Mom's Besan Ladoo Recipe - Ministry of Curry (2024)

As a child, I recall waiting earnestly for the time when our heirloom copper pans would be brought out to roast the besan for ladoos. As my mother patiently slow-roasted the besan, adding ghee by spoonfuls, the entire house would fill with heavenly aromas, and we couldn't wait to lay our hands on the finished dish!

The soft and creamy besan laddoo is rich in texture and nutrition, making it a perfect snack to quell that sweet craving. And if you love these sweet dessert balls you have to try Rava Laddu and Oats Pistachio Laddu Recipes.

Today, I’m sharing with you our family recipe to make perfectly soft and delicious Marathi besan ladoos that are finger-licking good and super easy to make. I promise they will fly off your pantry shelf as soon as you have made them and your kids will love you for packing this treat into their lunch boxes. So go on, give them a try!

What is Besan?

Besan also known as gram flour is flour made from the yellow split Bengal gram or chana daal. It is also sometimes called chickpea flour, However, there is a slight difference between the two. Chickpea flour is made from whole white chickpeas or garbanzo beans.

Besan is available as coarse and finely ground in Indian grocery stores. Traditional Maharashtrian Besan Ladoo that I grew up eating is made with superfine gram flour. I use Swad superfine gram flour and the package also refers to it as chickpea flour. So if you end up buying besan from Indian groceries, it most likely will be labeled as gram flour/chickpea flour. Besan is also sold as coarse flour and the ladoos made with it also taste equally delicious.

Ingredients

• Besan/gram flour
• Ghee
• Powdered sugar
• Ground nutmeg
• Ground Cardamom
• Saffron (optional)
• Almonds or Pistachios (optional)

How to Make Besan Laddu

Step 1 - Add ghee and besan to a medium-sized heavy-bottomed pan.Keeping the heat low, slow roast the besan flour, while stirring constantly with a spatula. Continue to stir evenly and break the lumps that will form initially (photos 1 - 4).

Step 2 - After about 10 minutes, the flour will start to loosen up and become light and fluffy. Continue roasting for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the flour turns light golden brown. At this stage the ghee will start to separate, filling the kitchen with a delightful aroma (photos 5 - 8).

Step 3 - Turn the heat off and take out the mixture into a bowl. This will avoid the besan from being overcooked. Allow it to cool for about 15 minutes or until it is lukewarm to touch. Add saffron, cardamom, nutmeg, and pistachios (photos 9 - 12).

Step 4 - Add powdered sugar and mix well. Next, massage the mixture with the palm of your hands, and as you do so the ghee starts to release, allowing the mixture to bind together.Take 2 to 3 tablespoons of the mix at a time and start pressing and shaping to form round balls (photos 13 - 16). Repeat with the remaining mix.

Storing

Store in an airtight container. These laddus will stay good at room temperature for 8 to 10 days. For longer shelf life keep them in the refrigerator and optionally heat them in the microwave for about 10 seconds before enjoying them.

Tips to Make Best Besan Laddu

1. Use fresh, good-quality besan/gram flour. I usually buy fine besan from Indian grocery stores.
2. Sift the flour and then measure it for the perfect proportion of besan, ghee, and sugar.
3. I like using homemade ghee for this recipe with its nutty taste and aroma.
4. Use a thick bottom pan or a heavy nonstick pan for roasting the gram flour.
5. Make sure to sift the gram flour and powdered sugar to remove any lumps.
6. Use low to medium heat to fry the besan or gram flour to ensure the flour gets uniformly roasted.
7. Allow the hot flour and ghee mixture to cool down before adding the sugar.
8. You can grease your palms with ghee before shaping the balls so that the mixture does not stick to your hand.
9. If the mixture is too soft and sticky, add some more dry roasted besan to the mixture and then shape the laddoo.

Notes

Here are some special notes from Mom:

The besan and ghee must be slow-roasted over low heat stirring constantly until it gets light and fluffy, golden brown, and aromatic. The timings in the recipe are for 1 cup of besan flour. It takes 25 minutes to roast 1 cup of besan, 35 minutes for 2 cups, and 45 minutes for 3 cups of besan. The more the quantity, the roasting time will increase.

What are laddu made of?

There are many different varieties of laddu made in India. My favorite ones are Rava laddo, Motichoor ladoo, and these easy, no-fail Besan Ladoo. The main ingredient for Besan laddu and Motichoor ladoo is gram flour while rava ladoo is made with fine semolina.

Is besan ladoo healthy?

Besan lado has refined sugar but can be reduced as per your taste. They are not deep-fried, so I would call them relatively healthy and the best part is that they are gluten-free. You can also skip the nuts in case of allergies and they will still be equally delicious.

What is the significance of Diwali?

Diwali is the most prominent and widely celebrated festival in India. Falling around the Autumn season, Diwali signifies the triumph of good over evil and is also popularly known as the festival of lights. Friends and family members dress up in finery and get together over 4-5 days of festivities to exchange sweets, gifts, and good wishes.

More Diwali Recipes

Did you enjoy this delicious recipe? Here are some more of my family recipes made during the Diwali festival:

• Layered Karanji / Gujiya with rose-flavored coconut filling
• Shankarpali
• Rava Laddu with fresh coconut
• Saranachi Puri or Satori
• Savory Chakli with homemade rice and lentil flour

Love Indian desserts? Here are some of my go-to desserts when I am hosting a party:

• Gajar Ka Halwa
• Lauki Ka Halwa
• Rice Kheer
• Mango Shrikhand
• Sevai Kheer

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Traditional Besan Laddu (ladoo) recipe

Besan ladoo are creamy, golden-hued, melt-in-your-mouth dessert balls made with besan/gram flour, ghee and sugar laced with aromatic cardamom, nutmeg and saffron.

Servings: 8 ladoo

Calories: 117kcal

Nutrition

Calories: 117kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 194mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 3mg

Author: Archana

Hey there! I am a techie turned recipe developer, cooking instructor, and food blogger. I love food and enjoy developing easy and healthy recipes for busy lifestyles. I live in New Jersey with my husband and two sons.

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