Dates and Nut Laddu

Now these dates and nut laddus are my kind of dish. Simple, quick and easy to put together on a festival day like Diwali or Raksha bandhan. They can be prepared in less than 15 minutes. Dates add a sweet base and there is no need for other sweeteners in this dish. Use soft, pitted variety dates and add any variety of nuts you have on hand. All nuts are delicious anyway and healthy when eaten in moderation. Feel free to add or omit any of the nuts from the below given list to customize. If you are feeling lazier, omit the dates frying step as well and directly grind the dates.

Ingredients: (Makes around 10 laddus)

1 cup mixed nuts  (I used a handful of each - walnuts, almonds, pistachios and cashews.)
1 cup pitted, soft dates (about 2 dozen)
1 tsp ghee

Method:
* Toast each variety of the nuts individually in a pan until they turn crisp. Let them cool and grind coarsely.
* Finely chop the dates.
* Heat ghee in a pan and add the chopped dates. Saute them for 2 - 3 minutes, pressing down the date pieces with the back of the spoon so that the dates turn into a pulp. Add the ground nuts to the pan, mix well and turn off the stove.
* Transfer the mixture onto a plate and when it is warm, make laddus of desired size. If the mixture is sticky and hard to shape the laddus, grease your palms and try.
* For a variation, the laddus can be rolled in dessicated coconut or sesame seeds as well.

These go to BM #43 under "Festival Special Theme". Check here to learn what other dishes are being cooked during this marathon.

Comments