Kesar Boondi Ladoo

Ingredients:

For Boondi:

1. 1 cup Besan (gram flour)
2. 1/4 cup Rice flour
3. 1/4 teaspoon Baking soda
4. Water to make a batter
5. Oil for deep frying

For Sugar Syrup:

1. 1 cup Sugar
2. 1/2 cup Water
3. A few strands of Saffron (kesar)
4. 1/4 teaspoon Cardamom powder

Additional Ingredients:

1. 2 tablespoons Chopped nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios)
2. 1/4 cup Raisins
3. 2-3 tablespoons Ghee (clarified butter)

Instructions:

1. Making Boondi: 

• In a bowl, mix besan, rice flour, and baking soda.
• Add water gradually to make a thick, smooth batter (similar to dosa batter).
• Heat oil in a deep frying pan.
• Hold a perforated ladle or a slotted spoon over the hot oil and pour a small amount of batter over it, allowing tiny droplets to fall into the oil.
• Fry until the boondis are golden brown and crisp. Repeat the process with the remaining batter.
• Drain the fried boondis on a paper towel.

2. Preparing Sugar Syrup: 

• In a pan, combine sugar and water to make a sugar syrup. Bring it to a boil.
• Add saffron strands and cardamom powder. Continue to boil until the syrup reaches a one-string consistency.
• Turn off the heat and let it cool slightly.

3. Mixing Boondi and Sugar Syrup: 

• Add the fried boondi to the warm sugar syrup. Mix well until the boondis are well-coated. 
• Allow it to sit for about 10-15 minutes to absorb the syrup.

4. Shaping Ladoos:

• Add chopped nuts, raisins, and ghee to the boondi mixture. Mix thoroughly.
• Take small portions of the mixture and shape them into round ladoos using your hands.

5. Garnishing:

• Garnish the ladoos with additional chopped nuts & Saffron strands.
• Let the ladoos cool completely before serving.

Enjoy your homemade Kesar Boondi Ladoos! They are perfect for festivals, celebrations, or as a sweet treat anytime.