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.

Pumpkin Sweet Rotti

Sweet Rotti is one of the easy and healthy breakfast that helps to pull your day with energetic and lively.

This sweet rotti here is prepared using pumpkin, jaggery, Rava and coconut. Rava /rave/semolina is good to have in the morning since it is full of carbs. Pumpkin and jaggery provide energy and sweetness to rotti. Coconut provides taste and some good vitamins and minerals.
I grated the pumpkin and added fresh boiled milk, coconut and organic jaggery to make it more tasty.

Let us see some benefits of having "Pumpkin" in our diet.

Pumpkin helps to take care of your heart health. It helps in boosting our immunity system. It is filled with rich vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It is low in calorie and good for weight loss. It helps to protect our eye health. Pumpkin contain good source of potassium and vitamin c. It is rich in fiber and good for easy digestion and helps to ease constipation problems.
No Onion or Garlic is used in this Pumpkin Sweet Rotti.
Let us see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

Pumpkin : Grated : 1 Big bowl. (Quarter part of one medium sized pumpkin).
Rava ; Semolina /Rave /Sooji : Medium sized : 2 Cups
jaggery :  2 to 3 Tablespoons of jaggery.
Salt : As required
Coconut : 1 Cup /5 to 6 Tbs.
Oil : 3 to 4 Tbs
Ghee : 2 Tbs

Method :

1. Wash and peel off the skin of pumpkin. Remove the pulp and seeds.
2. Grate pumpkin and keep it aside. Grate coconut and keep it aside.

3. Take a big bowl and put medium size rava/semolina/sooji/ rave.

4. Add jaggery, salt, coconut and grated pumpkin. Add 1/2 cup of milk and mix it well.

5. Add required water and prepare the rotti batter little watery. Let it rest for 5 minutes.

6. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Sprinkle some oil on top of the dosa tava.
7. Take a handful of the pumpkin rava batter and spread it on the tava in circle shape.
8. Spread as thin as you like it. Sprinkle some oil on the top and cover it.

9. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Turn the other side and cook for a minute.

10. Pumpkin Sweet rotti is ready to serve.

11. Add ghee on the top on hot sweet rotti and serve with your choice of side dish.

12. Repeat the same and prepare rottis.

Note :

Adding milk adds to the taste and gives softness to rotti. Adding coconut is optional. I have used liquid jaggery. Any jaggery is optional. Turn into powder form and then use it. Adding more pumpkin gratings is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4.

Traditional Haalubai

Haalubai/ಹಾಲುಬಾಯಿ is one of the traditional yummy sweet dish From South Canara.
It is quick, simple and delicious.

Once upon a time people of South Canara People used to grow lots of paddy those days. Even jaggery used to stored in Big Tins. Coconut groves used to taken care and coconuts were used in plenty. People knew to make use of the ingredients available at home. So the Halubai came into existence I feel.
Since I grew up with my doddamma still remember that the paddy fields, people sing while they planting paddy plants  in field. Doddamma used to make this sweet for coffee time in the afternoon and the people were happy to get a piece of it. The rains pour, cold weather, hot coffee, sweet haalubai its all memories now.
Even in this part of Karnataka people do prepare Halubai. It is mouth watering sweet dish and they do use more coconut milk. The slice of halubai dances in our hand. (Means its soft and smooth and yummy to have).
There are varieties of halubai, prepared using different grains like ragi, millet, rava wheat etc.
Here is a traditional Halubai which is prepared using raw rice, coconut, jaggery, cardamom and ghee.
It is always better to use dosa rice. The Halubai turns lovely and the experience speaks here. Use of ghee can be limited and added while eating. But I love to pour ghee while preparing it self. It is super delicious and just melts in the mouth.
Eating jaggery helps to boost our energy, helps in easy digestion.
Let us see the recipe now :
It is very simple, easy, delicious traditional dish and you can make it quickly.

Ingredients : 

Raw rice : 1 Cup
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Jaggery : Powdered : 1/2 Cup
Ghee : 2 to 3 Tbs
Cardamom : 5 to 6 Pods.

Method :

1. Soak raw rice for an hour and grind it with 1/2 cup of coconut. Use little water to grind. The consistency should be bit thicker than neeru dosa.

2. Powder jaggery and keep it aside.
3. Now keep a pan and put ground rice and coconut mixture. Add a pinch of salt to it.
4. Add powdered jaggery and stir on low flame.

5. Powder cardamom and keep it aside.
6. Stir continuously till the batter thickens.

7. Add a tbs of ghee and keep stirring till the whole rice mixture turn as one ball and it starts to leave the edges and comes to middle.

8. Add remaining ghee and cardamom to it and keep stirring for another 5 minutes.
9.Check with by touching the halubai. It does not stick. So it is done. You can also see that shiny texture.

10. Greece the plate or banana leaf with ghee and spread the mixture evenly.

11. Cut it when it is little cool.

12. Serve for lunch or snack time.

Note :

You can add more ghee. It adds to the taste. Adding more jaggery is optional.Do not make the mixture very thin or very thick. It should be thicker than neer dosa. 1 glass rice, 1 glass of water.
Time : 20 Minutes

Serves : 25 Small pieces.