Diwali Delight - Rava Laddoo

As Diwali neared, I decided it's time for me to crack sweet-making. That's something I'd never been able to master, and even the most simplest of sweets (not counting payasam and chakkara pongal) always left me nervous. I have made a mess many a time and have had to throw away batches. (I did perfectly make vella cheedai and I pride myself on that :D and I suppose vella paagu is slightly more forgiving than chakkara paagu)

And mom and I always end up fighting in the kitchen (the proverbial territorial fight) and this time I clearly told her that for once, I only want her guiding and instructing me and not actually making the sweet. And with that out of the way, we got into gear.

Rava ladoo was the first. Easy peasy stuff and no sugar syrup required. Yay! (And I know someone who loves this, so all the more better for me to learn how to make this one)

And here is how we make these cute little balls!

Ingredients:

Bombay Rava (Sooji) - 1 cup
Sugar - 1.5 cup
Melted Ghee - 1 cup (You can substitute with vanaspati if you like, but hey, what's a little indulgence without fresh ghee)
Cardamom powder - 1 pinch
Cashew nuts - chopped - 4 tsp (approx - use judgment)
Gram flour / Roasted gram flour - 1/2 cup (optional - I didn't use this while making mine)

Method:

Roast Rava until hot and aroma is released. But ensure it doesn't turn brown. (That means constant stirring and keeping an eye on it). Let cool
Grind into fine powder in a mixie. (Pass it through a sieve if it's not fine enough)
Grind the sugar. (If you can find powdered sugar in the store, nothing like it)
In a mixing bowl, add the rava, sugar, cardamom powder and cashew nuts.
Slowly add the melted ghee, and mix with a spoon. (Add more ghee if you think the mixture is a little too dry / crumbly)

Now, we come to the actual art (er..) of making the laddoos. Bunch up a big portion of the mixture in your hand, and squeeze it within an inch of its life. Squeeze, turn, squeeze turn - alternatively, until you produce a nice little ball without cracks. Place it slowly in a dish, and repeat act with the rest of the mixture. There, we are done!

Happy Deepavali :-)