I am happy to welcome all of my readers and friends to join me in the 3rd year anniversary of my blog Zesty South Indian Kitchen. I am grateful to all my readers (both visible and silent), friends and visitors who had made this small blog to survive all through these years. Without your help I could not have achieved this. Thanks to you all from the bottom of my heart.
I started this blog when my baby girl was six month old; lots happened after that, she is 3 and half year old now, we welcomed our baby boy beginning of this year. I am happy that in spite all these craziness, I am able to blog, that I feel achievement. Few great friends geared up to help me with guest post when I was not able to post at the time of the birth of my son, so thanks once again for that.
Without any flight tickets, with this blog I was able to take a culinary travel thought out world from my kitchen. I am able to make everyday connection with my mom who left me, before I started the blog, but I connect with her through the memories of her recipes. Even though this little blog is not having breath taking photos, I still try to take good photos and step by step clicks to show how the food looks at each and every steps of preparation. Nowadays I am only able to blog two recipes a weeks, and also hosting my favorite blog hop Hearth and Soul Blog Hop, and the ever growing group of Baking Partners, a group of home bakers who try to learn the nook and corner of Baking. At the same time I enjoy the Favorite recipe Eventsthat rekindled memories of food that we have grown up with.
Blogging makes me happy when somebody says they tried the recipes and came out well. No awards come close to it. Making the dishes, taking pictures and writing the blog has been lots of work most of the time. It also creates lots of frustration at times, when we are planning to take pictures and arrange food; hubby who wants to take photos immediately so that he can eat. In the meantime my daughter also wants to click pictures and also do tastes test by trying to get to the dishes. An all-round crawler (my son) also is not far behind, crying at high pitch for mommy’s attention.
I also used to get upset when Foodgwaker or Tastespotting rejects my photos, now I tuned myself that if they accept it is well and good if not that is well and good. Not to worry too much. Life and family is worth more than photos.
This year I got one more taste tester, my son to the group of taste testers. He too has sense of taste and doesn’t approve any pre-made baby foods; even his mommy should extra care to make food tasty.
I am happy that I didn’t repost any of my post in last three years; I think every day we need to learn new. Next thing I would like to do is that update photos of all the posts and if time permits to make video of each recipe. I hope you will also continue to help and join me in this journey. Every year pass by I would like to add some more wisdom to parts of brain.
Your helpful criticism, comments and ideas can me better cook and blogger, so continue to do that. If you like my blog please follow in face book page, pinterest, twitter,
For every celebration, we need sweets, so for blog baby’s birthday I made this boondi laddoo. It is a traditional sweet from India. Without this sweet, it is hard to think of any festivals and marriages. My mom used to like this sweets a lot. My dad used to tease her, that when I came first to see you (It was part of arranged marriage, visiting prospective groom to prospective bride) you served tea, mixture and a laddoo. I was so blind tasting that laddoo said yes to marry you. Then Amma will says, no one else’s in the world was ready to marry you. That is why I married you. Yes she lived with appa for about 36 years and left one day leaving him alone. Yes we daughters are there for him, still he misses her.
This sweet when you look at the videos and read the recipes it seems very easy, but in reality it is not that easy. It is mainly you must be careful with the two step in the process of making it. One sugar syrup consistency and second cooking the chickpeas ball, it should not be crunchy but it should be cooked right. If you can master that, then you are a winner. I was able to get it right this time. Here comes the recipe of this delicious sweet.
First grab besan/ chickpea flour, rice flour, Sugar (yes this is sweet so close your eyes on calories for a second) cashew nuts, raisins, cloves, rock candy, saffron, ghee (if you want vegan free option use coconut oil) cardamom, baking powder, water and canola oil for frying.
In medium bowl sift chickpea flour/besan, rice flour, baking powder together and gradually mix with water and food color to form a freely flowing pancake batter and set aside.
Next make sugar syrup with sugar and water in a medium sauce pot fitted with candy thermometer. I love my candy thermometer, as age old technique of checking thread consistency may not work well for me. First boil the sugar and water when it starts boiling add a tablespoon of milk, you will see some form on the top, remove it with spoon (it is impurities in sugar). Boil the sugar syrup until it reaches 225 F/ or single thread consistency add saffron and set aside.
Heat ghee in small skillet and roast the cashew and raisins for about 1 minute until cashew become golden in color and raisins plums up and set aside.
Heat 4 cup oil in a wide mouth pan, when it starts hot, take out boondi ladle (a special slotted spoon/ or normal slotted spoon) and pour the prepared batter into the boondi ladle with tapping with hand or spoon. You can see small bubbles formed in oil. Cook for about 1 minute and remove from the oil using another slotted spoon into a kitchen towel to remove extra oil. It should be cooked well but not crunchy.
While it is hot transfer the cooked boondi to sugar syrup. Repeat the process until you finish entire batter.
When you are cooking last batch of boondi, instead of putting directly into sugar syrup crush the cooked boondi using a food processor and then transfer to sugar syrup with rest of the boondi.
Add crushed cardamom, roasted cashew nuts and raisins, cloves and rock candy into the sugar syrup containing boondi mix everything to combine well.
When they are warm start making them balls, make small golf sized balls. Make fast as sugar syrup cooled it will become thick and you make not able to make balls.
Enjoy this delicious sweet as much you want. Practice makes perfect boondi. So next time you will be making better boondi.
Boondi Ladoo
Delicious Traditional Boondi ladoo made with fried chickpea flour balls and soaked with sugar syrup and spices.
Servings: 12 people
Calories: 277kcal
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Cup Besan/ Chickpea Flour/Garbanzo bean flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon Rice flour
- half of ⅛th teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ¾ cup + 1 tablespoon Sugar
- ¾ cup +⅛ cup water for batter
- 1 ¾ cup water for sugar syrup
- 3 drops of yellow food color
- 5 nos of Saffron
- 3 tablespoon cashew nut pieces
- 3 tablespoon raisins
- 1 tablespoon rock candy
- 3 cardamom crushed into powder
- 5 cloves crushed into powder
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 tablespoon Ghee if you want vegan free option use coconut oil
- 4 cups Canola oil for frying
Instructions
- In a medium bowl sift besan/ chickpea flour/Garbanzo bean flour, rice flour, baking powder and gradually add water and food color to form a smooth batter similar to pancake batter. Make sure it is not runny. Set aside.
- Heat ghee in small skillet and roast the cashew and raisins for about 1 minute until cashew become golden in color and raisins plums up and set aside.
- Heat ghee in small skillet and roast the cashew and raisins for about 1 minute until cashew become golden in color and raisins plums up and set aside.
- In a saucepan heat water and sugar and bring to boil on medium -high heat. When syrup comes to boil turn the heat down to medium and add 1 tablespoon of milk . You will see lot of form coming on the top of syrup remove it with help of ladle and continue to boil the sugar syrup until it reaches about single thread consistency of 225 F in candy thermometer. ( When you pour the sugar syrup into a glass of water at this time you will able to see a single thread). To this add saffron and set aside.
- Heat the oil in a frying pan or any wided mouth pan on medium high heat. The frying pan should have at least 1 ½ inches of oil. Tip: To test if the oil is the right temperature, drop a pinch of batter into the oil; if it rises immediately without changing color then the oil is ready to start frying.
- Hold the boondi ladle/ slotted spoon about 1 to 1 ½ inches above the oil over the center of the frying pan with one hand. With your other hand pour some of the batter onto the skimmer to cover all of the holes without spilling over the edge of the skimmer. Tip: if you hold the Boondhi ladle/ slotted spoon higher than 11/2 inches above the oil boondi will not be round.
- The batter will start dropping through the holes into the oil. If the batter doesn’t drop right away through the holes, means batter is thick and you need to dilute little bit. Drop enough boondi into the oil so they just cover the surface of the oil in frying pan in a single layer
- Fry them until the sound of sizzling stops and boondis are light gold in color but not crispy! It takes about 1 minute in medium flame. Remove the boondi out of the oil with a slotted spoon and transfer to kitchen towel while they are warm and put them directly into the warm sugar syrup.
- Before making the next batch of boondi, wipe clean the boondi ladle. This helps to keep the boondi round.
- Repeat the process of making boondi and adding to the syrup with rest of the batter. When you are cooking last batch of boondi, instead of putting directly into sugar syrup crush the cooked boondi using a food processor and then transfer to sugar syrup with rest of the boondi.
- Add the crushed cardamom seeds, cloves, roasted cashew nuts and raisins and rock candy to the sugar syrup.
- While boondi are warm start making balls. If the boondis become cold you will not be able to form them into ladoos.
- To make the ladoos, scoop up some of the boondi mixture into your palm with a spoon. Gently squeeze the mixture between both palms to shape into a round ball about the size of a golf ball.
- As you finish making each ladoo, put it on a plate and continue on to make the next ladoo.
- As the Ladoos cool to room temperature they will become firm but they should still be moist.
- Ladoos will keep at room temperature in a covered container for up to 10 days and for one month in the refrigerator.
- Tips
- Make sure the syrup is at right temperature, you will not be able to form the ladoos.
- If the boondis cool down to room temperature before being shaped into balls, the sugar will crystallize.
- Don’t worry if you are not able to make ladoos You can still enjoy them as sweet boondi.
Nutrition
Calories: 277kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 16mg | Potassium: 184mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @nidhinikhil or tag #zestysouthindiankitchenrecipes!
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This is Swathi ( Dr. Ambujom Saraswathy Ph.D) from Zesty South Indian Kitchen who loves to explore cuisines from all over the world. Whenever possible I try to to give an Indian touch to several of the world cuisine, and has weakness for freshly baked bread. All the recipes you see here are created by me and approved after taste-test by my family.
Gajus kitchen says
Congrats for the 3rd blog Anniversary and you have given a visual treat with these delicious and perfect ladoos.
The 21st Century Housewife© says
Congratulations on your 3rd blogoversary, Swathi! I'm so glad to have gotten to know you through the Hearth and Soul hop, and it was wonderful to get the chance to speak with you on the phone earlier this year!
Your Sweet Chickpea Flour Balls look like a real treat. I love learning more about traditional recipes, and this one sounds delicious. I like the raisins, cashews and the wonderful spices in them.
Sangeetha Priya says
Congrats Swathi for ur 3rd blog anniversary, keep rocking 🙂 Perfectly made boondhis feel to grab some!!!
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kala says
Wowwwwwwww yummyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Angie's Recipes says
Congratulations!
These chickpea snacks look fantastic!
Elisabeth says
Happy 3rd Blog Anniversary, Swathi! Didn't realize you've been blogging for 3 years. As for me, I'm still at 2yrs and a few months (seem like a lot longer)
You have come a long way my dear friend...such enormous achievement you've made with your talented skills, 2 little ones at your side during that time; with your little prince getting close to 1yr old! Such a fabulous tutorial on each and every step-by-step photos, which are so appreciated by us all!
Your posts always put a smile on my face, and warms my heart:) (OK, enough rambling) Have a wonderful end of the week! xo
Navaneetham Krishnan says
Congrats Swathi for the 3 years of blogging despite having a family to take care. I do agree with you that blogging takes up a lot of time. My other half is the same. Initially he could not understand my hours spend in blogging. We used to have some misunderstanding and at times he says that I love my blog more than I love him. I have also cut down on the hours in front of my laptop, that is when he is around. So now he does not have much to complain about.
Btw, this is a lovely boondi. I am too lazy to make such desserts but remember growing up, eating the same my mum used to make. Your pictures are good and you are put in lots of effort, esp in taking the step by step pictures. Although I did the same initially, I have given up and so just capture the main pictures.
Kaveri Venkatesh says
Congratulations Dear on your blog anniversary..It was lovely reading your post and all that's happened in these 3 years...Keep up the great job you are doing ..Looking forward to more interesting and delicious recipes from you
Reeni Pisano says
Congratulations on 3 years Swathi! What an achievement to be proud of. I learn so much from you about Indian cooking and traditions. Your pictures are ALWAYS outstanding and I know the step-by-steps take a lot of time. You put your heart and soul into this and it shows. These treats are the perfect way to celebrate - wish I could join you! Have another great year my dear friend!
Suja Manoj says
Congrats dear,perfect way to celebrate,love the step by step clicks dear..perfect batter consistency and perfect boondis,yum
Usha says
Congratulations on the 3rd anniversary....the boondi ladoo looks just perfect and it is definitely a great way to celebrate your milestone 🙂
Lee says
Congrats for completing 3 years successfully. Wil look forward for more delicious recipes .... and of course the ladoos looks yummy ....
Reshmi Mahesh says
Adipoli boondi ladoos...Nice detailed explanation...
Hema says
Perfect ladoos and nice step by step presentation..
Mich PieceofCake says
Congratulations on the 3rd anniversary... these look so delicious, wish I could try some off your screen.
divya says
Congrats...Slurp!! drooling here:)
dassana says
sorry to hear about your mom swathi.
congratulations on completing 3 year. wishing you many more milestones. i agree that as blogger taking pics, posting on the blog takes a lot of time. but when a reader tries a recipes and comments positively on it, then it does feel great.
boondi laddoo is one sweet that i have avoided making so far as i find it too time consuming.. but nevertheless at home everyone likes them...
Julie says
Congrats on your blog's anniversary,hoping to see many more interesting recipes from your space:)
laddos adipoli ayittundu,perfect for Diwali!!
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Spandana says
Congrats on 3rd blog Anniversary. The ladoos look very delicious...
Step by Step pics are very helpful.
Guru Uru says
Congratulations my friend what an incredible way to celebrate 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Sanoli Ghosh says
My heary congratulation to you Swathi. Wish you cross many more milestones dear. Amazingly made boondi ladoos...So inviting!
PT says
congrats swasthi.. ladoos are too cute and perfectly made..
Vimitha Anand says
love boondhi laddoo. will try soon. looks delish
ANU says
wow u hv lot of patience...very nice ladoos...
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mjskit says
What a great way to treat yourself on your 3rd blogaversary!!! I'd love a few of these to bite into right now! I can't believe your have 2 young kids (babies) while you've been doing this blog. That's a lot of work my friend! Great job and looking forward to seeing what you give us next year!
Beena.stephy says
Yummy ladoos
Priya says
Congrats Swathi, you have crossed so many wonderful things during this three years of blogging na, well deserved dear.
Laddoos are always my weakness,love it.
Veena Theagarajan says
congrats on 3rd blog anniversary!! great attempt step by step pictures
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Divya Pramil says
Awesome work Swathi 🙂 3rd anniversary is something to be really appreciated and celebrated 🙂 Wr's the treat?? Love these ladoos dear!! Looks perfect 🙂
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Swasthi says
Congrats swathi for the 3rd blog anniversay. ladoos look yum
Swasthi says
Congrats Swathi for the 3rd blog anniversary. i appreciate your efforts and hardwork towards your blog. keep blogging. love all your unique bakes. keep sharing. ladoos look yum
Vidya says
Delicious ladoos...perfectly made
Sangeetha Nambi says
Congo !!! Love this traditional Ladoo ever... Keep Rocking...
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Nandini says
Congrats on 3rd blog anniversary!! Perfect ladoos!!
Nivedhanams Sowmya says
Wow super delicious and super festive!!! one suggestion Swathi - for step wise pictures, please post bigger pictures for difficult processes like making the boondi and doing it as laddoos and small or very small or even omit photos for frying cashews and raisins... The last set of photos which are more critical to the laddoo is small and same size as frying the raisins and cashews... Just my suggestion....
Sowmya
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Swathi Iyer says
Sowmya,
I tried to put bigger step by step pictures now. Thanks for giving useful suggestion.
Prathibha says
Very delicious ladoo..I appreciate ur patience...yummm
Roha says
BOONDI LADOOS...!!!!
CAN I HAVE SOME PLZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ..:)
srividhya Ravikumar says
perfect colour swathi...bookmarked it...
DivyaGCP says
Wow!! 3rd blog anniversary! Congrats Swathi.. Perfectly made ladoo to celebrate the occasioon..
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Madhavi says
OMG I want this ladoos..looks super yummmmm!!!
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Balvinder Ubi says
I always make boondi for yogurt. So this won't be difficult to try, for making ladoos I can take help of my husband. Thanks for sharing!