A string of festivals adorn the Hindu calendar every year. Each festival signifies a special occasion or marks a crucial moment in history. Ganesh Chaturthi is one of them. The festival is significant because it talks about the arrival of Lord Ganesha on earth. This year, the festival falls on August 31, and the preparations involve lots of good food.
The love of the lord for modaks is no stranger to us. Dumpling-shaped sweet meats are one of the lord’s favourites and always prepared on Ganesh Chaturthi. Another loved sweet is laddoos. Laddoos, for the unversed, are spherical balls made with different kinds of flours and lentils. On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, these are a few recipes that you can try at home.
1. Motichoor Laddoo
This is one of the most common kinds of laddoos that are often made for several special occasions. Bite-sized boondi i.e. mini sweet balls are put together and bound with each other. Rolled into a ball in the palm of the hand, the laddoos are made topped with chopped pistachios on top. Pop one into the mouth but not before offering it to the lord.
2. Atta Laddoo
This is an easy laddoo recipe. All you need is wheat flour or atta, which is tossed and roasted in a pot. This is then rolled into balls and cooled down. The atta laddoo combines powdered sugar or jaggery and is a rich and delectable dessert that is loaded with the richness of ghee. Add some nuts like almonds and cashews to the same and enjoy the laddoos.
3. Til Laddoo
Til refers to sesame seeds. This is also a super quick and easy recipe. The laddoos are made with white sesame seeds, combined with ghee and jaggery. To add some crunch to the laddoos, peanuts are also added to it. Jaggery is stirred continuously and softened before being added to the laddoos.
4. Churma Laddoo
This is a Rajasthani specialty that is made with wheat flour and jaggery. The laddoos are made from the same churma that is added to dal baati churma combination. The churma is prepared by continuously roasting wheat flour with jaggery. The richness is enhanced with the addition of ghee and sesame seeds added for the crunch. These laddoos are crunchier as compared to other softer varieties.
5. Coconut Laddoo
The delicious flavour of coconut and the mild sweetness it adds to any dish is what works best for it. The desiccated coconut is rolled into balls, with some cardamom powder, milk, sugar and ghee. Nuts like cashews are added to it along with some grated jaggery for additional sweetness. These are white in colour and soft on the inside with a slightly crunchy exterior.
