Poha Ladoo

Hello everyone,

Poha ladoo or Aval ladoo is an easy to make traditional sweet which is made by grinding poha/aval with jaggery, some cardamom, dry coconut and rolled into balls. 

This is usually made for gokulastami/krishnar jayanthi as Aval is Krishna's favorite. I do not want to prepare deep fried bakshanams with my one year old kiddo. So, I made aval ladoo for this year krishnar jayanthi. Aval ladoo is a healthy snack for kids. My older one likes it a lot. Here is the recipe. 

Ingredients:

Poha/Aval/Beaten Rice - 1 Cup

Jaggery - 3/4 Cup

Cardamom - 5-6

Desiccated dry coconut - 1/4 Cup

Ghee - 2 tbsp

Cashews - few broken

Method:

1. Dry roast Aval/Poha until it is crunchy. Allow it to cool down. 

2. Grate the jaggery. 

3. Transfer roasted poha and jaggery to a mixer. Add cardamom, desiccated dry coconut and grind it to a fine powder.

4.Heat ghee in a pan, add cashews and fry until it turns golden brown. Turn off the stove. 

5. Add the ghee and cashews to the grinded Aval/Poha powder. Knead well and make gooseberry sized balls with palm. 

6. Store ladoo in a air tight container. 

Notes:

1. Adding coconut is optional. 

2. If using fresh grated coconut, dry roast it without burning before grinding. 

3. Poha is a dry ingredient so use required quantity ghee to combine it. Add extra ghee if it breaks while making balls.

Aval Upma/Avalakki/Poha

When you want to make quick breakfast or dinner Aval/Poha is the best option. Not everyone makes Poha by grinding. My mom makes it by grinding and everyone in our family is big fan of this. I learnt this recipe from my mom.

Ingredients:

Aval/Beaten rice flakes -2 cups
Tamarind - small lemon size
Water -1 cup
Coriander leaves to garnish
Salt to taste.
To temper:
Oil-2 tbsp
Mustard seeds, urad dal, channa dal-1 tsp each
Green chili-2, Curry leaves-5-6, hing
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp.
Peanuts-2 tbsp
Onion- 1 Cup finely chopped

Method:

1. Soak tamarind in hot water and extract the juice to 1 cup. 

2. Coarsely grind Aval/Poha in a mixer and soak it in tamarind juice for 20 mins. 

3. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan, add mustard seeds. Once it sizzles add Urad dal, channa Dal, green chili, Curry leaves peanuts,a pinch of hing. Try till Dal turns brown. 

4. Add onion,turmeric powder, salt for onion and saute until it turns translucent. 

5. Then add soaked Aval mix with it with needed salt in a medium flame for 5 mins. 

6. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve.