HEALTHY PROTEIN LADDOO

A quick and healthy treat when you crave something sweet.  You will love the intense flavour of jaggery, the mealy mouth-feel of powdered oats/ finger millet flour and the interludes of crunchy nuts. This laddoos are very nutritious and fibre-rich which help to lower the cholesterol while jaggery  boosts your iron levels. This easy to make snack is best option for growing children. Nuts like cashews and almonds are a great source of protein, iron and healthy fats. Hence include them generously in these laddoos. These laddoos make a good addition to your list for any festive occasion or are also good to have as an after school snack, mid morning snack or for the kids school/ college box. You can increase the amount of ghee to suit your taste. Of course ghee adds a great taste and aroma to any laddoo recipe. Ghee has lot of health benefits if consumed in moderation but I suggest using ghee as needed according to your diet restrictions.

INGREDIENTS:

1 ½ Cup Black Gram / Urad Dal

½ Cup Oats

¼ Cup Cashews, Almonds each

1 Cup Ragi Flour

400 gms Grated Jaggery [adjust according to your taste]

1/3 Cup Ghee [more for binding]

¼ teaspoon Cardamom Powder

METHOD:

STEP 1 – Wash urad dal under running water until water comes clean. Strain out the water and put it on colander to remove extra water from it.

Put it on a clean cloth and rub until the moisture disappears.

Now keep it under ceiling fan for 20-25 minutes.

STEP 2 – Now heat a non-stick pan and dry roast cashews, almonds for 4-5 minutes. Remove and keep aside to cool.Grind them in mixer pot to coarse powder and keep the powder aside.

STEP 3 - Next put the urad dal in it and roast until you feel a nice aroma or until it turns into light brown in colour. Remove in a plate and keep aside to cool.

 Grind roasted urad dal to fine powder in a mixer pot.

 STEP 4 – Now roast dry roast oats in the same pan, cool it and grind to fine powder.

STEP 5 – Heat 2-3 tablespoon ghee in a non-stick pan, add ragi flour in it. Roast it for about 4-5 minutes.

STEP 6 – Add oats powder, cashew-almond powder, urad dal powder and jaggery in it and mix well.  Cook for 3-4 minutes.

 Switch off the flame and remove it in a plate or mixing bowl.
 STEP 7 – Add some melted ghee in the mixture and mix very well.

STEP 8 – Then take a fistful of mixture and shape into laddoos packing tightly.

STEP 9 – Make more laddoo with the remaining mixture.

Healthy protein laddoos are ready to serve. Pack them in an air tight container. You can store them for about 10-15 days.