Easy Suji Laddoo (Semolina Sweet balls)

Suji laddoo is a delicious Indian sweet made out of semolina, ghee(clarified butter), sugar, milk powder, flour, and spices such as cardamom and nutmeg. They can sometimes be referred to as 'Ghee Ke Laddoo' (Laddoo made out of ghee) as the dry laddoo mixture is bound into balls using ghee(clarified butter). These sweets are often made during Hindu festivals and prayers. I remember my parents making these every year for Diwali and taking a lot of pride in preparing and presenting these delicious sweets to friends and family.

Traditionally, Suji laddoos were made by first preparing a dough out of semolina, flour, milk powder, and water and then rolling it out thinly, cutting this up in small pieces before deep frying. The fried pieces are then put through a blender and the granules bound into balls using ghee or clarified butter. This is a time-consuming process but the results are great. In this recipe, however, I share a much simpler way of making Suji laddoos, without compromising much on taste and saving a lot of time and effort. I hope you enjoy and add this to your list of sweets to make for your next celebration.

Ingredients:

1 cup fine semolina

3/4 cup plain flour

1 cup sugar

2 tsp cardamom powder

1 tsp nutmeg powder

1 cup full cream milk powder

1 - 1/2 cup ghee,/ clarified butter

Instructions:

In a heavy-based saucepan, over low to medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of ghee and semolina.

Roast semolina, stirring constantly until golden brown. Transfer semolina to a large basin and set aside.

In the same saucepan add 1 tablespoon of ghee and flour.

Roast flour, stirring constantly until golden brown. Transfer to the basin containing the semolina and set aside.

Grind the sugar in a coffee grinder, until it turns into a white powder. Add this to the basin containing semolina and flour. Ensure that these have cooled down, before adding the sugar powder.

Add milk powder, cardamom and nutmeg to the mixture and mix well.

In a microwave-proof bowl, melt the ghee.

Take 1 cup of laddoo mixture into a separate bowl and add little ghee at a time, mixing well. using your hands, bind the laddoo mixture into balls. The laddoos can be the size of a golf ball or smaller, depending on your preference. Add ghee, only to the point that the mixture starts coming together and binding, without adding too much. Too much ghee will make a soft laddoo, which will easily move out of shape. Continue binding all the laddoo mixture with ghee until done.

Place the laddoos on a baking paper-lined tray, in a single layer and place in the fridge to set.

You can store this in an airtight container, in a cool place.

Enjoy!!