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Traditional Besan Laddu (ladoo) recipe

Besan ladoo are creamy, golden-hued, melt-in-your-mouth dessert balls made with besan/gram flour, ghee and sugar laced with aromatic cardamom, nutmeg and saffron.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Cooling Time
15 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: ladoo
Calories: 117 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 1 cup fine besan / gram flour sift before measuring
  • ¼ cup ghee
  • ½ cup powdered sugar sifted
  • 1 tablespoon pistachios thinly sliced, optional
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon saffron

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Add ghee and besan to a medium sized heavy bottomed pan. Keeping the heat low, slow roast the besan flour, while stirring constantly with a spatula. Continue to stir evenly and break the lumps that will form initially.
  2. After about 10 minutes, the flour will start to loosen up and become light and fluffy. Continue roasting for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the flour turns light golden brown. At this stage the ghee will start to separate, filling the kitchen with a delightful aroma.
  3. Turn the heat off and take out the mixture into a bowl. This will avoid the besan from being overcooked. Allow it to cool for about 15 minutes or until it is luke warm to touch.
  4. Add powdered sugar, cardamom, nutmeg, saffron and pistachios. Massage the mixture with the palm of your hands, and as you do so the ghee starts to release, allowing the mixture to bind together.
  5. Take 2 to 3 tablespoons of mix at a time and start pressing and shaping to form round balls. Repeat with the remaining mix. Makes 8 ladoo.
  6. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place. The laddus will stay good at room temperature for 8 to 10 days. For longer shelf-life keep them in the refrigerator and remember to heat in the microwave for about 10 seconds before enjoying them.

Notes

  • Pro tips for perfect besan laddu:
  • The besan and ghee must be slow-roasted over low heat stirring constantly until it gets light and fluffy, golden brown, and aromatic. The timings in the recipe are for 1 cup of besan flour. It takes 25 minutes to roast 1 cup of besan, 35 minutes for 2 cups, and 45 minutes for 3 cups of besan. The more the quantity, the roasting time will increase.
  • Use fresh, good quality besan/gram flour. I usually buy the fine besan from Indian grocery stores.
  • Sift the flour and then measure it for the perfect proportion of besan, ghee, and sugar.
  • I like using homemade ghee for this recipe with its nutty taste and aroma.
  • Use a thick bottom pan or a heavy nonstick pan for roasting the gram flour.
  • Make sure to sift the gram flour and powdered sugar to remove any lumps.
  • Use low to medium heat to fry the besan or gram flour to ensure the flour gets uniformly roasted.
  • Allow the hot flour and ghee mixture to cool down before adding the sugar.
  • You can grease your palms with ghee before shaping the balls so that the mixture does not stick to your hand.
  • If the mixture is too soft and sticky, add some more dry roasted besan to the mixture and then shape the laddoo.

Nutrition Information

Calories 117kcal (6%) Carbohydrates 21g (7%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 2g (3%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Sodium 15mg (1%) Potassium 194mg (6%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 9g (18%) Vitamin A 15IU (0%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 21mg (2%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1ladoo

Amount Per Serving

Calories 117

% Daily Value*

Calories 117kcal 6%
Carbohydrates 21g 7%
Protein 5g 10%
Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Sodium 15mg 1%
Potassium 194mg 4%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 9g 18%
Vitamin A 15IU 0%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 21mg 2%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.