Monday, October 24, 2011

Microwave Besan Laddoo - thanks Red Chilies


If you have known me even for t-e-n nanoseconds you would know that when there is a microwaveable-done in twenty minutes- besan laddoo versus stove top-arm twisting- back aching-one whole hour-besan laddoo, I will choose the former. If you are the kind who will go for the latter, more power to you and a Happy Diwali in the kitchen. Others, please read on.

BesanLaddoo2.1


BesanLaddoo1

I could have cited reasons as this, this and this  for my choices but no, the bottom line simply is that I am a very phankibaaj kind and love food especially sweets that can be done short and simple. That is SWEET to me. If the sweet is not going to help me tide over a dinner, a lunch or even a breakfast why should I spend a big chunk of my life making it is my basic principle of life.

No wonder Bhapa Doi, Kalakand  and Rosgollar Paayesh holler out to me and get done in less than half hour. Except of course Paayesh which I stir and stir and then stir some more for over an hour because that is what Mother told me to. Thank God she didn't profess other such time consuming wisdom and left me on my own regarding besan laddoos.

BesanLaddoo5

When I had first seen these ravishing plump very 70-ish beauties at Red Chilies(who in turn had found it at Bhaatukli), I wanted to do it right then because me & besan laddoos are insanely in love with each other. But I checked myself. That amount of Ghee deserves a special occasion and what better than one dressed up in lights and crackling with sparklers. So Besan Laddoos it is for Diwali. I did a small test run yesterday and those laddoos blew us away. It is worth all that Ghee and more. The fact that it takes under 20 minutes and one microwave safe dish to wash is a gift that no Dhantaras can ever bring.


BesanLaddoo4.1


Original Recipe Source: Red Chilie's Besan Laddoo and Bhaatukli's Besan Laddoo

Besan Laddoo in Microwave

I halved Supriya's recipe and so I used 1/2 cup Besan, 1/2 Cup sugar and 3-4 tbsp of Ghee to make about 6 laddoos.
         Besan -- 1/2 Cup
         Ghee -- 3-4 Tbsp
         Sugar -- 1/2 Cup 
         Cardamom powder - a pinch

         Prep Time: 6 minutes in Microwave at 2 minute intervals + 10 minutes to mix.
         Makes: 6 laddoos

Grease a microwave safe bowl 
Add and mix
1/2 cup of Besan with
2 Tbsp of melted ghee
Make sure that all of the besan is coated in ghee.

Microwave for 2 minutes. Beep Beep.

Take out. Careful, it will be hot. Add 1 Tbsp of melted ghee and stir mixing it together.

Microwave for 2 minutes in 1+1 interval. Beep, Beep.  
Note: It is best to microwave for 1 minute, check and stir, then microwave for 1 more minute again. 
Take the container out . By now you will get the nice aroma of besan roasting. The besan will also have turned a deeper shade of golden-brown. If you think it is still raw continue roasting.

Stir and back in the microwave again.
Microwave for 1 minute --> check if Besan is still raw --> Microwave for 1 minute. Beep, Beep.  The Besan will have turned a rich nut brown shade and the aroma will make sure that is is cooked through.
          Note:  If you feel Besan is raw, add a little more ghee and microwave for one more minute .                  Besan should not be raw or overcooked.

Now let it cool slightly.
When it is still warm to touch but can be handled
add 1/2 cup of fine sugar
and 1/4 tsp of Cardamom Powder.
Mix thoroughly with a spatula or with your fingers. As you do this you will feel the mix binding as the sugar melts and mixes with the Besan. Do this for about 10 minutes. At this point you can add some more melted ghee if the texture is too crumbly. 

Now fashion small balls and decorate with raisins, varak or anything that catches your fancy.
To make the Diwali diyas as in the photo, add 1Tbsp more ghee and mix well, put a small ball of the besan mix in mini cupcake liners. Add a tiny chocolate chip at the center and voila it looks like a Diwali diya. It will harden on cooling.

I think these Besan Laddoos, sweet and decadent as they are and which I found over ether at a blog which in turn was shared by another blog carries forward the true spirit of Diwali, of giving and sharing and of acceptance that all things good need their Ghee and sugar.

Have a Happy Deepavali.

41 comments:

  1. Yummy ladoos,Sandeepa!The 'phankibaaj' part applies for me as well and hence I'll follow you soon into the making of these quick and tasty sweets!Wish you have a very Happy Diwali!:)

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  2. nice!! Wish i'd seen this recipe before I made besan ladoos the one hour-arm/back aching way :) Happy Diwali to you!

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  3. ei diwali te ami khub alsemi korchi...kichhu banaini ar banate icheo korche na. tomar ei recipe ta try kara jete pare...darun dekhte hoeche.

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  4. Onek din pore eelam to read your blog. The besan ka ladoo looks nice, soft and easy to make. Will try it sometime. But I need help too. I have signed up for appetizer for a diwali potluck. Give me ideas please !

    On that note, Happy Diwali to you and your family.

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  5. Happy Deepavali to you Sandeepa.

    Those laddoos are in fact delicious. I am making laddoos too a different kind with split green gram. I did spend about 30 minutes roasting the dal this evening and would spend another 30 minutes making them tomorrow evening. I usually scrimp on the ghee but being Deepavali and all I am going full tilt. What say you?

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  6. Oh thanks for giving us a recipe for 6 laddoos.And so little ghee. Yesss.

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  7. It's 9:30 at night and I am making your microwaveable Besan Laddoos...Like you I LOVE Besan Laddos...and if I can make them in a jiffy then I am a happy happy mumma....

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  8. Awwww...thanks so much for the mention Sandeepa. This is such a keeper recipe from Bhaatukli that I can't thank her enough.
    Wishing you and your family a very happy diwali.

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  9. That is so me too. Short cuts and easy routes :) I think I'll give this a shot too. Happy Diwali to you and your family, San. Have a rocking one1

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  10. Happy Diwali to u n ur family! thank u for offering so beautiful looking laddoos. and i liked the piece of jewellery. what is it?

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  11. ei rannata ami korechhilam ekbar. Old-fashioned poddhotite. ghonta 5-ek pore haater byathar chote laddu khawar anondo bindumatro ter paini. naakkan mulechhilam, ar omukho hobona bole. tobe eibhabe korle arekbar cheshta kore dekhai jay.

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  12. This must be one of your funniest posts. A very happy Deepavali to you!

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  13. Happy Deepavali....Yum besan laddoo!

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  14. Happy Deepavali Sandeepa to u and ur family!
    I love short cuts and the microwave magic!
    Haven't done the besan ladoo yet like ur presentation!

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  15. Sandeepa,
    Happy Diwali ...
    Very nice recipe..has the "try-me-NOW" looks...
    ;-)

    cheers
    d

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  16. Happy diwali wishes Sandeepa, besan laddoos looks damn cute..

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  17. That's definitely a nifty recipe to have! Though the kaddooa seem much moister than besan laddoos I have seen here. And yes I did get the book y'day :-) what a perfect Diwali gift! I'm almost through the book- it's great !

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  18. Brilliant Sandeepa, I love besan laddoos and even in Cal we dont get them easily. What we get is Moong ka laddus and I just love your phankibaji recipe. Even I love cooking but spending hours and hours in the kitchen specially before or in Diwali is just too much. I'll definitely try them in the microwave and let you know how it turns out.Happy Diwali........Purba

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  19. Wish you and your family and blessed and a happy Diwali. Warm Regards Abraham & Susan www.chackoskitchen.com

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  20. Amaar O bhalo laglo eyi recipe ta ..dekhi try korbo ..Deepawali wishes to you and your lovely family ..hugs and smiles

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  21. Coming here after a loooooong time.Looks like missed a quite a list :( .Loved the besan ladoo..easy to make. Super liked the picture.

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  22. happy diwali and thanks for the microwave version of these cuties.. i too love these but hate making them the looooong way!

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  23. Hi,

    I am regular reader of your blog and count on your recipes.

    I was overjoyed by the simplicity of this recipe and started right away on it, only to realize at the umpteenth moment that there is no mention of the microwave power anywhere! Went back to other tagged links and finally found a random "microwave on high".. which proved not to be the "high" on my microwave.

    Thankfully, the final outcomes were fairly good on the assumptions of a reasonable heat and time after a total messy first round!
    Hope to see more of these technical details with a recipe that depends mainly on a device.

    -- Manasi

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  24. Manasi

    I understand your problem. But for someone like me who always uses the MW at full power unless it says explicitly, guess this never crossed my mind.
    The trouble also comes from the fact that my purpose is not really to teach people perfect cooking steps(heck, I am not that kind), there are much better resources for that. What I think I try to convey is a love for food and cooking and a belief that anyone even a working mom with two kids can still cook sweets on festivals without losing sleep.

    Once someone has set out on that road, an adjustment in MW power comes easy :) And messing up is totally ok. I did that even after I made a successful batch the first time.

    And finally devices are different, me and the other bloggers I mentioned are home cooks with access to their own MW in their country. So as you said a "HIGH" on one might mean "P-100" on another. I am happy that you figured it out and the final result was delish :)

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  25. Sandeepa, a happy Diwali to you too. Thanks for sharing the micro-wave recipe, and the laddoos looked so lovely, such a rich colour. A little ghee and sugar at Diwali does no harm. :)

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  26. tomar recipes khub bhalo laglo...ekta mishti doi banai ami khub bhalo hoi...baniye dekhte paro...greek yogurt aar carnations er caramelised condensed milk (dulce de leche)equal portions e whip kore micro for 5 mins...ektu observe korte hobe jate bubbles na hoy...3 mins kore ektu wait kore abar 2 mins...khub bhalo hoy...ekdom kolkatar mishti doi..

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  27. Thank You Aditi, that sounds really easy. Will try definitely.

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  28. Wow, nice post,there are many person searching about that now they will find enough resources by your post.Thank you for sharing to us.Please one more post about that..

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  29. I made this today for a bunch of my friends and they loved it! Thanks for sharing the secret.

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  30. Dear Sandeepa,

    This is amazing... They came out sooooooooooooooo delicious! I can't believe I made besan ladoos in the MICROWAVE!!!

    You are a Kaam Chor Goddess! Thank you from a fellow Kaam Chor!

    Love,
    Solonica
    California, USA

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for sharing the recipe...looks really easy! Could you please let me know what kind of BESAN to use for this recipe? there are so many diff. kinds avilable in Indian Grocery stores..thanks

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    2. Errrm.. the regular besan...the one that says gram flour

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  31. thanks you so much for taking the time to respond...will sure make this one

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  32. Wow, these were just like the ones I buy from a good mithai shops. Actually they were better because I used desi ghee and the fact that they were sooo fresh. They are the easiest to make too. Thank you.

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  33. Hi Sandeepa,
    I tried your laddoos today, the first round being totally messy. The besan got burned and in the next round I put more ghee so it tasted nice it was not binding . I put it in a tray and made it into barfis.

    Can you please mention the heat in the microwave.

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    Replies
    1. The binding comes with the sugar. As you mix the sugar with the besan and ghee, it starts coming together.

      I am in the US. MY MW does not have a heat option. I used it at 100%Power which is the default option.

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  34. Hi Sandeepa,

    last step e tumi je sugar add korte bolecho seta ki powdered sugar na regular fine sugar jeta amra use kori(granulated na).... recipe ta anoboddo...can's wait to make it.

    Mekhala

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    1. Mekhala

      Amar regular sugar i use korechi. Eikhane je Granulated sugar ta kini seta India te je sugar kintam tar cheye fine, oitai use kori

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