Rava Laddu/Semolina Balls With Saffron, Cashews, Raisins & Cardamom

Rava Laddu/Semolina Balls With Saffron, Cashews, Raisins & Cardamom

I promise you that you will be transported into another planet when you bite into one of these magical laddus! The sandy texture of the roasted semolina, the softness of the coconut, the chewy raisins and plump cashews infused with the heavenly and aromatic saffron and cardamom accentuated by sweet bursts of sugar create one of the most exotic and illustrious taste sensations ever!

Lately I had this intense craving to create the perfect rava laddu! Unfortunately, the many ladies in my family who are all experts in making it were of little help to me as they all make these laddus by andaaza (approximation) and were not able to give me exact proportions.

The two times I made it, although it tasted brilliant I had to resort to binding the mixture with milk as it had turned dry! Many folks use this method as an integral part of the recipe. Though good, the drawback is that it reduces the shelf life of the laddus.

I wanted perfectly formed laddus without the help of milk and was finally successful in achieving what exactly I wanted in my third attempt. I always thought making this was trickyย  but have now realized that with a little practice and correct guidance it is quite easy!

Not in a mood to make breakfast? Have these with a glass of milk or juice and some fruits! Do you want to feel elated and on top of the world while having your late afternoon or evening cuppa? Just pop one of these into your mouth! Want to pack an exotic hand made gift for a dear one? These are perfect! A celebration or festival nearby? They fit the bill perfectly!

I made these for Lord Krishna on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami (the lord's birthday) along with a host of other delicacies! Each year I look forward to this festival as I'm in my elements trying to cook as many dishes as possible! I even went into making 108 preparations one year but the last couple of years following the birth of my baby I have just been a witness rather than an active participant in the festival!

This year we slowly started celebrating again, decorating the deity room with lots of flowers and garlands, preparing lots of treats and sharing them with friends and family and performing the abhishek at midnight to mark the appearance of the lord!

These laddus were one of the best preparations I made for this festival and now I no longer have to wait for the parcels to arrive to relish this all time favourite treat! I hope this brings to you comfort, contentment and bliss as much as it does to us!

Rava Laddu/Semolina Balls With Saffron, Cashews, Raisins & Cardamom Recipe

Ingredients:

340 gm (2 cups) fine grained semolina (rava)
170 gm (1 cup) fresh grated coconut (you can also use frozen)
100 gm (1/2 cup) ghee (or use 1/3 cup)*
330 gm (1 1/2 cups sugar)
250 ml (1 cup) water
1/4 tsp saffron strands
7 to 8 cardamom pods, ground
20 cashews
20 raisins

Method:

In a large bowl, mix the semolina and coconut, cover and keep aside for about 1/2 hour to 2 hours.

In a wok, heat the ghee on a medium flame. After it melts, put in the semolina-coconut mixture, reduce the flame and roast until the semolina turns golden and plump, about 15 to 20 minutes. Make sure not to brown the semolina by continuously stirring it on low heat. Transfer the contents to a plate and allow to cool to room temperature.

Put in the sugar and water into the wok and stir on medium heat until the sugar melts. Lower the heat after the sugar melts, add the saffron strands and cook until the syrup reaches one string consistency. You can test this by putting a drop of the syrup on a plate and allowing it to cool by blowing air on it and then taking the syrup between your forefinger and thumb and pulling it apart. At first the syrup is sticky and when the syrup draws a single thread its done!

After the syrup reaches single thread consistency, turn off the flame add add the cardamom, cashews and raisins and the semolina mixture. Mix well, cover and keep aside for 20 minutes to half an hour.

When the mixture is warm, form into laddus or balls by pressing small amounts of the mixture with your palms. Store in an air tight container.

Makes 24 to 28 laddus

Points to be noted:

  • Use 1/2 cup ghee for the ingredients listed above if you want a soft consistency melt in the mouth laddu. This wonรขโ‚ฌโ„ขt harden even when refrigerated.
  • If you use less ghee, the mixture might turn too dry to form into laddus. This can be sorted by adding a few spoons of milk until the mixture is soft enough to make into laddus. But, remember this will shorten the shelf life and might need to be refrigerated. Also the laddus are not very soft, but some people might prefer this texture to the softer one.
  • If the semolina is roasted well then it can be stored at room temperature for 8 to 10 days. Refrigerate it for a longer storing period.
  • Keep in mind that these laddus harden after some time!

 

To receive recipes, tips and inspiration that feeds your body, mind and soul subscribe to Divine Taste newsletter



78 thoughts on “Rava Laddu/Semolina Balls With Saffron, Cashews, Raisins & Cardamom

  1. Great! ๐Ÿ™‚ I mean as I read through your posts I feel like as if I'm in heaven. Maybe because of the photography. ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. My husband rava laddus ๐Ÿ™‚ I have never really made these as my MIL makes them very well but i would love to learn to master it!
    Your festival spread looks great!Hope you are blogging the rest of the recipes as well ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Wow..looks so tempting. I loove rava ladoos and my mom made a whole batch for my child's paalna. Gosh, how I miss these..however I remember amma doesn't add ghee at all and that's the main reason I used to love these fat free ladoos.I'll try your method minus the ghee and see if it works. Thanks so much for the ladoos..

  4. Nice recipe. Just wanted to point out that you probably meant 'Andaaza' and not 'Andaaz'. The former means 'guess', while the latter refers to 'style' in Urdu.

  5. Pratiba: Thanks!

    Chinmayie: Some of them are already posted and I have one more coming up! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Arc: If you don't use the ghee, you might have to use milk to bind the laddus or else the mixture would be too dry to form into laddus! The ghee adds a nice flavour to it. Use atleast half the quantity when you make it. It is full of vitality and good for you! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reader: Sure! In North Karnataka (South India) it is generally said andaaz…the dialects are so different in different parts of India! But since in Hindi also it is "andaaza" (which is ofcourse derived from urdu!) and that is the generic pronunciation I have changed the above statement from "andaaz" to "andaaza"! Hope this makes you happy! ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. Thanks! ๐Ÿ™‚ Btw, what are those brown laddoos in the thali, alongside the rava ones? I looked through your other recipes, the only one that came close in the looks department was the peanut laddoo. Here they look too smooth to be peanut laddoos – or am I mistaken?

  7. Sharmilee: They were indeed soft and melt in the mouth! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Archana: Oh dear..wish I could send some your way! I hope you do happen to try it though, once you are home!

    Reader: The brown laddus are the besan laddus! They are not the peanut laddus. The recipe for besan laddu is not yet up in the site!

  8. These are looking awesome and simple. Only thing I am nervous about is the sugar syrup bit. I am REALLY looking forward to making this for Ganesh and then for Diwali!! Love the semolina and coconut combo, my knees go weak for coconut! Thanks for sharing this recipe so beautifully.

  9. My mum used to make rava laddus with sugar syrup.(now she is no more).I came across many recipes using powdered sugar, which i found dry and yearned for mum's recipe. Thank you Anushruti! for sharing this wonderful recipe.

  10. speedsere: My pleasure! Don't worry about the sugar syrup bit…you will get it right with the correct guidance! I wish I could write the correct temperature of one string consistency but my cooking thermometers (all 3 of them!) gave way! Let me know if you have any doubts though! And happy Ganesh and Diwali in advance! I hope these sweets brighten your festivals!

    sushmi: https://divinetaste.com/archives/eggless-golden-yellow-cake/

    sahiti: I'm so sorry to hear about your mum! I wish that this recipe brings back fond memories of her!

  11. Hi Anushruti,

    What a wonderful recipe, very exotic and tempting! The pictures are just wonderful!
    Can I use oil or melted butter instead of ghee?
    Here in Belgium I cannot buy ghee…. andI would like to try out your recipe, I think my daughters would love it…
    Thanks for your advice,

    Kind regards,
    Marian

  12. Marian: Hello and thank you for your nice note. You can use unsalted melted butter but I suggest you don't use oil in this recipe. Ghee is nothing but butter melted and cooked until it develops a golden hue and nutty flavour. It has medicinal properties too. You can look up the net for a recipe to make homemade ghee. You will find a lot of uses for it. If not, use unsalted butter (melted). Hope your daughters relish this! My best!

  13. oh my…i need to try this out..i love rava and anything made from it……..thanks for all the lovely recipes that you are dishing out….

  14. Hi Anu ๐Ÿ™‚
    I showed ammamma your website and some of your exquisite recipes . She was very happy They all look really delicious ,I am planning to make rava laddu as per your recipe for Ganeshchaturti.

  15. These are so beautiful. I cant wait to make them. I have bookmarked your recipe.
    I'm new here on your blog, I look forward to seeing some of your other recipes.
    *kisses* HH

  16. Many thanks, Anushruti, for your reply and the tip. If I make it I will let you know! Many thanks for the recipe!
    Kind regards,
    Marian

  17. Anushruti, I think the way you write is almost as magical as your recipes. I have never liked rava laddus all that much but your writing has convinced me to give them another go and I am going to make them this weekend. I originally planned to make them for Ganesha Chaturthi but I am abroad and could not find all the ingredients on time. You really have a way with words and your site is a really feel-good place to be. Wish you a very happy Ganesha Chaturthi.

  18. Medhakka: thanks for showing this to ammamma! Hope your laddus turned out well!

    Marian: You are welcome! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Poornima: Thank you for your nice words. Hope you made and enjoyed these laddus. ๐Ÿ™‚

  19. I love ladoos, but without ghee… Is there a possibility to prepare this recipe without it? By cooking the semolina in milk, for example? (I have a recipe for cashew almond walnut pistacio apricot ladoos flavoured with coriander, anise, nutmeg and cinnamon, which are prepared with milk and honey. That's were I got the idea from…) Many thanks for any good suggestion!
    Regards, Georgiana

  20. Thanks for the lovely recepie and proper direction, made rava laddoos today and they turned out great! This is so simple and I didnt have any hassles whatsoever!! Can you pls post recepie with similar guidance for besan laddoo? I always mess it up either by insufficient roasting or burning my palms!

  21. Georgiana: There are many recipes without ghee for laddus but here it is an integral part of the recipe. Ghee has always been traditionally used to make these laddus. You could try using a flavourless oil like rice bran but I can't vouch for the taste and texture as I havent personally tried it.

  22. These are *so good*! I took them to work and they got gobbled up right away. They're a little too sweet for my taste, so next time I'll probably cut back on the sugar a bit, but even so they're the tastiest thing I've eaten all month.

  23. Hi Anu you reminded me of my mother,grand mother and our summer vacation where we would wait for my grand mother to just go to the storeroom and come out bowlful of these RAVE UNDE.. my childhood in Mysore..i surely want to give this to my childern…will make it soon..

  24. Hi Anu, Today i could assemble myself for this mouthful RAVE UNDE as it is called from mysore side…
    my kids are having feast on it..
    Thanks for posting the divine once again.

  25. Hmm, just goes to show you that probably none of the commenters have tried this recipe because it mentions to add saffron at two points in the recipe – so when do you add it?

  26. Hi Anushruti

    Tried out your recipe for the rava laddus and it was a hit. My attempts at making these laddus in the past have always been a huge flop. Thanks to your recipe, have mastered them at last. Thanks a lot.

    Mamta

  27. Tried your recipe today. Awesome! House smells so good! Family is happy. Couldn't ask for more. Bob, you probably didn't read properly. She mentioned the saffron in the directions. You add them once the sugar melts. Commenters DO try her recipes.

  28. Hi Anushruti, wanted to say a big thanks to you for posting this recipe. I made these for my husband's bday yesterday and they turned out awesome. He's a big laddu fan and was very happy to have these on his day. Once again THANK U.

  29. hey just came across your blog on www. beautiful pictures! was looking for some mithai to make for diwali puja and now i will make these…good luck to me!

  30. Thank for you for sharing this wonderful recipe! This is the first time i ever made ladoo and it was a complete success – thanks to your tips and additional notes!

  31. Thanks for the recipe.tried and really came out well.your proportions are perfect.thanks.

  32. Hi,
    Thanks for the recipe. I made the laddoos and have turned out perfect. This is the first time I have made any item with sugar syrup which needs perfect consistency. Also I added 1 cup of sugar instead of 1 1/2, still the taste is great. Thank you for the detailed recipe.

  33. I made these today; first time ever!! They were PERFECT!!! Feeling like a pro… Now I don't need to wait for my mother or Ajji to make these for me ๐Ÿ˜€ Thank you Anushruti!

  34. Hey Anu,
    Made these ladoos today some time back and they look good .This is the first time I am making ladoos and thanks to You I did it on my own . Trust me my mother is so happy today bcoz of this ,she kissed my hands and showed the ladoos to my father ,however we haven't taken a bite yet as we will first offer it to God , so my warm Thanks once again . ๐Ÿ™‚

  35. hai Anusruthi…
    I have two doubts..
    1) Can I use milk instead of water..I think that will make laddus more tastier.
    2) Is there any problem if I am not using saffron strands??

  36. hai Anusruthiรขโ‚ฌยฆ
    I have two doubts..
    1) Can I use milk instead of water..I think that will make laddus more tastier.
    2) Is there any problem if I am not using saffron strands??

  37. Sangeethga: Generally sugar syrup is made only with water and sugar to get the right consistency. You can skip the saffron if you wish.

  38. Wonderful recipe..
    can remember the decadent aroma!
    can I substitute the sugar with honey? ( my dad loves these but sadly is diabetic)
    any thoughts?

  39. Hii
    I never dare to make these laddus before
    my mom make this for me.I was bit afraid of the
    Sugar syrup(one string consis)
    But reading ur post and ur photos and
    Most important my faith on u force me to
    do dis laddus, nd guess I made this without
    fail, woww I'm so happy. Finally I made this.
    We all liked this laddus.
    I must say ur writing is too good just like ur receipes,
    Thank you .

  40. Hey Anushruthi,

    I made these laddus as an offering for Lord Krishna. As this was my first attempt at making laddu, they were not perfect round in shape but close enough. The taste was awesome, Thanks to your wonderful recipe.

  41. Saw your video today for this recipe on you tube. My favourite part was you calling the bubbles in sugar syrup magical. I had all the ingredients on hand. So made them. I got the sugar syrup right! But unlike you, I couldn't admire the bubbles! I was concerned that I should get the one thread consistency right, as I don't have much experience with them. And I felt so happy that they turned out well. The taste: Difficult to stop at one, that speaks for itself! My husband liked them a lot! Thank you for the recipe. God bless!

  42. I was searching for som yumm soft rava laddoos made with fresh coconut..nd ur recipe seems perfect. The way the recipe is explained nd the pics,is great! Im soo tempted and wanna make n eat them right away bt as is said the preparation time is quite long..sigh! But, Sabar ka phal meetha hota hain! So thank u soo much Anushruti.

  43. Can I use dried scraped coconut(lots of coconut trees in our garden),instead of fresh coconut, as I have to send these ladoos to my sis-in-law in the US. If so then how much quantity of dry coconut should I use

  44. Anu i think by now its no secret at my place that im a big fan of urs and ur recipes…
    This is a recipe that has never failed me

    And still today i come back to you with a basic doubt…if i reduce the quantity to half will the cooking time reduce to half too

    Bhavana

  45. Hey Anu…One more doubt
    I always end up using dessicated coconut.
    It tastes great is what im told

    Is this not what im supposed to use

  46. Bhavana- I use freshly grated coconut. The moisture from the freshly grated coconut plumps up the semolina. If dessicated coconut works for you then you can use it, it might not be the same as mine but will still be delicious.

  47. Hi Anushruthi, best rava laddu recipe ever! I love the background music in the video. I can't quite figure out what this music is called. Could you please tell me? Thank you.

  48. Hi , i made them , they tasted awesome !! Felt so good eating them ..
    Thank you so much for your lovely recipe

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *