Walnut Ladoo

(Diwali Special)

Diwali is an Indian festival of lights which marks the victory of the good over the evil. Apart from crackers and new clothes  this festival is special for sweets. Different states have different customs and traditions to follow during the celebration of this festival but sweets remain main in any celebrations.

Sweets prepared with Ghee and milk is very common during Indian festivals. Some of the most popular sweet dishes prepared are mysore pak, burfis, gulab jamun, rasgulla, ladoo, boondi ladoo, jalebi etc..But off late people have become health conscious and avoid high sugar sweets. For such people they can try using coconut palm sugar or palm jaggery as it is low in Glycemixc index. If consumed in moderation, it doesn’t cause sugar spikes. Also try to use more nuts to make them healthy.

Lets try one such healthy recipe Walnut ladoo

Ingredients :
* 1- cup walnuts (heaped)
* 1 - cup poha/aval/beaten rice or cornflakes
* ¾ - cup palm sugar or jaggery or palm jaggery
* ¼ - tsp. cardamom powder

Instructions:
* Dry roast beaten rice on medium high flame till they turn crispy. (Do not discolor them by burning)
* Dry roast walnuts. Set aside to cool. Grate jaggery or palm sugar.
* Once the beaten rice is cooled, just crush them with palms to get tiny crisps.
* Powder the walnuts in a mixer, add jaggery and blend.
* Add this mixture with the beaten rice crisps and knead well and make small balls or walnut ladoo.

--Pushpa