Rava Ladoo

I have a feeling ladoos are always the easiest sweets to make. Make a mix - of anything, drizzle some hot ghee over it and lo! Yummy ladoos are ready in a matter of minutes. And during diwali, this is one of the reasons why ladoos secure a definite place among the list of sweets-to-do in most households.

One of the diwali sweets this year at my home was - the easy rava ladoo. This is a popular diwali sweet in Chennai. Despite its tremendous popularity, each home has its own ways of making the rava ladoo. I have never tasted rava ladoos of two homes being similar. Well.. this recipe is from my mother and this yields about ten medium sized ladoos.

Ingredients:

• Bombay rava (suji): 1 cup
• Sugar: 1 cup
• Cardamom powder: 1/2 tsp
• Ghee: 1/3 cup
• Cashews (broken into bits): 7 - 8
• Raisins: 10 - 15
• Grated coconut: 1/3 cup (optional)

Method:

• Take a heavy bottomed kadai
• Add 2 tbsp of ghee to it. Once hot, fry the cashews and raisins till golden brown. Keep aside
• Add the rava and elaichi powder. Fry till a yummy aroma arises and it turns golden brown. Do this on a low flame. Let it cool down
• Once it is cool enough for the mixie, run the rava and elaichi powder in the mixie till it becomes a reasonably fine powder. Run it a couple of times if the rava is stubborn. Empty into a large basin
• Now, powder the sugar. Add it to the rava in the basin
• Introduce the cashews, raisins and the grated coconut into the basin
• Mix very well.
• Heat the remaining ghee. Pour on top of this mixture
• Make firm ladoos quickly
• If making of the ladoos are a trouble, add a little more ghee to it. Else, sprinkle some warm milk on the mixture and try again. In a couple of trials, the ladoos should be done
• Enjoy!

My Rava Ladoos are my contribution to "Sunday Snacks: Festive snacks of Navarathri and Diwali", hosted by Indrani