Diwali also known all around the world as “Festival Of Lights”. It symbolizes “Victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance”. It usually lasts for 5 days and celebrated according to Hindu Calendar in the month of Kartika (mid October – mid November). The festival is associated with Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of Prosperity), Lord Rama and Sita. It is celebrated as Lord Rama returned Ayodhya (Lord Rama’s Kingdom) after he defeated the Demon King Ravana.
During Diwali, people clean, renovate and decorate their house, workplace by lighting diyas (Oil Lamps) and drawing Rangoli. People wear new clothes, light firecrackers, distribute sweets. A variety of snacks are prepared like chakli (round shaped spiked snack), chivda (flattened rice snack), Rava Ladoo (Semolina Sweets Balls), karanji (sweet dumpling made with coconut) etc to name a few.
Rava Ladoo (in Marathi: रव्याचे लाडू) one of the sweets prepared for Diwali, are made with semolina. There are many ways to make rava ladoo, but the recipe I have shared here is made with sugar syrup ( Marathi: पाकातले रव्याचे लाडू)
Ingredients:
2 cups Fine Rava (Semolina)
3 tbsp Ghee / Clarified Butter
1 Cup Sugar
3/4 cup Water
1 tsp Cardamom powder
3-4 saffron strings (optional)
Direction:
Pound the cardamom seeds in mortar. Keep aside
In a kadhai (Pot) heat 3 tbsp ghee / clarified butter. When hot add semolina and roast on medium flame for 5-6 minutes. Make sure to stir occasionally so semolina doesn’t change colour. Remove and blend when cold (Blending will provide a good texture and will help in binding).
In another Kadhai (Pot) add 1 cup sugar and 3/4 cup water, when the mixture starts to simmer turn the heat on medium and let it simmer. Add cardamom powder and saffron strands. Simmer until you get a single thread consistency.
Add Semolina and mix well. Turn off the heat and let it cool for 1/2 -1 hour. Roll into balls.
(if the mixture is too hard, blend in mixer and add 1-2 tbsp milk as needed and roll into balls)
Mumbai-28 