A for Alshi Ladoo / Alsi Ki Pinni - A to Z Maharashtrian Sweets
Welcome to the Journey through the Cuisine, where I am doing an A to Z on Maharashtrian Sweets. It's been a wonderful learning experience, reading through the many blogs I chanced on while searching for the appropriate alphabet.
For A, I had an option of Anarse, Atavala (Rice Methi Kheer), ALivache ladoo. Anarse is the same as Athirasam So my next choice was Aliv Seeds or Garden Cress seeds. Since it has another name, which was also tough, I had to leave these Aliv Seeds for that alphabet. I next landed on Flaxseeds which is also called Alshi in Marathi. Pradnya said this Alsi is a Hindi word and may be used as slang. However, I read it being mentioned as alshi in some of the Marathi blogs, and moreover, by the time I had this conversation with her, my ladoos were done and disappeared as well.
I have this delicious ladoo made with Flaxseeds and Jaggery. I made another Ladoo which you will get to read later, which again had gond in it. Now the story about gond comes in. I was looking around to get hold of gond, please do not be under the impression that I searched physically.
My looking around will be pinging my buddies on WhatsApp to ask if they know where it is available in Madras. I knew my buddies were the best, someone will either point to the right location or in most case, will offer to get it for me, as Veena does always. In this case, Padma gave me a packet of gond, when I had gone to meet her.
On top, she even lent me some of her props as I mostly have white props and nothing of the fancy colorful bowls suitable for Sweets. So you see, the props used in this post are the courtesy Padma. For ease of making, I had paired similar dishes to be cooked on the same day. So just to let you know I made two varieties of ladoos, two varieties of poli (the Maharashtrian name for rotis). In the end, when I was all set to click, God help me, I forgot which was A and which was the other alphabet.
However, I got the recipe noted down right.
Coming to the recipe, these are some healthy ladoos, that you can indulge in as Flaxseeds are Omega-3 and Omega-6 elements rich including the goodness of Jaggary.
I had both Flax Seeds and Flax Meal. I used the Flax Meal in this recipe.
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Step by Step Pictures for making Alshi Ladoo
Ingredients
- 1 cup Flaxseed Meal / Alshi / Linseeds
- 1 cup Wheat Flour
- 3 to 4 tbsp Ghee (increase as required)
- 3/4 cup Jaggery (increase to your taste)
- 3 tbsp Edible Gum / Gond
- Handful Cashews
- Handful Almonds
- Handful Pistachios, approx 2 tbsp roasted and finely chopped
Instructions
- If you are making with whole flaxseeds, then dry roast the seeds till you hear a crackling sound, which takes about a couple of minutes on hot pan. Cool and grind to a powder.
- If using the meal, then proceed with roasting the ingredients for the ladoo.
- All the steps below can be done in the same nonstick pan.
- First heat the nonstick pan with ghee, roast the gond till it blooms up. Remove to a plate to cool down.
- Once cooled down, grind to a powder. Keep it aside.
- Next, add another tsp ghee, roast the wheat flour till its nicely done. Remove to a bowl.
- Follow this by roasting the flaxseed meal in a tsp ghee. Remove.
- Finally, roast all the dry fruits you are using and keep it aside.
- For the jaggery syrup, take the jaggery in 1 /2 cup water and melt it over low flame. When it starts melting and reaches a syrup consistency, (takes about 5 mins), remove from flame.
- Take all the roasted wheat flour, Flaxseed meal, roasted nuts, gond, rest of the ghee in a bowl. Pour the melted jaggery syrup into it and mix well with a spoon. Make balls with small portions. Press well to form firm ladoos.
Notes
- Another method to make this would be to add grated jaggery to the roasted flours, add melted ghee and press into ladoos.
- If your jaggery syrup becomes hard, do not fear. Let it cool down, break into smaller pieces and pulse it to make a powder. Then you can proceed to make ladoos with the rest of the ingredients.
Recipe
A for Alshi Laddoo
Ingredients
- 1 cup Flaxseed Meal / Alshi / Linseeds
- 1 cup Wheat Flour
- 3 - 4 tbsp Ghee increase as required
- 3/4 cup Jaggery increase to your taste
- 3 tbsp Edible Gum / Gond
- Handful Cashews
- Handful Almonds
- Handful Pistachios the nuts are chopped and roasted, makes approx 2 tbsp
Instructions
- If you are making with whole flaxseeds, then dry roast the seeds till you hear a crackling sound, which takes about a couple of minutes on hot pan. Cool and grind to a powder.
- If using the meal, then proceed with roasting the ingredients for the ladoo.
- All the steps below can be done in the same nonstick pan.
- First, heat the nonstick pan with ghee, and roast the gond till it blooms up. Remove to a plate to cool down.
- Once cooled down, grind to a powder. Keep it aside.
- Next, add another teaspoon of ghee, roast the wheat flour till its nicely done. Remove to a bowl.
- Follow this by roasting the flaxseed meal in a teaspoon of ghee and remove.
- Finally, roast all the dry fruits you are using and keep it aside.
- For the jaggery syrup, take the jaggery in 1/2 cup water and melt it over low flame. When it starts melting and reaches a syrup consistency, (takes about 5 mins), remove from flame.
- Take all the roasted wheat flour, flaxseed meal, roasted nuts, gond, rest of the ghee in a bowl. Pour the melted jaggery syrup into it and mix well with a spoon. Make balls with small portions. Press well to form firm ladoos.
Notes
- Another method to make this would be to add grated jaggery to the roasted flours, add melted ghee and press into ladoos.
- If your jaggery syrup becomes hard, do not fear. Let it cool down, break into smaller pieces and pulse it to make a powder. Then, you can proceed to make ladoos with the rest of the ingredients.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Valli, so happy to be reading your Maharashtrian sweets. We are big sweet lovers and my bookmark list is going to burst. I have all the ingredients ready at home and I am so tempted to make this right away, but I will wait until I am done with the pending dishes. Gorgeous props from Padma and you have utilized them really well. looking forward to the rest of your series 🙂
Priya Srinivasan says
Yumm ladoos valli. I have made them some time back. Props look very pretty!!!
Usha says
I did not flaxseeds were used even in Indian cooking. I was surprised when I came across a recipe that called for flaxseeds. Coming to today's ladoo, these are healthy and guilt free. It was very sweet of Padma to lend you some of her props..
Padma Rekha says
Wow that's a traditional and fantastic,healthy recipe Valli. If it is a sweet also no problem for me where you used a lot of healthy ingredients in it.
Srividhya Gopalakrishnan says
A to Z Maharashtrian sweets???? OMG wow Valli. Kudos to you. You know right? I was struggling with Tamil Nadu recipes only. he he he.. Can't wait to read all your recipes. Good luck.
Sapana Behl says
Alshi ke ladoo looks very healthy and tempting.This is surely a tough theme and I am wondering about the tough letters.Looking forward to seeing your Maharastrian creations.
Suma Gandlur says
The laddus are on healthier side besides being yummy. Can't wait to see your Maharashtrian sweet dishes.
Pavani N says
Such a healthy & nutritious laddoos to start the marathon with Valli. Flaxseed laddoos look amazing.
vaishali sabnani says
Excellent theme Valli. The ladoos are my new passion and I am bookmarking these, they are super nutritious. LOL on the mix up
The Pumpkin Farm says
these feel like our own indian version of granola bars...made with staple wheat...this is something i will make for kids midday snacks...and those props look really beautiful u have used them very well too...cant wait for ur rest of the series
Gayathri Kumar says
That is a wonderful start to this mega BM Valli. What a nutritious way of eating ladoos. I am going to love your research into the cuisine..
Priya Suresh says
Wat a fantastic start Valli, prefect laddoos for my sweet tooth. Waiting eagerly to watch out 25 more Maharashtrian sweets from u.
Amara Annapaneni says
That's one challenging theme Valli, these laddoos are delicious and healthy too. Can't wait for rest of your delicious sweet delights:)
Nisha Sundar says
Interesting Valli. Even I was surprised to find flax seeds as a part of Indian cooking. SO much to learn. Eagerly waiting for the rest of your posts.. 🙂 🙂
Padmajha PJ says
Nice dish srivalli. Incidentally I have all the ingredients to make this one. Will add to bookmarks but God alone knows when I will make them. Looking forward to tomorrow's dessert...
Kalyani says
Healthy start to the mega BM with this sweet.. 25 more to go and am sure I would book mark several of these healthy treats to make them for the kids Back home :))
Ruchi Indu says
What a start to the mega marathon. Flax seeds + jaggery : such a healthy combination. Waiting eagerly for your other sweet recipes
Smruti Shah says
I have never tried using flax for anything but cereals and baking. These ladoos look so amazing!
Nalini's Kitchen says
Wonderful choice of theme Valli,looking forward for the rest of the sweet recipes..BTW ladoo looks so healthy and delicious..
Harini-Jaya R says
Same pinch Valli. I have chosen the Maharashtrian cuisine as well. But I was not as adventurous as you in selecting a sub theme. These laddus look so tempting. Looking forward to all the sweets you have come up. I am sure we will end up doing some of the same sweets :).
Saraswathi Tharagaram says
Woow Rocking theme Valli!! Excited to see all sweet creation!! Flax seed ladoo sounds more healthy and delicious!!
Chef Mireille says
what a fabulous sub theme - mine is so simple in comparison to all of you with your challenging sub themes - regardless isnt it great to have close blogger friends - the vessels look gorgeous - looking forward to discovering so many new recipes in the marathon
veena krishnakumar says
Awesome theme Valli. Do I can look forward to 26 sweets. Ladoo looks tasty, lovely start for the marathon !!
A Kamalika Krishmy says
Knew that you will come up with a different theme.. wish I had your energy... Flaxseed laddoos looks inviting and the props as well 😉
rajani says
You are definitely making me fatter virtually :=))). On a serious note, lovely theme. The best part is the ease of distributing these around, unlike me who stock it and eat it 😀 🙂
sajila saeed arshad says
i have made the laddos many times using the above ingredients my dear we make them in pakistan too in the west these recipes are being forgotten good you remind them of this healthy recipes keep your good work
sajila saeed uk