Kitchen is my haven during this cold spell. I love the warmth of the gas flames on my palms while cooking ….though the act is usually selfless & loaded with unconditional love, the weather has made me a wee bit selfish too. Afternoon naps are done away with, due to the biting cold and its kitchen again. A part of this Sunday morning was spent in making butter from the month-long cream that was painstakingly collected and stored. The butter was simmered and the aromatic ghee was carefully bottled. A sudden spark and I decided to use the ghee pan for preparing dry fruit ladoo.
Dates, makhana, chia, flax, cashew, Badam, sesame and gondh were the ingredients this time. As I was shaping the ladoo, I was interrupted by my little grandson with a spate of questions not just about the preparation but about the unique ingredients as well and the mobile in the video shoot mode. I enjoyed the impromptu interview which was filled with curiosity of a 9 year old. His comments and questions sometimes made me pause or falter while the innocence in questioning, the frank feedback and joyful banter made me give him a warm hug. Here is the Foodialogues between ‘paati and peran” for you to enjoy.
Disclaimer…. the video was an impromptu one without any preparation.
GOND DRY FRUIT LADOO
Ingredients for Gond Dry Fruit Ladoo:
- DATES 250 G
- BADAM 50 G
- CASHEW 50 G
- WATERMELON SEEDS 50 G
- MAKHANA 1 C
- CHIA SEEDS 1 TBSP
- FLAX SEEDS 1 TBSP
- SESAME 1 TSP
- POPPY SEEDS 1 TSP
- EDIBLE GUM/GONDH 50 G
- GHEE 1tsp
Note: Since I used the pan in which I clarified butter I did not use any ghee in the preparation. However, the nuts and gum have to be fried in ghee before powdering.
Preparation Method for Gond Dry Fruit Ladoo:
- Take ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan.
- Fry the gondh till it pops up. Remove and set aside.
- Roast all nuts and seeds till aromatic and makhana becomes crisp.
- Fry the dates till dry.
- Add all and powder in a mixer.
- Shape them into ladoos and store in a dry jar.
Delicious & Healthy “Gond Dry Fruit Ladoo” is ready 
