Boondi Ladoo

Diwali time once again. Thought I would make something different. Found this recipe at Uma's Kitchen. And here is how it turned out -

Maybe not the perfect round. But tasty nevertheless

Ingredients:

Besan / Chickpea Flour – 1 cup

Rice Flour – 1 tsp
Oil – for deep frying
Cooking Soda – a pinch
Cashew and Raisins - as desired
Ghee - 1 tbsp
Sugar - 1 1/2 cup
Cloves - 3
Cardamom - 3-4  ( optional - I kept them ready but forgot to add them!!)

Method:
Take the besan, soda, rice flour.
Mix.
Add sufficient water to make a batter ( like a dosa batter - should be reasonably thick and flowing)
Keep aside till you make the syrup

For the syrup
Mix the sugar in 1/2 cup water and keep on heat
Let the sugar form a syrup of one thread consistency.
Check this by taking a little syrup between thumb and forefinger and slowly lifting the finger to find out if there is indeed a single thread :-)
The syrup is kept ready for the prepared boondi.

Meanwhile, also heat the ghee and fry the cashew, raisins and cloves. ( Raisins separately - otherwise you will have burnt raisins).  Keep aside

Heat oil
Take the besan batter on a perforated spoon and keep tapping it
You will find drops of batter fall into the oil
Do this till you have a reasonable number of 'boondis' and gently stir them till they just begin to turn colour.
Remove immediately and place on tissue paper.
(Tip - the boondi should get crushed and not crackle when pressed)
Start the next batch and as that is getting done, place the ones on the tissue paper into the syrup.

So tap,tap, pick up boondis, onto tissue paper, into syrup - till all are done.

Mix gently, make sure the syrup is mixed totally.
Add the cashew, raisins, clove and cardamom.  ( If you do not want the clove and only the flavour- you can remove them now)

And now, start making the ladoos.

Tip from the blogger from where I sourced the recipe and it helped:
If you are not able to make the ladoos, place the mixture for 15-20 seconds in the microwave.  Take them out, allow it to cool a bit, and when still warm make the ladoos.
Allow to cool and store, share, consume