Dry fruits Laddoo

Dry fruits Laddoo – Super delicious snack/ No added sugar

 

Ingredients:

Pitted dates – 1.5 cup

Large Apricot – 5

Large Figs – 5

Cashew nuts – 2 tbsp, broken into smaller bits

Almonds – 2 tbsp, sliced into smaller bits

Sunflower seeds – 1.5 tbsp

Black sesame seeds – 3/4 tbsp

White sesame seeds – 3/4 tbsp

Cranberries – 1.25 tbsp

Large Golden Raisins – 1.5 tbsp

Poppy seeds – 25 gm

Flax seeds powder – 1 tbsp

Grated coconut – 1 cup

Ghee/ Clarified butter – 2 tbsp

Instructions:

         In a non-stick pan add poppy seeds and saute under medium flame. When they slightly change the color to brown dish them out into a clean big bowl. Add a table spoon of flax seeds powder into this bowl. Add white and black sesame seeds into the pan and saute until they puff up. When their color slightly changes to brown dish them out into the large bowl.

        In the same pan add sunflower seeds, ghee, broken cashewnuts, almonds and saute. Keep sauteing so that the nuts are roasted evenly. When the nuts change the color to light golden brown, dish them out and add into the large bowl.

       In the same pan add large golden raisins, ghee and saute for a minute. Add cranberries, few blue berries (optional) and saute until the raisins start to puff up. Add them into the large bowl. Add grated coconut into the pan and saute until it slightly changes the color to light brown. Dish it out into the large bowl.

       Add pitted dates, figs and apricots into the same pan along with ghee and saute for 2 minutes under medium flame. Keep sauteing for even roasting on all sides. Once they cool down, add them into a blender and blend into coarse paste. Add the blended paste into the large bowl.

NOTE: Please remember to not add water at any stage of making this laddoo.

       Use a spoon or your fingers and mix all the ingredients well. Due to the stickiness of dates, figs and apricots all the ingredients would bind well. Pat it gently over to the bowl to make a large ball. Ghee plays an important role not only to enhance the flavor but it also keeps the mixture smooth and non-sticky.

       Pinch small portions from the large ball of dry fruits mixture. Gently press with your palm and fingers to make a small round ball. You may also gently press them between your plams in rotating motion to make a round ball. Place them in a clean dry plate. Continue the same process until all the mixture is used up to make dry fruits laddoo.

         You may also pat this large ball of dry fruits mixture on to a clean greased plate and make thick flat surface. Using a blunt knife cut them into any shapes preferably diamond shapes as they look more appealing. Quick, easy, super healthy and delicious dry fruits laddoos/ burfis are ready.

         You may either serve them as-is or refrigerate for later consumption. These can also be stored in an air tight container and consumed within a week .

         Being rich in anti-oxidants it is a super snack for all. Kids, senior citizens, adults, teenagers etc. can all consume it as a quick snack. Energy bars are great friends to many. A munch on a busy day not just satiates your hunger levels but also provides the vital minerals and vitamins required for your body. These laddoos were saviors to me and my hubby during our IT journey especially when the count down for Go-Live begins.

        Dry fruits are rich sources of vitamins like B1-B9, C, K, E and H. They provide minerals, proteins, amino acids and fibre content needed for an expecting mother. They are also rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, selenium and other anti-oxidants.

NOTE: Be aware of the ingredients you use if you are prone to nut allergy.

       I believe DIY at home is a great way to experiment with different combinations of nuts especially for picky eaters. These laddoos/ burfis/ energy bars can also be prepared and shared with family members and friends during festivities. These laddoos taste much better than the store bought ones. Try it out and let me know your comments.