Blogging Marathon # 14

Sesame ladoos are made as an offering to the gods during the festival of Makar Sakranti. Various sweets made from sesame are enjoyed specially during winter season in Northern part of India.  
Sesame seeds are a very good source of copper, magnesium and calcium. In Jaggery the total mineral content is 5 times higher than brown sugar and 50 times that of regular sugar. A food rich in iron, it is a healthy nutrition choice for anemic patients.

These nutrition packed ladoos are quick and easy to make and they are healthy and can be consumed guilt free to relish.

Ingredients

• 1 + 1 cup sesame seeds
• 1 1/2 cup jaggery powder
• 1/4th teaspoon cardamom powder(optional)
• 1 tablespoon ghee

Method

1. Slightly dry roast the sesame seeds till the color slightly changes to pale brown. It will take approximately 2-3 minutes.
2. Grind the 1 cup sesame seeds into coarse powder.
3. In a pan add jaggery and 1 tablespoon ghee. Cook it till the jaggery melts and comes to a boil.
4. Add 1 cup sesame seeds and the sesame powder in the jaggery syrup.Mix well and remove from the gas. Add cardamom powder.
5. Allow the mixture to cool down slightly say for 2-3 minutes.
6. You have to shape them into small balls while the mixture is warm.
7. Grease the hands with the ghee and then wet your hands with water. start making balls from the mixture. It is difficult to make balls once the mixture is completely cool. so you have to be really fast.

Variation

• you can add roasted peanut, cashew or almond powder to the sesame seeds.
  Instead of jaggery you can use sugar.

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