BESAN KE LADDOO (SWEET BALLS WITH CHICKPEAS FLOUR)

BESAN KE LADDOO

(SWEET BALLS WITH CHICKPEAS FLOUR)

# Edited- This post was featured as number one on 2nd January 2016, for Legume Love Affair for December 2015, Check the round-up here

#Edited- This recipe is featured as one of the best posts of the week on Jebbica's World. Check here- Food and Fitness Friday on 20th November 2015.

#Edited- This post was featured as one of the best posts on "Cook Blog Share" on 16th November 2015, This can be viewed at COOK BLOG SHARE here.

HAPPY DIWALI TO THOSE WHO ARE CELEBRATING.

Diwali is the biggest, most famous and auspicious festival of Hindus, which is celebrated in the month of November, not only in India but all over the world. This is the festival of light or brightness over darkness. I am wishing everyone a happy Diwali with the note that the brightness of the lamps of this Diwali, should brighten our minds and our opinion towards people and the humanity of the world so that we can live peacefully and love each and every one on this planet.

In my youth, I had heard a very interesting story about chickpea flour. Today I think it is the right time to share this with my readers when I am talking about the recipe of “besan ke laddoo”, where the main ingredient is besan (chickpeas flour). The story is about one of the Moghul emperors that ruled India for several centuries: Here is the story:

Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal Emperor of India, who built the world famous Taj Mahal in 1653, in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world. After building the great monument, when he was old, his own son Aurangzeb (not the eldest son) forcefully took his throne, which was against the will of the great emperor; he wanted his eldest son to become king after him.

Later, Aurangzeb his own son imprisoned the emperor for life. Actually, it was a house arrest, in one of his own chambers of the Red Fort of Agra, a Qila (fort), where Shah Jahan, the great emperor, spent the last 8 years of his life, and later died in the same chamber. During the period of his house arrest, his eldest daughter Jahanara was looking after her father, in his last years of life.

At the time of his house arrest, the new king, his own son (Aurangzeb) ordered him to choose only one grain (food item) which he will be allowed to eat every day during his imprisonment. Shah Jahan discussed with his royal cook (Chef), who advised him to choose BESAN (chickpeas flour) because it is so versatile that many items can be made with it. The Great emperor Shah Jahan, survived on this main ingredient and lived there in that chamber for rest of his life. Through the big windows of that chamber, he could see Taj Mahal which is just across the road. After his death, he was buried inside the Taj Mahal dome, next to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

In 1996, when I went to see the Taj Mahal, it was the third time in my life I had seen the beautiful monument. When you first see it, you will be mesmerized and stunned by its beauty; it is breathtaking indeed, I also saw the Red Fort, which is near the Taj Mahal. I have personally seen that chamber where Shah Jahan was imprisoned for the rest of his life. Actually, the Red Fort is so beautiful even today, that it took my breath away, and I was imagining how more beautiful it would have been in those days.

Here I would like to appreciate the intelligence of that royal cook for his suggestion to the emperor Shah Jahan to choose besan (chickpea flour) as one of the ingredients because it is truly a versatile ingredient in Indian cuisine. Apart from different types of curries, many snacks and many sweet items are made with this one ingredient- Besan (Chickpeas flour). Right now I can think of 25 items off the top of my head that are made from chickpeas flour and I am sure I have left out much more. Chickpeas flour is a protein, so it seems the king had a good supply of protein in his diet, haha.

Coming to the recipe, on the occasion of Diwali, these laddoos are made in many Indian households, not only to be enjoyed by the family members but also to distribute to friends. In this recipe, very few ingredients are used, but it still tastes awesome, this is my daughter's favorite sweet dish.

This recipe is my mom's recipe, and I am very happy to share her recipe on my blog. I have some memories of my childhood when we kid (brothers and sisters) were waiting for the Diwali festival when my mom will cook nice sweets and savory dishes, which we will enjoy on that day, plus many more days after Diwali.

RECIPE

INGREDIENT

• 1 kg besan (Chickpeas Flour)
• 500 grams ghee or unsalted butter
• 750 grams sugar
• 1 tsp nutmeg or cardamom powder
• 50 grams chopped almonds or any other nuts

METHOD

• Heat ghee in a big wok, add cardamom powder and chickpeas flour and mix it well.
• On a medium heat roast the flour with ghee, it will take 10-15 minutes. After 15 minutes, flour will start losing ghee, and then it will be much easier to stir.
• Roast till the flour is golden brown and you will get a nice aroma of roasted chickpeas flour in your house.
• Leave it to cool, when warm, add sugar and nuts, mix well.
• When it is still warm give a round ball shape with your fingers and palm.
• Laddoos are ready to eat, around 30-35 laddoos can be made depending on the size you choose.
• They can be stored in a container, can last two weeks on the shelf and two months inside the fridge.

I am sending this recipe as my blog post entry for Meatless Monday, and with Hearth and soul., and What do you do this weekend., and with Tuesday Tutorial, and with Tasty Tuesday C.Kids, and with Healthy Happy and Green party, and with Cook Blog Share , and with Way Wow link party, with Great Idea Thursday, and with Full plate Thursday, and with My two fav thing on Thursday, and with Fiesta Friday, and with Real Food Friday, and with Food and Fitness Friday, and sharing with My Legume love affair together with LISA and SUSAN, and with From the Archives Friday party,

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