Indian Boondi or Motichoor Laddoo Recipe

Madhurima Sil/ Getty Images

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 2 hrs 30 mins
Total: 2 hrs 50 mins
Servings: 20 to 30
Yield: 20 to 30 laddoos

I can't think of one special occasion in India at which this laddoo is not on the menu! It gets its very cute name from the Hindi word for drops or droplets - Boond. Another name for it is Motichoor Laddoo (Moti means bead or pearl in Hindi). Read the recipe and you'll see why! Once you're through reading, make some Boondi Ke Laddoo, you will not regret it!

Ingredients

  • 4 cups (1/2 kilogram) gram flour

  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

  • 4 cups water

  • 6 cups (1/2 kilogram) sugar

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cardamom powder, from green cardamoms if possible

  • 10 strands saffron, optional

  • 3/4 cup finely chopped dried cashews, or almonds, or pistachios

  • 6 tablespoons milk, plus extra for the batter

  • 2 cups ghee, for frying

Steps to Make It

  1. Heat your oven for 10 minutes at 150 C/ 300 F/ Gas 2 and then turn off. Keep the oven shut to contain heat.

  2. While the oven is heating, put the 4 cups of water and the sugar in a deep pan and boil. As it boils scum will rise to the top. Skim this off with a metal sieve. The sugar syrup must be boiled until it reaches a one-thread consistency.

  3. Once the syrup has reached the one-thread consistency, remove from the fire immediately, add the cardamom powder, stir and place the pan in the previously heated oven to keep the syrup warm.

  4. Now put the Bengal gram flour and baking powder in a large bowl and mix well.

  5. Add a little milk at a time until you get a thick batter. Whisk to ensure all lumps are removed and the batter is very smooth.

  6. Now heat the ghee on a medium flame till hot. Reduce flame a little.

  7. Hold the sieve about 4 inches above the hot ghee and fill a ladle with the batter. Pour the batter into the sieve. Now use another spoon to gently press the batter through the sieve and into the ghee. It will fall like tiny drops/beads - Boondi - into the oil! This is what gives the Laddoos their name! Press through all the batter you put into the sieve.

  8. Now fry the Boondi till they are a very pale golden color. When done, drain, remove and put into a separate bowl. The fried Boondi should be cooked but not crispy.

  9. Repeat till all the batter is used up.

  10. Once all your Boondi is ready, coarsely crush about 1/4 of it with a fork. Add the finely chopped dried nuts, pour the warm syrup over all the Boondi and keep aside for 10 minutes. The Boondi will soak up the sugar syrup and soften.

  11. While this is happening warm the 6 tbsps of milk very slightly and then soak the saffron strands in it.

  12. After the Boondi has sat in the syrup for 10 minutes, cover in saffron milk (remove strands before pouring) over it. Mix well.

  13. Grease your hands lightly with some ghee and start forming the syrup-soaked Boondi into walnut-sized (or slightly larger) balls (Laddoo in Hindi). Press gently but firmly to bind the Laddoos together. Arrange as you go, on a lightly greased platter.

  14. Allow the Laddoos to cool to room temperature before serving.

Recipe Tips

  • Boondi Laddoos can be made ahead of time and stored in a cool, dry place in an airtight container for about a week.
  • The ghee does give the laddoos a better taste, but you can use vegetable, canola, or sunflower oil instead.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
171 Calories
6g Fat
27g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 20 to 30
Amount per serving
Calories 171
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g 7%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 12mg 4%
Sodium 18mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 27g 10%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 19g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 15mg 1%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 147mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)