1-string consistency.
- Heat ghee in another pan and saute chopped nuts in it. Take them out and keep aside.
- Add semolina in it and roast for approx 10 mins on lowest flame or until it releases aroma.
- Pour sugar syrup along with all other ingredients and mix well.
- Cook for around 2-3 mins and transfer it to a big bowl.
- Start making balls out of it when it’s warm (not hot), as it’s hard to do it once cooled down.
- Coat with coconut flakes (or powdered) and let them rest for an hour.
- Cute looking snow balls are ready for Diwali!!!
SJ’s NOTE:
- Keep stirring semolina continuously to avoid burning or color change!
Wonderful laddus! And I completely agree about the vibes – Happy Diwali!