Ragi - Oats Laddu

Raagi Oats Laddu/Unde is a sweet dish and You can enjoy this Laddu any time of the day.
It is a healthy laddu because I have used jaagery, Oats, Raagi/Finger Millet combination is a good combination.

I have used groundnuts, roasted channa, jaggery, Ragi and Oats.
Lets see some benefits of having " Roasted Channa" in our diet.
Roasted channa is eaten as it is some time. They are rich in protein, fiber, minerals and fatty acids. They are low in fat and packed with energy. It helps to keep the blood sugar levels stable. They are rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium.
Lets see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Raagi/Finger Millet : 2 Cups
Oats :  3 to 4 Cups
Jaggery : 2 Cups (Grated)
Dates : 5 to 6
Almonds : 6 to 8
Raisins : 1 Handful
Groundnuts : 1 Small Cup
Roasted Channa : 1/2 Cup
Ghee : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
Kobbari/Copra/Dry Coconut : 1 (Medium size)

Method : 

1. Keep all the ingredients ready. Cut almonds and dates into small.
2. Powder jaggery (or cut into small pieces).

3. Grate or cut coconut and dry grind till it turned into powder.
4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat.
5. Add a tablespoon of ghee and let it melt. Put raisins and fry till they get fluffy.
6. Remove the raisins from the pan, add ragi flour and fry till the raw smell disappear. ( 4 to 5 minutes).
7. Remove and put the ragi flour in a big bowl.

8. Add Oats to the pan and dry roast till it turns slightly golden brown. Dry roast groundnuts and remove the outer layer. Let it cool.
9. Shift the roasted oats to a plate and let it cool. Dry grind it into powder.

10. Put jaggery to a pan and put 1/2 cup of water. Let it melt completely and starts boiling.
11. Sieve this content and throw away the dirt.
12. Put liquid jaggery in the pan and keep it ready.
13. Dry grind almonds and cut dates and add it to the roasted ragi flour. Just give a churn (grind a little) to roasted channa. (Do not powder it).

14. Dry grind roasted groundnuts slightly. (Do not powder it). Add it with other ingredients.
15. Now keep liquid jaggery on the fire and let it boil and get one string consistency.
16. It starts bubbling. Let it bubble for 2 minutes.
17. Boil for another 1 to 2 minutes and put all the roasted, powdered ingredients.

18. Add powdered dry coconut and roasted chenna (Huri kadale), groundnuts and mix it well.
19. Mix it well and put off the fire. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of ghee.

20. Mix it nicely and prepare Laddu/Unde.

21. Take a handful of mixed ingredients and try to give a round shape.

22. Keep them in a glass bottle or clean air tight box.

Note :

Adding more jaggery is optional. Powdering the ground nut is optional. It adds to the taste.
Adding more ghee is optional. It adds to the taste.
If you find hard to turn them as round shape then add little hot water or milk. It eases and mix all the ingredients nicely. Or you can add melted ghee to the flour.
You can also use melted ghee to add moisture to the ingredients. Divide the ingredients in to small portion. Add a spoon of ghee to each portion at times and mix that nicely and prepare laddu.
60 to 70 Small laddu can be prepared. :  I have prepared these laddus for Navarathri feast. 
Time : 40 Minutes.

Oats - Jaggery & Dry Coconut Laddu.

Coconut - Nuts and Dates Ball is a sweet dish and you can munch them any time of the day. It is an healthy laddu since it contain no sugar.

Lets see some benefits of having Dates in our diet. 
Eating dates everyday is a healthy habit especially for women. It is full of minerals, vitamin and fiber.
Lets see some benefits of having dates every day.
Dates helps in anemia, intestinal disorder, diarrhea and constipation. They are good for gaining weight. They contain calcium, sulfur, iron and potassium, manganese, copper, phosphorous and magnesium. These minerals are necessary for balanced and healthy diet.

I have used some dates, figs, cashews, almonds, poppy seeds and a little copra. (Dry coconut). 

Lets see the recipe now:

Things Needed 

Dates : 500 Grams (Fresh and soft )

Figs : 4 to 5 

Poppy Seeds : 2 Tablespoons

Cashews :  1/2 Cup or 4 to 5 Tablespoons. (Cut it into small pieces).

Almonds : 10 to 15

Dry coconut : 1 Cup (Grated)

 Method :

1. Cut cashews, figs in to small pieces. 

2. Dry grind almonds into powder form.

3. Dry grind coconut and keep it aside. 

4. Remove seeds from dates and smash it nicely. (Use fresh dates).

5. Now take a big bowl. Put dates, cashews figs and kneed it. Add coconut powder and powdered almonds.

6. Kneed it slowly and let it form a dough. Now divide the dough in to small portions.

7. Take a small portion of the dates mixture and form a round shape like a small ball.

8. Keep poppy seeds in a tray. Roll the dates ball on poppy seeds and arrange in a tray or plate.

9. Repeat the same and do the rest of date and Nuts ball.

10. Arrange them on a tray and serve/eat any time of the day

Note : 

Use fresh dates to prepare laddu. It helps to hold the ingredients tightly. You can also use some jaggery if you like more sweets in the laddu. (Grate or powder jaggery and then add it). Adding any nuts is optional. It is a healthy laddu which can be sent school kids with their lunch/snack box. Diabetic people also can have them since no sugar is added in this laddu. Adding some glucose biscuits is optional. ( I have not added). You need to kneed the ingredients well. You can fry cashews in ghee if you want to. (optional).

Time : 30 Minutes

20 Laddus can be prepared. (Depending on the size).

Oats & Dates Laddu

Oats and dates Laddu is a sweet dish and you can surely munch at any time of the day. It is always good to have some thing healthy, when you crave for food. Oats and Dates Laddu not only satisfy your sweet teeth, it helps to fill your stomach with some nutrients.
I have used Oats, dates, jaggery and little Kallu Sakkare (Rock Candy) and dry coconut. (Copra).

Lets see some benefits of having Oats in our diet.
Oats are loaded with dietary fiber. It helps to lower the bad cholesterol in our body. It is full of soluble fiber and good for digestion and obesity. Eating Oats helps to lower the blood pressure and it balances our blood pressure. Oats contain Vitamin E and minerals like manganese, phosphorus, fiber, magnesium and zinc.
These Oats & Dates Laddu is good for kids party, picnic, travelling and as some evening snack.
 Lets see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Oats : 500 Grams
Ghee : 100 Grams
Dry coconut : 1 (Medium size)
Jaggery : 250 to 300 Grams
Rock Candy : 100 Grams
Raisins : 2 Tablespoons
Dates : 100 Grams
Cardamom : 5 To 6 Pods.
Dry Fruits : 1 Handful (I used Walnut, cashew nuts and almonds- Altoger One fist).

Method :

1. Dry roast oats nicely till the raw smell disappear. Drygrind it into powdered consistency.

2. Cut walnuts, almonds and cashews into pieces. Remove the seeds from dates and dry grind it.
3.Dry grind rock candy (Kallu Sakkare) and cardamom seeds till powder and keep it aside.
4.. Fry raisins in 1 tablespoon of ghee and keep it aside.

5..Cut Dry coconut into small pieces and dry grind, keep it aside.
6. Keep a big pan on the fire and put jaggery. Add 1/4 Cup of water. Let jaggery melt nicely.
7. Let it boil nicely till it starts bubbling. Mix it well and leave it for 1 to 2 minutes.
8. Add powdered Oats, rock candy powder, dry ground coconut. Mix it nicely.

9. Add fried raisins and mix it well. Add cut dry fruits and dry ground dates.
10. Mix it well and put off the fire. Add ghee and mix the mixture nicely.

11. Take a handful of the mixture and prepare laddu.
12. Repeat the same with remaining mixture.

Note :

If you feel the mixture is too dry and you are not able to prepare laddu (it does not hold), keep the mixture on the low flame for 1 minute, sprikle One to two tablespoons of milk. Mix it well and put off the fire. Now you should be able to prepare laddu easily.
Use of more ghee is optional. Use of more/less coconut is optional. Use of rock candy is optional. Use of more/less dry fruits is also optional. Use of sugar instead of jaggery is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.
25 to 30 Laddus can be prepared. (According to the size).

Raagi - Almond Laddu

Ragi/Finger Millet and Almond Laddu is a sweet dish. It is a healthy Laddu. It is one of the traditional nutritious energy loaded Laddu.

Raagi/Finger Millet is a staple food of Karnataka and some parts of India. It is also known as healthy grain. Many dishes can be prepared from ragi.
I do remember those days, when school children return back from school this Unde was the evening snack for children. Roasted ragi,  powdered nicely, mixed with coconut and jaggery laddu (no almonds were used because it was considered as rich people food) used to tempt us to get more. Those were the golden days of life.
I have prepared this laddu using ragi flour, some almonds, cardamoms and jaggery.
Lets see some benefits of Cardamom. 
Cardamom is called as the queen of spices. It is said to be originated in India, Nepal and Bhutan. The health benefits are like it is good for gastrointestinal protection, cholesterol control  and improvement of blood circulation in the body. It is also useful for curing dental diseases and urinary tract infections. Cardamom helps to remove the toxin from our body, prevent and relieve cold and flu in small way and also good for bronchitis and coughs. Cardamom helps to lower the blood pressure and prevents blood clots. They contain good anti oxidant properties and anti inflammatory properties.
Now lets see the recipe :

Things Needed :

Ragi/Finger Millet : 2 Cups
Almonds : 1 Small bowl (10 to 15 )
Roasted Channa : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Jaggery : 1 Cup
Cardamom : 5 to 6
Ghee : 1/2 Cup
Coconut : 1 Cup

Method :

1. Dry roast ragi/finger millet nicely till the raw smell disappear. (Low flame).

2. Dry grind roasted channa and keep it aside.
3. Dry grind almonds and cardamom and keep it aside.

4. Grate coconut and dry roast it.

5. Now keep a pan on the fire and put jaggery. Add 1/2 cup of water.
6. Let the jaggery melt nicely and boil.
7. Jaggery mixture starts boiling. Bubbles up. Stir a little.

8. Let the jaggery mixture be one string consistency.
9. Add roasted ragi/finger millet and roasted channa powder. Mix it nicely.
10. Add almond, cardamom powder. Mix it well and put off the fire.

11. Add grated coconut and 2 to 4 tablespoons of ghee.
12. Now take a handful of the ragi - almond mixture and prepare laddu.

13. Laddu is ready to serve.

14. Put the laddus in a air tight box or bottle. It can stay for at least a week.

Note : 

Dry roasting of ragi flour should be on low flame. Roast it nicely till the raw smell disappear. Adding more ghee is optional. You can add dry fruits. I have added dry grapes/raisins only. Dry roasting coconut will help the laddu to stay long.
Remember : If you find it difficult to prepare laddu,, add ghee (let the consistency of the ghee be lquid ), and then prepare laddu. Or, just sprinkle very little hot milk and mix it well and prepare laddu.(These laddu should be kept in the fridge because of adding milk). Or grate jaggery and powder it nicely and then add it the mixture and mix it well. So that you can prepare laddu easily.
Time : 40 minutes
Serves : 20 to 25 laddus. 

Dry Fruits Laddu (Without Sugar)

Happy New Year 2016 to Each and Every one.

Just thought of some thing sweet. My last post also is a sweet dish. This time I wanted to try this sweet with natural sweet content from dry fruits it self. It is a big hit and you also will love this sweet laddu and it is healthy dish, I don't have to tell you.
I have used some figs, dates and some nuts like almond, cashew and raisins.
Dry Fruits Laddu can be kept long and it can be given to kids in their lunch /snack box to munch during their snack time. It is 100% healthy and any one can eat them or munch them.
Lets see some benefits of having figs in our diet. 
Figs/Anjeer has numerous health benefits. It is rich source of dietary fiber and improves the digestion. It is good for people who suffer from constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. They are low in calories. It also helps to prevent hypertension. They are rich in antioxidants. They also help to eliminate free radicals that can cause blood vessels and take good care of heart. Figs help in strengthens our bones. It helps to cure anemia since it contain good amount of iron. Eating figs is a natural way to raise the hemoglobin level. It is rich source of minerals like zinc, iron,  manganese and magnesium. It also helps to balance the minerals between the potassium and sodium level in our body. It helps in reproductive health.
These Dry Fruits Laddus are easy to prepare and can be kept for many days.

Things Needed :

Dry Figs : 1 Cup
Dry dates : 1 Cups
Apricot : 1/2 Cup
Raisins : 1/2 Cup
Almonds : 1 Cup
Cashew Nuts : 1/2 Cup
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
Red Kallusakkare ( Rock Candy) : 2 Tablespoons

Method :
1. Dry grind all the dry fruits (almonds, figs, dates, apricot and rock candy), one by one except raisins/drakshi and cashew nuts and keep it aside.
2. Cut cashew nuts into small pieces.

3. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put ghee and fry cashew till they turn slightly red. Remove from the ghee. Add raisins and fry till they turn fluffy.

4. Now put all the dry ground ingredients in a big bowl. Add fried cashew nuts and raisins to it. Mix it well.

 5. Take a handful of nuts mixture and prepare laddu. The moisture in the dates, figs and apricot helps to prepare the laddu easily.

 7. Eat or serve a laddu in a day. (one laddu is more than enough per day).

Note :
Dry grind all the ingredients nicely till they turn powder. It helps to prepare laddu easily. You can add more ghee if you wish to. (but not necessary). Do not add any ground nuts or roasted chenna (hurikadale/pottu kadale). The taste differ. Adding more cashews and raisins are optional. Adding more rock candy is also optional. Adding dry coconut (Kobbari) is also optional. ( I have not used). Roasting all the nuts are also optional. (I have not roasted).

Time : 20 minutes
20 laddus can be made.  (size of the laddu matters).