Boondi Ladoo Recipes

Boondi Ladoo is a popular Indian sweet made from tiny, deep-fried chickpea flour pearls (boondi) that are coated with a sweet syrup and shaped into round ladoos. These sweet treats are often prepared during festivals and special occasions. Here’s the recipe:

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 30-40 minutes
Total Time: 45-55 minutes

Ingredients:

For Boondi:

• 1 cup chickpea flour (besan)
• A pinch of baking soda (optional)
• Water, as needed
• Ghee or oil, for frying

For Sugar Syrup:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• A few saffron strands (optional)
• A pinch of cardamom powder

For Ladoo:

• 2-3 tablespoons chopped nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios)
• Ghee, for greasing hands

Instructions:

Prepare Sugar Syrup:

1. In a saucepan, combine sugar and water. Bring it to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
2. Add saffron strands (if using) and cardamom powder. Boil the syrup until it reaches one-string consistency. To check, take a drop of syrup between your thumb and forefinger; it should form a single thread.
3. Once it reaches the right consistency, remove it from heat and keep it warm.

Prepare Boondi: 4. In a mixing bowl, combine chickpea flour (besan) and a pinch of baking soda (if using).

5. Gradually add water to make a smooth batter. The batter should be thick yet flow easily from a spoon.
6. Heat ghee or oil in a deep frying pan or kadai over medium heat.
7. To make boondi, hold a perforated ladle or a slotted spoon (with small holes) over the hot oil.
8. Pour a ladleful of batter onto the ladle and tap it gently so that small drops of batter fall into the hot oil. Fry until they become golden and crispy.
9. Remove the fried boondi with a slotted spoon and drain excess oil. Continue frying in batches until all the batter is used up.

Shape Ladoos: 10. Once the fried boondi has slightly cooled, place it in a large mixing bowl.

11. Pour the warm sugar syrup over the boondi and mix well. Allow it to sit for a few minutes to absorb the syrup.
12. Add chopped nuts and mix.
13. Grease your hands with a little ghee and shape the mixture into small round ladoos while it’s still warm.

Cool and Store: 14. Allow the ladoos to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container.

Cook’s Tips:

• Make sure the sugar syrup is warm when you pour it over the boondi; this helps the boondi absorb the syrup.
• You can add other flavorings like rose water or a few drops of lemon juice to the sugar syrup for variation.

Enjoy: Boondi Ladoos are a delightful and sweet treat that’s cherished by people of all ages. They make for a perfect dessert or festive sweet.