Gajar Halwa Ladoo

Im really excited to share this recipe with you guys. Ladoo is an Indian sweet treat made with variety of different ingredients ranging from roasted chickpea flour, roasted semolina, wheat flour, semi dried reduced milk, nuts, dry fruit, sweetened with jaggery or sugar. They are almost always flavored with green cardamon, or saffron or left plain and rolled into balls..

Gajar halwa is dessert made with grated carrots, usually red winter carrots, cooked in full fat milk till its very soft, then sweetened and flavored with saffron, green cardamom, ghee and reduced semi dehydrated milk called khoya. Its decandent, rich and delicious.

I took the idea of combining both these classic sweet recipes removed the dairy, added a few more ingredients and rolled them into balls that are somewhat healthy, tasty and yet keeps the integrity of the classic recipe.

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Gajar Halwa Bliss Balls/ Ladoo

Ingredients

Makes 15-20 balls about an inch and half in diameter

• 1 lb fresh organic carrots about 500 grams, peeled and grated
• 2 tablespoons ghee or coconut oil
• 4 tablespoons coconut sugar, add more if you like it sweeter
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1/4 tsp saffron
• 3/4 tsp ground green cardamom
• 2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds
• 3-4 tablespoons ground almonds
• 2-3 tablespoons ground oats flour
• small pinch of salt
• 2-3 tablespoons pistachio finely chopped

1. In a small skillet lightly dry roast the oat, flax and almond flour for 3-4 minutes. Shake or stir constantly to prevent burning. (the idea is to take away the raw flour texture and odor)
2. Add carrots, saffron, coconut sugar and almond milk to a sauce pan and bring it to a boil. Cook the mixture on a medium heat covered for about 10-15 minutes till carrots are soft and start to dry out.
3. Add the ghee or coconut oil to the cooked carrot mixture and stir fry for 4-5 minutes till the carrots start to release all its moisture, darken and starts to get thick (see pictures).
4. Add the ground flax, ground almonds, oat flour, cardamom and a tiny bit of salt.
5. Mix everything and let it set in the fridge for 20 minutes till it firms up.
6. Divide and roll the dough into 1 1/2 inch round bliss balls. Roll them in finely chopped pistachios and serve.
7. Keep in a airtight container refrigerated.

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