I was invited to two homes this Diwali and wanted to take along some homemade Diwali sweets with me. A quick call to Amma and we agreed on this easy Rava Laddu recipe for me to give a shot. I had all the ingredients already in hand so that made the job even easier. Making traditional sweets for Diwali is a joy in itself and admittedly I have been very slack with it in the past few years. I am hoping to change that going forward and if you are like me, this rava laddu is a good way to start your Diwali sweet-making journey.
What is Rava Laddu Made Of?
The basic ingredients in rava laddu are sooji, rava, or semolina. Ghee and sugar are integral additions too and since rava doesn’t have a strong flavour of its own, some green cardamom powder too. Any other additions are entirely up to us. I love adding cashew nuts, coconut, and raisins. Hear me out on the raisins. I know generally people don’t like biting into them in desserts but in a rava laddu, the tanginess and sharp sweetness works really well. Try it!
Do we need to add Coconut to Rava Laddu?
Coconut is an optional ingredient in rava laddu. I personally love it because I like coconut in general, and also in this rava laddu recipe, it adds more softness and texture. Do note that rava laddu with coconut will have a lower shelf life so I recommend making smaller batches or refrigerating them.
Is Rava Laddu gluten free?
Rava which is the main ingredient in rava laddu is made by grinding the husk of durum wheat. It’s high in fibre and other nutrients but rava is not gluten free so please avoid this dessert if you have gluten intolerance. You may also like this coconut sesame ladoo recipe, 15-min coconut ladoo recipe, date and nut laddu, and maladu recipe.
Step by Step Images to Make Rava Laddu
Heat the ghee in a pan and add the cashew nuts and raisins. IMPORTANT – keep the flame low throughout the process of making rava laddu. Grind the coconut and cardamom together. This is an optional step but I did it since my grated coconut was very coarse and I was worried it won’t be easy to shape the laddus if I didn’t find grind the coconut. Add the coconut-cardamom mixture to the roasting nuts and raisins. Mix everything well to combine and add the rava or semolina Fry this mixture for 2-3 mins and then add the sugar. Continue to roast the rava mixture until the colour changes to a light brown. Use very low heat. This took me about 5-6 mins. Once the rava is browned lightly and turns aromatic, turn off the heat and slowly add the milk, stirring continuously as you do so. Once all the milk is added, continue to mix until the laddu mixture comes together. It will be quite moist and will stick around your ladle. When the rava laddu mixture is warm enough to handle, make into lemon-sized balls and gently set aside. If the mixture is too dry, sprinkle water or milk as you shape the laddu. All done! Enjoy your rava laddu and share with friends this Diwali, or any time, really. This post is from the archives of 2012, updated and reposted in 2023.
