Besan Laddu

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Laddu is a must-try Indian sweet! While there are many versions, I love besan laddu (the chickpea flour gluten-free variety) flavored with honey, orange, cardamom, and a touch of nutmeg.

The laddus have a Mexican wedding cookie-like texture. They are hard on the outside, but they crumble in your mouth as if you were eating a ball of refrigerated cookie dough.

Besan laddu

How to Make Besan Laddu

Laddu is made entirely on the stove-top.

Begin by roasting besan flour in ghee. Besan is a special type of chickpea flour. As explained by Vegan Richa, “Indian Besan (Gram flour) is the flour of brown chickpeas or chana dal (split brown chickpeas), or sometimes a mix of split chickpeas and split peas. It is a flour of a type [of chickpea], so it can be labeled as chickpea flour.” You can find besan flour at Indian grocers or you can buy it online [paid link].

besan flour

As you roast the flour, you’ll note that it becomes smoother and turns to a more golden hue. Always roast on low heat and stir often to keep it from burning.

Add the spices during the last five minutes of roasting to lightly toast them.

Adding spices

Then, stir in the honey, orange zest, and powdered milk.

adding honey

When it’s cool enough to touch, roll the laddu batter into balls. Fun fact: laddu literally means small ball in Sanskrit.

The laddus last for a couple of weeks at room temperature.

laddu

What to Do With Leftover Ingredients

The Hidden Veggies blog has so many great ideas for ways to use chickpea flour. They range from cookies to breads and even French fries!

You can use leftover ghee as you would butter in all of your cooking. But, if you are looking for a specific new recipe to try, consider carrot halwa; it’s like an Indian carrot pudding.

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Besan Laddu

Besan laddu (the chickpea flour variety) is an easy to make Indian dessert! These balls are flavored with honey, orange, cardamom, and a touch of nutmeg.
Course Dessert
Cuisine Indian
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 16
Calories 139kcal
Author Stefani

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces ghee about 1/2 cup
  • 2 cups besan flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • finely grated zest of one large orange
  • 1 tablespoon powdered milk
  • 1/4 cup honey

Instructions

  • Melt ghee in a small saucepan on low heat.
  • Add the besan flour and mix well to make sure there are no lumps.
  • Roast until the flour looks smooth and more liquidy, mixing regularly to prevent burning - about 15 minutes.
  • Mix in the cardamom and nutmeg.
  • Roast for another three minutes until the color looks more golden.
  • Remove from the stove and mix in the orange zest, powdered milk, and honey.
  • As soon as it is cool enough for you to touch, roll the batter into small balls.

Notes

You can find besan flour at Indian grocers or you can buy it online [paid link].
Make sure to keep the heat on low so that the flour doesn't burn.
Laddus last for about two weeks at room temperature. Store in a tightly-sealed container.

Nutrition

Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 136mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 11IU | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg
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9 comments:

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  2. Simran Silvasays:

    Thank you! Can’t wait to try these!

  3. Gup Chupsays:

    You should try the coconut laddos if you like coconut flavor. Just Mix the sweetened desiccated coconut with evaporated milk, cook for a little while till the mixture is gooey to make sticky balls sprinkle some cardamon powder and make small balls out of it, you can drizzle some chocolate syrup on them. Thanks for sharing the recipes I look fwd to trying out the ultimate vanilla cupcake.
    Best,Shuchi

  4. Stephaniesays:

    I’m in Hyderabad, India. My housekeeper made these for me for Diwali last year. (She didn’t use milk powder though, just ghee, besan, sugar, cardamom, and crushed pistachios). My daughter and I loved them! And they’re so easy to make.

  5. Food Frenzysays:

    Love your site. You have some great food creations.

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  6. Zeesays:

    You served your laddoos with chocolate ganache! That must be a great combination.. Since I am from the sub-continent where I don’t think anyone would have had a chocolaty laddoo ever.. I am loving this :)

  7. Stephsays:

    I love cooking with powdered coconut milk which would work well here instead of the powdered milk I reckon. Thanks for posting this recipe, its great to find extra things to do with besan flour, I love cooking with it.

  8. Priyasays:

    Love the way u served ur ladoos,yummy..

  9. Sana Hurzuksays:

    It’s nice to see an Indian sweet on your blog. In India we have lots of different types of laddoos and this one is called besan ka laddoo meaning chickpea flour laddoo. You should try the boondi laddoo and the motichoor laddoo. You will love them!!

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