Healthy Nutty Laddu/ Laadu / Unde

 Healthy Nutty Laddu is one of the healthy sweet that name it  self says " Healthy" . Nuts are always nutritious.and helpful provider of vitamins and minerals.

When it is said Nuts my mind tries to remember of my childhood days at My doddamma House. When I was about 1 and half year old my doddamma took me to her house to Udyavar. She is my mother's sister who had no children of her own. It is not that she did not get her pregnancy. When she was in her early pregnancy her mother in law made her to work very hard and because of that she lost her pregnancy. It happened twice and then she could not concive she used to say. So sad to hear that. I have seen her mother in law who was very rude and she made my doodamma to suffer so much. 

In those days all these nuts were used by rich people and not many could buy as they think.

But my doddamma used to give me some raisins every day, hiding raisins in her sari edge. She used to take me behind the cow shed and feed me those raisins. Raisins are very good for health and good for good blood as every one knows. Her mother in law will shout out if she sees that. She took care of me like her own baby until she died. Even our wedding beegara authana held in Udyavara Mane. Even now I am attached to that house. My younger sister lives there and we visit whenever we visit our home town. Its like my mother's home for me

Lets come back to Our healthy Laddu preparation.

This Laddu is good for all age group. Kids can take it for snacks. People who travel very often can carry this  laddu. It can be used as breakfast or as snack.

Things Needed :

Almonds : 2 Cups.

Cashews : 1 Cup.

Raisins : 1 Cup.

Dates : 20.

Ghee : 1/4 Cup.

Kallu Sakkare or Rock Sungar/Candy Sugar : 1 Small Cup.

Cloves : 2 

Cardamom :  4 Whole Pods. (Remove the seeds from it).

Method : 

1. Remove the seeds from dates and cut dates into small.

2. Dry roast almonds and cashews on low flame.

3. Now dry roast raisins just for 1 minute.

4. Put dates and stir till it gets soft.

5. Let all the roasted nuts get cool.

6. Now dry grind almonds and cashews with cloves and cardamom seeds.

7. Put it to a big bowl.

8. Dry grind softened dates. Add it to almond mix.

9. Dry grind Rock sugar/Candy sugar/Kallu Sakkare. Add it to nuts mix.

10. Mix all the nuts, raisins (As it is), powdered sugar candy and dates.

11. Add 1/4 cup ghee and mix it well.

!2. Prepare Laddu taking small amount of this nuts mixture.

13. Make Laddu same way with remaining Mixture.

14. Laddu is ready to serve or eat.

15. Store in Air tight box. It can stay for long time. 

Note. 

Do not add ghee while roasting.

No need of sugar or jaggery. Sugar candy helps to avoid cough.

Do not add more ghee. It might turn smelly later.

You can add small pieces of Sugar Candy. You can enjoy this sugar candy bits while enjoying Laddu.

Time : 40 Minutes.

20 to 25 Laddus can be prepared. : According to the size of Laddu.

Rava - Oats Idli

Today's  Food is breakfast food. It is Rava - Oats Idli.

This idly is healthy and yummy, easy to prepare and good breakfast and keeps us energetic for the whole day.

I have used medium rava/semolina, a cup of curd and a small cup of Oats.
The idli turns very soft and spongy and yum to have it.
Let us see the recipe Now :
Rava/Semolina : 3 Cups
Oats : 1 Small Cup
Curd : 1 Cup ( Better to Use savoury curd)
Salt : As required
Water : As required
Eno Salt : 1 Teaspoon
For Seasoning : 1 Tsp Oil
Mustard seeds : 1 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 8 to 10

Add caption

Method :

1. Take a big bowl. Add Rava, curd, salt and mix it well.

2. Add oats and required water and mix the batter nicely to Idli batter consistency.
3. Add seasoning done with mustard seeds, curry leaves and cashews. (optional).

4. Let the batter settle for 5 minutes.
5. Wash idli plates and apply ghee for each plate.

6. Add 1 teaspoon of Eno salt and mix the batter nicely.

7. Put the batter to idli plate and steam for 10 minutes. ( Pressure cooker or idli steamer).

8. Remove the done idlis and sprinkle some water on idli and take it out to a bowl.

9. Serve hot idli with ghee, sambar and coconut chutney.

Note :

Use of savoury curd results good idlis. Use of cooking soda instead of Eno is optional.

Roasting Rava in seasoning is optional. Use of medium size rava is best.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 .

Oats & Finger Millet Laddu 2

Oats and Finger Millet Laddu is a sweet dish and is one of the healthy laddu that helps you to keep strong and energetic for the whole day. You can have this as Laddu/Unde whenever you feel hungry OR crave for some sweets or to skip some carbs.

I do try and varieties of laddu/laadu/unde and though it looks same it has different ingredients and is mostly available at your home store.
Here in this laddu I have used Oats with its husk and Ragi flour. Dates and jaggery , handful of raisins and cashews.

Let us see some benefits of eating Dates in our diet.

Dates helps in boost energy and increasing iron in our body. They help in digestion. They are rich in fiber and contain various nutrients. They are loaded with antioxidants. They have good amount of anti inflammatory properties. Dates help in balancing blood sugar level. They help in reducing blood pressure. They are said to good brain booster. They contain minerals like, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium and zinc. They do have vitamins like, folate,  thiamin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin A and Vitamin K.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Things Needed :

Oats : 500 Grams
Ragi/Finger Millet : 3 Cups
Ghee : 1 Small Cup
Dates : 20 to 30 or 250 grams or little more
Raisins and Cashews : 1 Handful
Jaggery : 250 Grams : 1 Cup (Powdered).

Method :

1. Dry roast Oats and keep it aside.

2. Dry roast ragi flour till the raw flavour disappear.

3. Dry grind Oats and keep it aside.

4. Remove the seeds from dates and cut or smash it nicely.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and put 1/2 cup of water. Add jaggery and let it melt nicely.

6. Sieve jaggery mixture and Put cleaned jaggery to a pan.

7. Boil liquid jaggery till it get one string consistency.
8. Let it boil for 2 minutes. Add powdered Oats and Ragi/finger millet flour to it.

9. Mix it nicely and take out from the fire. Add ghee

10. Add cut dates and mix it nicely and handful of cashews and raisins. Mix it thoroughly.

11. Dry Grind this mixture including dates, cashews and raisins. ( Do not grind for a long time. Just churn twice or thrice).
12. Put the ground mixture to a big bowl. Mix it nicely and prepare laddus.

13. Serve or munch when ever you crave for some sweets.

14. Store in a glass jar or  air tight boxes.

Note :

No coconut is used in this Oats and finger millet Laddu recipe. Adding cardamom is optional.
If the mixture turns dry, please do add some melted ghee or drops of hot milk. It helps to prepare laddu easily. Ghee used laddu shelf life is more and the taste does not change.
If laddu turns more moisture stir the laddu mixture little more.
Time : 40 Minutes
Serves : 50 Laddu can be made.
Use of more jaggery is optional.
Use of less/more ghee is optional.

Ragi & Nuts Laddu

Ragi and Nuts laddu is a sweet dish and you can  relish these laddu in the morning as energy booster.

Ragi & Nuts Laddu has lots of dates, almonds, cashews, little figs and very little ghee. I have also used fresh rose petals which we get from our home garden. It has turned the laddu very tasty.
I tried these laddu for taking it for travelling and also packed some to give it for my sisters. Laddu is good to bite at any time of the day and provides good energy to stay cheerful whole day.

Let us see some benefits of eating dates in our diet.

Dates are very nutritious. They are a source of antioxidants. They can help to reduce blood pressure.
Dates are good for brain health.They are good for bone health. They are rich in fiber. They are rich in antioxidants. They help in controlling the blood sugar level. They are good natural sweetener.
No Sugar or jaggery added in this Ragi&Nuts Laddu.
 It is good for any age group. Good to pack for kids snack, ladies day out, travel and picnics.
Used a pack of dates instead of sugar or jaggery.
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Ragi flour : 1/2 Cup
Dates : 500 Grams.
Almonds : 1/2 Cup.(20 to 25).
Cashews : 2 Tbs
Coconut : 1 Cup (5 to 6 tbs).
Rose petals : 2 Rose flowers.
Gasagase/ Poppy Seeds : 1 Tbs full.
Figs : 3 to 4
Ghee : 2 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Take out the seeds from dates and put it in a pan. Keep on the fire and stir slowly. As you stir,  hot dates turn soft. You must do it on low flame, so that it does not get burnt.

2. Grate coconut. Cut almonds and cashews in to small pieces.

3. Dry roast 1/2 cup of Ragi flour and put it in a big bowl.

4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add dates and stir slowly till they turn soft.

5. Put off the fire and take out the dates to a big bowl.
6. Add grated coconut to a pan and dry roast. Add poppy seeds and roast for a minute.

7. Take it out and put it to a big bowl. Cut figs into small pieces and add it to dates mixture.

8. Just stir rose petals in that hot pan. (No need to be kept on fire). Add this to a big bowl).

9. Now kneed dates nicely.
10. now add roasted coconut, poppy seeds, cut almonds and mix it slowly while you kneed dates.

11. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put 2 tbs of ghee and fry cashews nicely till it turns golden brown.

12. Add this fried cashews with ghee to dates bowl and kneed it again to get good form of sweet ball.

13. See that all the ingredients mixes well.

14. Take a handful of the mixture and make laddu. Laddu is ready to serve.

15. Serve or eat as you like and keep the rest in a box.

 Note :
When you stir dates it turns soft and it is easy to smash it to soft texture. No sugar or jaggery is added here. You can powder almonds and add it to the Laddu. Adding pieces of almonds taste better. (Optional). Adding coconut is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves  30 Laddus can be prepared. ( According to the size you want).

Time : 30 Minutes.