Spherical sweet from the Indian subcontinent
Laddu or laddoo is a spherical sweet from the Indian subcontinent made of various ingredients and sugar syrup or jaggery. It has been described as "perhaps the most universal and ancient of Indian sweets."
"Laddus" are often served during celebrations and religious festivals, especially those associated with the Hindu deity Ganesha.
History.
Archaeological excavations have found "food balls" made of legumes and cereals such as barley, wheat, chickpea and mung bean were consumed in the Indus Valley Civilization circa 2600 BCE.
In the 3rd-4th century Sanskrit medical text "Sushruta Samhita", "ladduka" are described as small balls of jaggery, peanuts, and sesame seeds coated with honey. These balls were used as an antiseptic and to deliver medication. However, the first documented mention of "laddu" as a sweet is in the 11th-century Western Indian cookbook "Lokopakara". It gives a recipe for making "laddus" with "shavige" (rice vermicelli), "ghee", and sugar syrup, which were formed into balls and fried in "ghee". The 15th-century Indian cookbook "Nimatnama-i-Nasiruddin-Shahi" gives several recipes for "laddus" made with white flour, dried fruits, rosewater, camphor, and musk.
Varieties.
"Besan laddu".
"Besan laddu" is the most common variety. To prepare it, "besan" (chickpea flour) is fried in hot "ghee" (clarified butter). Sugar and cardamom powder are then mixed in. The mixture is formed into balls and allowed to cool and solidify.
"Motichoor laddu".
"Motichoor" ("crushed pearls" in Hindi) "laddu" is made from "boondi", tiny fried balls of chickpea batter soaked in sugar syrup.
"Thaggu ke laddu".
"Thaggu ke" ("Cheat's") "laddu" is made from "khoa" (condensed milk), semolina, and white sugar and is a specialty of Kanpur, India. It was invented by Mattha Pandey, a follower of Mahatma Gandhi. Pandey heard Gandhi refer to white sugar, which was popularized in India by the British, as "white poison" and disease-causing. Since his "laddu" was made with white sugar, he named it accordingly.
"Shahi laddu".
"Shahi" (royal) "laddu" is made from the sweets "peda" and "barfi", which are ground into a paste, mixed with cardamom, dried fruits, and nuts, and formed into balls. It is decorated with "vark" (edible foil).
Coconut "laddu".
There are multiple coconut laddu recipes. Its earliest form "Narayl Nakru" dates back to the time of the Chola Empire, when it was a sweet that was packed for travelers and warriors as a symbol of good luck for their expeditions.
Laddu with edible gum.
In India, these are traditionally given to lactating mothers as they help in the production of milk. These laddus are called "dinkache ladoo" in Marathi and "gond ka laddu" in Hindi. The main ingredient is gum arabic which is collected from the babhul tree. Other ingredients include coconut, almonds, cashews, dates, spices such as nutmeg and cardamom, poppy seeds, ghee, and sugar.
An alternative multigrain recipe will have a portion of gum replaced by grains and legume flours such as besan, urid, ragi (nachani in Marathi) and wheat.
Temple "laddus".
Some Hindu temples have their own "laddu" versions, which are offered to the deities and then served to devotees as "prasada" (sanctified food). The "besan laddu" served in the Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, India, has been called "the most famous temple "laddu"." The Maa Tarini Temple in Ghatgaon, India serves "laddus" made from coconut and khoa. The special "laddu" at the Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur, India is made from foxtail millet.
Others.
Every region of India has its own version of "laddu." In Rajasthan, "laddus" are made from wheat flour, in Maharashtra from sesame seeds, in Kerala from rice flour, and in Andhra Pradesh from rice flakes. Optional ingredients include grated coconut, roasted chickpeas, nuts, and raisins.
World record.
The largest individual laddu weighs and was achieved by PVVS Mallikharjuna Rao (India), in Tapeswaram, Andhra Pradesh, India, on 6 September 2016. The laddu was made to a traditional Boondi recipe. The ingredients included ghee, refined oil, cashew nuts, sugar, almonds, cardamom, and water.
A laddu weighing 6,300 kg was made for a Ganesh festival in Andhra Pradesh, India in September 2012. This was claimed to be the largest known laddu.
In popular culture.
In the "Sesame Street" episode "Rakhi Road", Elmo is shown eating laddus.
References.
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