Besan Ladoo Recipe – Indian Sweet

Festivals can never be complete without sweets. “Besan Ladoo” (बेसन लड्डू) is one such sweet with a unique place in sweets. The roasted aroma of gram flour with ghee, tossed in coriander powder leaves a long lasting flavour in mouth. I simply love this ladoo and is mostly available in my kitchen cupboard round the year. This besan ladoo recipe is simple to follow. I have been using it for more than a decade now. Therefore, it’s foolproof.

People often prefer cookies in snacks. However, I prefer this besan ladoo. If it’s a festival like Diwali or Holi, rest assured you will be greeted by these ladoos. They are absolutely mouth-watering when you visit me.

What is Besan Ladoo

Besan Ladoo, also known as Gram Flour Sweet Balls, is a popular and traditional Indian sweet treat. The main ingredient, besan (gram flour), is gently roasted in ghee (clarified butter). This process brings out a deep, nutty flavor. It gives these ladoos their distinctive taste. Once roasted, the flour is mixed with sugar and cardamom powder. Sometimes, nuts like pistachios or cashews are added for richness and crunch. Shaping this mixture into round balls completes the process, yielding soft, flavorful ladoos that melt in your mouth.

You can add semolina (sooji) for an extra crunch, though traditionalists often enjoy it without. The recipe is simple, requiring only gram flour, ghee, and sugar, making it both affordable and easy to prepare. Flavour boosters like saffron and cardamom are optional. They can enhance the ladoos’ aroma and taste. This makes them perfect for festive occasions or any time you crave something sweet and satisfying.

In case you love Ladoo, try these instant coconut ladoo too. You can try other sweets from this compilation of Diwali recipes.

Method

• To prepare besan ladoos with a rich, aromatic flavor, first coarsely grind cashews and almonds. Finely chop them if a grinder isn’t available. Heat ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan on medium heat until it’s slightly warm. For a vibrant yellow color, add a touch of turmeric powder to the ghee (this is optional).
• Next, add gram flour (besan) to the pan gradually, stirring continuously with a steel or wooden spatula. Roast the flour over low-medium heat until you smell its roasted aroma. To check if the besan is roasted, use the “water test.” Sprinkle a bit of water over the flour. If it evaporates immediately and leaves yellow bubbles, the besan is ready.
• Once roasted, turn off the heat but continue stirring to prevent burning, as the heavy pan will stay hot. Allow the mixture to cool until lukewarm. Then, add sugar, cardamom powder, and the chopped nuts, mixing thoroughly. Take about 1.5 tablespoons of the mixture at a time and press it between your palms to form round ladoos.
• Enjoy these easy-to-make, flavorful besan ladoos, packed with the richness of nuts and the aromatic taste of roasted gram flour!

Pro tips for making best besan ladoo

• Use Fresh Besan and Ghee: Fresh ingredients bring out the best flavors. Check that your gram flour isn’t stale, as old besan can lend a bitter aftertaste to the ladoos.
• Low and Steady Heat: Roasting besan on low-medium heat is essential to avoid burning and ensure an even roast. This slow process helps develop the rich, nutty aroma characteristic of good besan ladoos.
• Try the Water Test: To test if your besan is fully roasted, sprinkle a few drops of water onto the mix. If it sizzles and bubbles instantly, you know the flour is perfectly roasted.
• Add Turmeric for Color (optional): A pinch of turmeric in warm ghee adds a lovely yellow hue to the ladoos without affecting taste, giving them a warm, festive color.
• Cool Before Mixing Sugar: Allow the roasted besan to cool until lukewarm before adding sugar and nuts. Adding sugar too soon will melt it, making the mixture sticky and hard to shape.
• Shape While Warm: For smooth ladoos, start shaping them while the mixture is still slightly warm. The warmth helps the ladoos hold their shape and avoids cracking.
• Choose Nuts Wisely: Adding coarsely ground nuts like cashews and almonds gives a delightful crunch. You can adjust the nut types or quantities as desired for different textures and flavors.

These tips will help you achieve perfectly roasted, fragrant, and smooth besan ladoos with just the right sweetness and texture!

Storage instructions for besan ladoo

You can keep besan ladoo in an airtight container for good 2-3 weeks, as long as container is kept refrigerated.

Reasons to make besan ladoo

• Rich, Nutty Aroma: Slow-roasted gram flour in ghee releases a deep, nutty fragrance that fills the kitchen. Roasting is essential for the unique flavor of besan ladoos, making it a time-honored method.
• Eye-Catching Color: A dash of turmeric adds an earthy flavor and a rich, golden-yellow hue, giving the ladoos a festive look.
• Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor: Besan ladoo uses gram flour, ghee, and sugar but is rich in flavor. Add cardamom and nuts for extra crunch.
• Perfectly Balanced Sweetness: Unlike overly sugary sweets, besan ladoos have a balanced sweetness that doesn’t overwhelm, making them a perfect choice for those who enjoy a satisfying, not overly sweet, treat.
• Texture That Melts in Your Mouth: When you shape the mixture into ladoos at just the right temperature, they have a wonderfully soft texture that melts in your mouth with each bite. It’s a texture you just have to experience!
• Tradition Meets Fun: By making besan ladoos yourself, you’re diving into a bit of culture and tradition, but also having fun experimenting with something you can easily customize to your taste.
• The “Water Test” Drama: The “water test” indicates when the besan is perfectly roasted, creating a culinary science moment! Sprinkling water causes it to sizzle, resulting in fragrant roasted flour ideal for ladoos.
• Making besan ladoo is like enjoying a piece of traditional India with a flavorful twist. Try it out, and you’ll likely find yourself coming back to this easy yet incredibly rewarding recipe!

In case you have besan at home, you can try out these other besan based recipes.

• Punjabi Kadhi
• Besan Cheela / Pancake
• Mirchi Pakoda

I am hoping that using precise measurements in this detailed recipe, along with helpful tips and techniques that I have gathered through years of experience, you will not only master the art of besan ladoo making but also understand the nuances that make these sweet treats truly special; by following each step diligently, you’ll create delicious ladoos that can impress family and friends while also providing a delightful experience for yourself in the kitchen.

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