Ganesh Chaturthi 2022: Please Lord Ganapati With Banana Laddoos
Image Credit: Banana Laddoos, Image Credits: Nikki's Cuisine


Ganesh Chaturthi is upon us. It is one of the most awaited festivals in India, celebrating Lord Ganesha, a symbol of everything auspicious. Among various legends woven around Him, particularly those tales that speak of his love of all things delectable, draw people in the most. The elephant-headed Lord relishes everything delicious, and his large belly is self-explanatory of his love for food. On the list of his favourite delicacies, saffron-infused, fragrant motichoor laddoos have a special place. Likewise, bananas are his all-time staple grub. It is very effortless to please this God. Often devotees prepare His most relished delicacies and receive His blessings.

Apart from motichoor laddoos, which are typically included in His bhog, Ganesha also enjoys eating different variants of laddoos and pedaas. Although Ganpati is said to favour all seasonal fruits, the banana reigns supreme. Do you know that in Bengal, particularly during the Durga Puja, Ganesha's wife is portrayed as Kala Bou, or the banana wife? The Lord is accompanied by a banana tree dressed in a saree. No wonder one can assume why He favours the fruit of the tree. Whatever the reason is, this Ganesh Chaturthi, you can get His boons by blending two of his favourite items, laddoos and bananas. Just prepare banana laddoos, and your festive offering will be complete in no time. 

It is one of the simplest recipes with the fewest ingredients. To make it healthier, replace refined sugar with organic jaggery powder. Instead of fresh coconut, alternatively, one can use shredded dried copra or desiccated coconut. 

Banana Laddoo

Laddoo, Image Credit: Unsplash

Ingredients

  • 4 ripe bananas premium robusta 
  • 2 cups grated coconut
  • 1 cup semolina or rava
  • 2 cup (as per taste) organic jaggery powder
  • 8 green cardamom pods
  • 3-4 tsp Ghee

Method

Slicing the bananas, Image Credit: Pexels

  1. Peel bananas and slice them into small chunks. Set them aside.
  2.  Dehusk the cardamoms and pound them in mortar and pestle into a fine powder. Mix it in the jaggery powder. 
  3. Dry roast the rava in a kadhai till it turns light golden. Remove from the flame and keep it aside.
  4. In a thick-bottomed pan, heat the ghee. Blend in the banana slices.
  5. Keeping the flame low, cook the fruit for a few minutes. 
  6. Once the bananas are half cooked, add the grated coconut and jaggery powder. Stir for a couple of minutes.
  7. Add the roasted rava and give it a thorough mix. If there are still chunks of banana, smash them with the ladle to ensure no lump. 
  8. Cook for around 5 minutes. 
  9. Turn off the flame and let the mixture sit for around 10 minutes.
  10. Once it cools down a bit, by greasing the palm with ghee, roll small laddoos. 
  11. For additional flavour, roll them over desiccated coconut. 
  12. Banana laddoos are ready

Let us know how your sweet turn out.