Antina Unde (Edible Gum Laddus)

Antina Unde(Kannada) is a very healthy Laddu, prepared using lots of nuts and Antu (edible gum) or Gondu (gum). Antina unde is also called Dink or Dinka Laddu.

Antina Unde is specially prepared for the lady after her delivery. Antina Unde helps her to get back to the energy which is lost during the process of the child birth. Lots of ghee, edible gum jaggery with nutmug and nuts like almonds, cashew, raisins and cardamom is used to prepare Antina Unde.

Lots of ghee is used to fry these things and it is believed that it helps the lady to get back to her normal life after a painful delivery. It also helps her to be healthy and carry on her daily normal work. Antina Unde helps the ladies to get the strong spinal strength and produce the breast milk to the nurishing mother.

Dinka or Gond is an edible gum. It is extracted from the bark of the Axie - Wood tree. It is available in cristal form as pearly yellowish pieces of varying sizes. Edible gum contain calcium, magnesium and potassium. It protect against cold. It also known to treat chronic kidney diseases, digestive disorder. Gond can help lower cholesterol.

Almonds are used for relief from constipation, respiratory disorders, coughs, heart disorders, anemia and diabetes. It also helps to maintain a healthy hair, skin care and dental care. Almonds have been connected to a higher intellectual level and they have long been considered an essential food item for growning children.

Poppy seeds are pleasant in taste. They are nutritious oil seeds used as condiment in cooking. Poppy seeds helps to lower the bad cholesterol and increase the good cholesterol levels in the blood. They are good source of dietary fiber. They help to over come the constipation problems. The seeds are excellent source of B - Complex, Vitamins. They contain good levels of minerals like iron, copper, potassium, manganese, zinc and magnesium.

Here is a recipe of " Antina Unde " that contain lots of nutrition and less ghee. This is a healthy recipe and I am sure each and every one will love to eat this Antina Unde. I have prepared this laddus My way of doing.

Things Needed : 

Antu (Edible gum) : 1oo grams
Badam (Almonds) : 2 Cups
Poppy Seeds: 100 Grams
Dry dates (Uttutte)  : 100 Grams (10 to 12)

Kallu sakkare : 100 Grams
Walnuts : 50 Grams
Cashew Nuts : 50 Grams
Jaggery : 1 cup
Pista: 1 Tablespoon (optional)
Cardamom : 6 to 8 pods.
Dry Coconut : (Copra) : 1 (Small one)
Ghee : 2 to 3 Tablespoons.
Raisins : 100 grams.

Ready to serve Antina Unde

Method

1. Cut dry dates in to small pieces.

2. Grate dry coconut.
3. Dry  Roast 1 cup of almonds.

4. Dry roast Gum.

5. Cut the other cup of almonds in to small pieces.
6. Now powder the dates and 1/2 portion of copra, cardamom.

7. Powder the dry roasted almonds and Kallu sakkare

8. Powder roasted gum.
9. Now all these powdered mixtures and cut almonds in a big bowl.

10. Dry roast poppy seeds and dry grind when it cools down. Put the ground mixture in the bowl.

Roast walnuts slightly and add it as it is .(Do not roast more than 20 seconds).

11. Keep a pan on the fire and put 2 tablespoons of ghee and heat.

12. Fry cashew and raisins in the ghee and add it to the mixture.

13. Keep a pan and put jaggery and 1/4 cup of water

14. Bring it to boil and let the jaggery melt and turn a string consistency.

15. Put this jaggery syrup to the mixture and mix it nicely.

16. Now mix it well and take a handful of the mixture and prepare laddu.

17. Repeat the same with the remaining mixture.

18. You can add a spoon of melted ghee inbetween. It helps to prepare the laddu.

Note:

Remember dry roasting should be done on low flame. You can also add cut dates as it is. (dry grinding is an optional). You can add nutmug powder (1 Tea spoon) to the mixture. (If you are feeding the baby adding nutmug adds to the nutrition). I have not added. Adding ghee will enhance the taste. I have added the minimum. Do not roast copra since it is already dried. Adding red kallusakkare is also a healthy choice. You can use little kallusakkare and more of jaggery.(optional).
You must roast the antu (gum) nicely and then powder it. Do not powder the hard gum if it is not roasted. It may not be powdered well.

Preparation time : 30 minutes
Cooking time : 3o minutes 
Total Time : 1 Hour
50 Laddus can be made ( sizes differ)

Laddus with less jaggery : 

1. Dry ground Mixute (The same dry roasted nuts and kallusakkare mixtue).

2. Keep a pan on the fire and add 2 to 3 tablespoons of jaggery and put a table spoon of water.

3. Let it boil to a string cosistency. add this jaggery syrup to the nuts mixture. Mix it well.

4. Store this mixture in a glass bottle. You can eat them whenever you want.
Take 2 tablespoons of this mixture and eat as it is or adding a spoon of hot milk and mix it well and eat it.

Butter Chakkuli (Benne Muruku) & Kodubale

Benne Muruku is one variety of Chakkuli, crispy fried snack, which is very very soft and crisp and it melts in the mouth with yemmy taste. Benne means butter and the crunchy chakkuli is so soft and crispy.

Chakkuli can be made using different flours. Chakkuli is most famous crispy and tasty snack at any time of the day. Benne Muruku is nothing a Crispy Chakkuli prepared with Maida and Rice flour. Muruku is also known as chakkuli in Kannada, chakri in Gujarati, chakali in Marathi, murukulu in Telugu, muruku in Tamil.

Chakkuli or Muruku is one of the traditional treat for festivals like Diwali and Krishna Janmashtami. Now a days we get Chakkuli all over India. Chakkuli is one of the famous dish of South India. Traditionally Chakkuli is prepared with urid dal and rice flour.

Here is a recipe of Benne Muruku (Butter Chakkuli). Chakkuli here is prepared with rice flour, Maida and salt, Til seeds and oil. These chakkulis are easy to prepare. We get this Benne Muruku in Bakery acondiment stores and super markets. Home Made Benne Muruk is tastier and safe. It is a fried Item, you can have them any time of the day. You will enjoy eating chakkuli with a cup of Tea or Coffee.

Things Needed :

Maida (Plain flour) : 2 Cups
Rice Flour : 2 Cups
Chilly Powder : 1 Tea spoon
Sesame Seeds : 2 Table spoons
Salt : To taste
Butter : 1 Table spoon
Oil : To Fry (2 to 3 cups)
Chakkuli Mould to prepare chakkuli

Method :

1.Dry cook  Maida and Rice flour for 8 to 10 minutes. (Do not add water , Dry cook  in pressure cooker using weight).
2. Let the flour cool.

3. Now powder the flours  nicely using your fingers. Put it in a big bowl.

4. Add salt, sesame seeds, butter and chilly powder to the flours.

5. Mix it nicely and add water little by little and prepare dough.

6. Wash chakkuli mould and clean with dry cloth.

7. Divide the dough into small portions and put one portion into the mould.

8. Press the mould and prepare chakkuli on a tray or a wet towel.

9. Keep oil on the fire and heat. When the oil becomes hot fry chakkulis.
10. At time you can prepare 4 to 5 chakkulis. Prepare chakkuli on medium heat.

11. Fry on both sides till they turn slightly brown and remove from the oil and put them on the kitchen Tissue.

12. Prepare chakkuli with the remaining dough.

13. Now the chakkulis are ready to serve.

14. Serve with Cup of Hot Coffee or Tea.

15. You can also prepare Kodubale with the same Chakkuli Dough

You can also prepare chakkuli this way. Fill the chakkuli mould and straight leave the dough to the hot oil. giving a shape then and there while pressing the mould.

Note:

You can use dalda or hot oil instead of butter. Remember dalda is not a good option to choose. If you add more butter the chakkuli may dissolve in oil since they turn very soft. Use exactly one table spoon butter Or it may take more oil while frying and will not taste good. You can also add roasted powdered Urid dal. I have not added. Fry chakkuli on medium flame and be careful while you turn them or remove them from oil. You can also use jeera instead of sesame seeds. Using any one of them is advisable. Be aware the chakkuli sold outside may contain dalda or left over oil.
Guide  cook dry maida and rice flour before using it. 
Keep Maida and rice flour in different bowls while cooking. Do not add water while cooking. Put a glass of water to pressure cooker and keep an empty bowl up side down. Then place these flour bowls and cover with a plate. So that water does not enter the flour bowl. Close the  pressure cooker with its lid and put whistle and let it cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Allow it to cool and remove the flour and powder them nicely ( with out using water).  Use it when it is the flour is cool. You can also cook these flours in Idly cooker. 

Time : 40 Minutes (Including steaming the flours).
25 to 30 chakkulis can be prepared (according to the size of the chakkuli).