Poha Laddoo – Easy, quick, delicious and nutritious laddoos made using flattened rice (poha).
Janmashtami is around the corner. Also known as Krishnashtami or Gokulashtami, it is a Hindu festival that marks the birth of Lord Krishna. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country. A variety of sweets and snacks are prepared to offer to Lord Krishna and distributed as prasad. Some of the dishes prepared are Kheer, Gopalkala, Panjiri, laddoos, fried snacks etc. Food items prepared for Janmashtami vary from region to region in India. Here is a glimpse of Janmashtami meal prepared by Mangaloreans.
It is believed that Lord Krishna loved poha (flattened rice). So, food items using poha are made as an offering to the diety. Poha Laddoo is a perfect dish to be made as an offering to Lord Krishna.
About Poha Laddoo
Poha Laddoo is an easy-to-make laddoos using poha, dry coconut, sesame seeds, jaggery and nuts. It is a simple yet flavourful preparation. It can be made under 30 minutes and is delicious and nutritious. It can be made for festive occasions such as Janmashtami, Raksha Bandhan, Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali etc. It also makes for a healthy snack and a tiffin box item for kids.
Poha laddoo is made by roasting poha until it turns crispy. The roasted poha is ground to a fine powder. Roasted coconut and jaggery are added to this powder and ground to make a homogenous mixture to which roasted sesame seeds, roasted nuts and cardamom powder are added. Finally warm ghee is added to this mixture and shaped into laddoos.
List of ingredients to make Poha Laddoo
Flattened Rice (Poha) : Poha is the main ingredient for these laddoos. I have used the thick variety of poha here.
Dry Coconut : Coconut adds to the flavour and taste of the laddoos
Jaggery : Jaggery adds sweetness to the laddoos. The quantity of jaggery can be adjusted as per one’s preference.
Sesame seeds and nuts (almonds and cashew nuts) : These are added for additional crunch and taste.
Ghee : Ghee is used roast the nuts and to bind the ingredients together. It also enhances the taste and flavour of the laddoos.
Cardamom powder : imparts a lovely aroma to the laddoos.
Step-wise instructions with pictures
Heat a pan and dry roast poha till it turns crunchy. Keep roasted poha aside.
Into the same pan, add grated dry coconut. Roast on low flame till it starts changing colour. Remove and keep aside.
Add sesame seeds and saute for few seconds till they are well toasted. Keep aside.
Add ½ tsp ghee. When the ghee starts melting, add chopped almonds and chopped cashew nuts. Saute till they turn crisp. Keep aside.
Into a mixer jar, add roasted poha. Blend to a fine powder.
Next, add roasted coconut to the mixer jar and blend alongwith poha powder for few seconds.
Add jaggery and blend everything together for few seconds.
Transfer this mixture to a plate. Add cardamom powder, roasted sesame seeds and roasted nuts. Mix well.
Add warm ghee gradually into this mixture. Initially I added 2 tbsp warm ghee and later added 1 tbsp warm ghee. In case if you find it difficult to roll the laddoos, you can add more ghee.
Shape the mixture into small round laddoos by gently pressing it between your palms.
Poha laddoos are ready to be served.
Recipe Card
Poha Laddoo | Flattened rice laddoo | Janmashtami Prasad recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups of thick flattened rice (poha)
- ½ cup of grated dry coconut
- 2 tbsp of sesame seeds
- ½ cup of jaggery
- 3 tbsp warm, melted ghee + ½ tsp ghee
- 7 to 8 almonds, chopped
- 7 to 8 cashew nuts, chopped
- ½ tsp cardamom powder
Instructions
- Heat a pan and add the poha. Dry roast the poha on low flame till it turns crispy.
- Remove roasted poha from the pan and keep aside.
- In to the same pan, add grated dry coconut. Saute till it starts changing colour. Remove and keep aside.
- Add sesame seeds and saute till it is roasted well. Keep aside.
- Add ½ a tsp of ghee into the pan. When the ghee starts melting, add chopped almonds and chopped cashew nuts. Saute till they turn crisp.
- Remove and keep aside.
- Allow all the roasted ingredients to cool completely.
- Now, into a mixer jar, add roasted poha and blend to a fine powder.
- Next, add roasted coconut into the mixer jar and blend again alongwith poha powder.
- Further, add jaggery into the mixer jar and blend everything again.
- Transfer this ground mixture to a plate.
- Add cardamom powder to the mixture.
- Add roasted sesame seeds and nuts.
- Add warm ghee to the mixture and mix well. Initially add 2 tbsp ghee. In case you need more ghee to bind the mixture into laddoos, you can add more ghee. I have added 3 tbsp of warm ghee.
- Shape the mixture into small round laddoos by gently pressing it between your palms.
- Poha laddoos are ready to be served.
- It is best to consume these laddoos fresh. However, these laddoos can be stored in the refrigerator easily upto a month.
Recipe Video
More Laddoos recipes
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Powdered Sesame Laddoos
Churma Laddoos
Besan Laddoos
Peanut Laddoos
Besan laddoos with jaggery
Boiled Rice laddoos
Rava Coconut Laddoos
Paan Coconut Laddoos
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