Rava Laddoo (Sweet Semolina Balls)

As soon as September comes, I begin to miss India more than ever. All the festivities, fun, frolic begins from this month. Right from Ganesh Chathurthi, Onam, then to Navaratri, Dussera and ending on a high note with the Super Diwali night, it is a real treat to watch these Celebrations happening through out the country. And I feel so aloof from all the festive fun & moreover feel sad to miss all those lip smacking sweet dishes which are made during these days. :(

But am a girl who doesn't give up that easily. I have decided to have the same fun over here too with a little customization from the usual ;) I brought Lord Ganesha home on the Ganesh Chathurthi Day & will be treating him UK style for the next 10 days. Milk, fruits, sundal, kheer, laddoos & modaks are on my menu for him. :) Though Keralites don't celebrate in a grand scale like this, but I love to Celebrate it in the same way as the Maharashtrians do.

One of my offerings to Lord Ganesha was Rava Laddoos & am gonna share this easy recipe to you all. A Laddoo is an Indian Sweet which is usually made out of a combination of fried gram flour or Semolina, dry fruits & sugar & finally making it into a nice round ball. Laddoos are a must have sweet during the Festival Season. For those who are thinking, this will be one hell of a job....Stop thinking so. It will be ready within half an hour & no special skill is needed. If I can, then you very well can!! ;)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rava / sooji / semolina
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup fresh grated coconut or desiccated coconut
• 1/4 cup unsalted cashew nuts & golden raisins together (break the cashews with your hands)
• 2-3 crushed cardamoms
• 1/4 cup ghee (clarified butter)

Method:

1. Heat a deep, heavy based pan & pour the ghee into it. When the ghee gets slightly hot, put in the broken cashew nuts & raisins. Fry well till the raisins puff up.
2. Now add the grated coconut into it. Fry for a minute. The heat from now on should be in medium.
3. Now add the Rava/Semolina into the pan and stir well for 10 minutes until the rava gets light golden evenly and gives out a roasted smell. Make sure that the rava should not get burnt. You need to stir it well & continuously.
4. After 10 minutes, add in the sugar to the pan & mix well with the rava. Simmer the heat. Stir everything together for a further 2 minutes. Switch off the heat.
5. Now take a tea spoon & pour the milk little by little into the rava mixture. Incorporate the milk into the rava & mix the mixture well until you feel that the mixture can now be made into lime size balls. You may need less or more milk to add into the rava mixture. But usually 1/2 cup will be an exact measure.
6. Leave the mixture for 2-3 minutes to let it cool. Then take a table spoon of the mixture to your hands & make a nice round golf/lime size ball. Repeat until all the mixture is finished.
7. Rava Laddoos are ready to be gobbled. ;) The more you keep the laddoos, the more tighter & drier it gets. But as soon as you take the first bite, it will be all soft inside.