Laddu facts for kids
Laddu
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| Region or state | India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand |
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| Main ingredients | Flour, sugar, ghee, Dry fruits |
| Variations | Gram flour, rava |
Laddu, also spelled laddoo, is a yummy round sweet treat. It comes from India and is popular across the Indian subcontinent and the Malay world.
Laddus are mostly made from flour, a type of fat like ghee (clarified butter) or oil, and sugar. Sometimes, people use jaggery, which is a type of unrefined sugar. They can be made with different kinds of flour, like gram flour (chickpea flour) or semolina.
Often, people add chopped nuts or dried raisins to make them even tastier. The exact ingredients change depending on the recipe. Laddus are usually served during special celebrations or religious events.
Contents
History of Laddu
Did you know laddus might be super old? At an ancient site called Harappa in India, archaeologists found seven round food balls. These were found with old tools and statues of bulls.
Scientists think these laddus were made from grains like barley, wheat, and chickpea. This discovery suggests that people in the Indus Valley Civilisation might have used these sweet balls in rituals.
What's in a Laddu?
Laddus are made with different flours. Common ones include gram flour (which is chickpea flour), wheat semolina, or ground coconut. These flours are mixed with sugar and other yummy flavors.
Then, they are cooked in ghee and shaped into a ball. Some laddu recipes even use special ingredients from Ayurveda, which is a traditional Indian medicine system. These can include things like methi (fenugreek) or special plant resins. Nuts like pistachios and almonds are often put inside laddus.
Boondi Laddu
Boondi laddu is a very popular type of laddu. It is made from tiny little fried balls called boondi. These boondi are made from besan (chickpea flour).
Boondi laddus are often eaten during big festivals like Raksha Bandhan and Diwali.
Motichoor laddu is a special kind of boondi laddu. Moti-choor means "crushed pearls" in Hindi. This is because the boondi balls are super tiny, like little pearls! They are cooked with ghee or oil. This recipe started in northern India and is now loved everywhere.
Besan Laddu
Besan laddu is another favorite Indian sweet. It's made from besan (chickpea flour), sugar, and ghee. The besan is roasted in ghee until it turns a nice golden brown and smells nutty.
Then, sugar is added to the mixture. Sometimes, people add Pistachio pieces too. These sweet balls are then shaped by hand. Besan laddus can stay fresh for a long time. They are often served at festivals, family parties, and religious events in India.
Coconut Laddu
There are many ways to make coconut laddu. One of the oldest versions, called Narayl Nakru, dates back to the time of the Chola dynasty. Back then, it was a sweet packed for travelers and warriors. It was a symbol of good luck for their journeys.
Paan Laddu
In the Malay world, laddus made with palm sugar are known by different names. In Indonesia, they are called klepon. In Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore, they are known as onde-onde.
Semolina or Rava Laddu
This laddu is made from rava (which is semolina), sugar, and ghee. Sometimes, a special cheese called khoa is added to make it even richer.
Sesame Laddu
Till laddu are made with sesame seeds. These seeds are mixed with a type of cheese to form balls. They are very popular in India and Bangladesh, especially during the winter months.
Laddu with Edible Gum
In India, these special laddus are often given to new mothers. They are believed to help with milk production for babies. These laddus are called dinkache ladoo in Marathi and gond ka laddu in Hindi.
The main ingredient is gum arabic, which comes from a tree called the babul tree. Other ingredients include coconut, almonds, cashews, dates, and spices like nutmeg and cardamom. Poppy seeds, ghee, and sugar are also added.
Some recipes for these laddus use different grains and flours. They might include besan, urid, ragi, and wheat.
Texas Laddu
This is a unique version of laddu! Texas laddu is usually made with peanut butter, chocolate syrup, and sometimes flavored whiskey. If you want a non-alcoholic version, water can be used instead of whiskey. The taste is a bit like a Rum ball or Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Some of the ingredients might even be smoked!
Other Laddu Varieties
Laddus can be made from many different grains, beans, and seeds. Some other popular types include laddus made with roasted wheat, amaranth, garden cress seeds, fenugreek seeds, and peanuts.
World Record Laddu
The biggest single laddu ever made weighed an amazing 29,465 kilograms (about 65,000 pounds)! This giant laddu was made by PVVS Mallikharjuna Rao in India. It was created on September 6, 2016.
This record-breaking laddu was a traditional Boondi recipe. It was made with lots of ghee, refined oil, cashew nuts, sugar, almonds, cardamom, and water. Imagine how many people it could feed!
Uses of Laddu
In Maharashtrian cuisine, which is a type of cooking from India, there are old recipes for laddus. These laddus were specially made to be taken on journeys. They were perfect travel snacks!
Images for kids
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Laddus
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Laddus packed for a wedding ceremony
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Laddus
See also
In Spanish: Ladu para niños
