laddu

{{Short description|Spherical sweet from the Indian subcontinent}}

{{Multiple issues|

}}

{{Infobox food

| name = Laddu

| image = Laddu Sweet.JPG

| caption =

| region = Indian subcontinent, Caribbean

| main_ingredient = Flour, sugar, ghee, dry fruits

| variations = Gram flour, rava

| calories =

| other =

| type = Sweet

}}

Laddu or laddoo is a spherical sweet from the Indian subcontinent made of various ingredients and sugar syrup or jaggery. It has been described as "perhaps the most universal and ancient of Indian sweets."{{cite book|date=2023|title=The Bloomsbury Handbook of Indian Cuisine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AzysEAAAQBAJ&pg=PAPT269|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|pages=269–270|isbn=978-1-350-12865-1 |access-date=2023-03-14|archive-date=2023-03-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314103601/https://books.google.com/books?id=AzysEAAAQBAJ&pg=PAPT270|url-status=live}}

Laddus are often served during celebrations and religious festivals, especially those associated with the Hindu deity Ganesha.{{cite news |url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Sweet-shops-make-hay-in-Diwali-shine/2013/10/31/article1864851.ece |title=Sweet shops make hay in Diwali shine |work=The New Indian Express |date=31 October 2013 |access-date=17 January 2019 |archive-date=21 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421022428/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Sweet-shops-make-hay-in-Diwali-shine/2013/10/31/article1864851.ece |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Food/as-good-as-home/article5288375.ece |title=As good as home |author=Sangeetha Devi Dundoo |work=The Hindu |date=31 October 2013 |access-date=17 January 2019 |archive-date=23 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123212432/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Food/as-good-as-home/article5288375.ece |url-status=live }}

History

Archaeological excavations have found "food balls" made of legumes and cereals such as barley, wheat, chickpea and mung bean were consumed in the Indus Valley Civilization circa 2600 BCE.{{Cite journal |last=Agnihotri |first=Rajesh |date=1 June 2021 |title=Microscopic, biochemical and stable isotopic investigation of seven multi-nutritional food-balls from Indus archaeological site, Rajasthan (India) |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352409X21001292 |journal=Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports |language=en |volume=37 |pages=102917 |doi=10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.102917 |bibcode=2021JArSR..37j2917A |s2cid=233578846 |issn=2352-409X |access-date=21 June 2021 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202932/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352409X21001292 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}{{Cite news |last=Tewari |first=Mohita |date=25 March 2021 |title=Harappan people ate multigrain, high-protein 'laddoos': Study |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/harappan-people-ate-multigrain-high-protein-laddoos-study/articleshow/81684776.cms |access-date=21 June 2021 |work=The Times of India |archive-date=19 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219112112/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/harappan-people-ate-multigrain-high-protein-laddoos-study/articleshow/81684776.cms |url-status=live }}

In the 3rd-4th century Sanskrit medical text Sushruta Samhita, ladduka are described as small balls of jaggery, peanuts, and sesame seeds coated with honey. These balls were used as an antiseptic and to deliver medication. However, the first documented mention of laddu as a sweet is in the 11th-century Western Indian cookbook Lokopakara. It gives a recipe for making laddus with shavige (rice vermicelli), ghee, and sugar syrup, which were formed into balls and fried in ghee. The 15th-century Indian cookbook Nimatnama-i-Nasiruddin-Shahi gives several recipes for laddus made with white flour, dried fruits, rosewater, camphor, and musk.

Varieties

=''Besan laddu''=

File:Besan Laddoo Sweets India cropped.jpg

Besan laddu is the most common variety. To prepare it, besan (chickpea flour) is fried in hot ghee (clarified butter). Sugar and cardamom powder are then mixed in. The mixture is formed into balls and allowed to cool and solidify.{{cite book |last1=Collingham |first1=Lizzie |author-link=Lizzie Collingham |title=Curry : a tale of cooks and conquerors |date=2007 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=978-0195320015 |page=105 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q2rRCwAAQBAJ&pg=Pg105 |access-date=2018-12-22 |archive-date=2023-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314103616/https://books.google.com/books?id=Q2rRCwAAQBAJ&pg=Pg105 |url-status=live }}

=''Motichoor laddu''=

File:Motichoor ka Ladoo - sweets of India.jpg

Motichoor ("crushed pearls" in Hindi){{cite web | url=https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/motichoor-ladoo-a-sweet-dip-in-the-history-of-indias-favourite-festive-treat-1729993 | title=Motichoor Ladoo (Laddu): A Sweet Dip in the History of India's Favourite Festive Treat | access-date=2022-08-15 | archive-date=2022-09-02 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902165037/https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/motichoor-ladoo-a-sweet-dip-in-the-history-of-indias-favourite-festive-treat-1729993 | url-status=live }} laddu is made from boondi, tiny fried balls of chickpea batter soaked in sugar syrup.{{cite book |last1=Krondl |first1=Michael |title=Sweet invention a history of dessert |date=2011 |publisher=Chicago Review Press |location=Chicago, Ill. |isbn=9781569769522 |page=17 |edition=1st |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dt0RErSFvE8C&pg=PP17 |access-date=2018-12-22 |archive-date=2023-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314103602/https://books.google.com/books?id=Dt0RErSFvE8C&pg=PP17 |url-status=live }}

=''Thaggu ke laddu''=

Thaggu ke ("Cheat's") laddu is made from khoa (condensed milk), semolina, and white sugar and is a specialty of Kanpur, India. It was invented by Mattha Pandey, a follower of Mahatma Gandhi. Pandey heard Gandhi refer to white sugar, which was popularized in India by the British, as "white poison" and disease-causing. Since his laddu was made with white sugar, he named it accordingly.

=''Shahi laddu''=

Shahi (royal) laddu is made from the sweets peda and barfi, which are ground into a paste, mixed with cardamom, dried fruits, and nuts, and formed into balls. It is decorated with vark (edible foil).

= Coconut ''laddu'' =

File:Coconut Laddoo 5.jpg

There are multiple coconut laddu recipes. Its earliest form Narayl Nakru dates back to the time of the Chola Empire, when it was a sweet that was packed for travelers and warriors as a symbol of good luck for their expeditions.{{cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/food-wine/food-story-the-journey-of-ladoo-from-a-medicine-to-the-much-loved-indian-sweet/#sthash.6mHIen3o.dpuf |title=Food Story: The journey of ladoo from a medicine to the much-loved Indian sweet |work=The New Indian Express |date=16 October 2004 |author=Madhulika Dash |access-date=26 September 2015 |archive-date=27 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927072954/http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/food-wine/food-story-the-journey-of-ladoo-from-a-medicine-to-the-much-loved-indian-sweet/#sthash.6mHIen3o.dpuf |url-status=live }}

=Laddu with edible gum=

In India, these are traditionally given to lactating mothers as they help in the production of milk.Kajale, Neha, et al. "Effect of traditional food supplements on nutritional status of lactating mothers and growth of their infants." Nutrition 30.11 (2014): 1360-1365.{{cite journal |last1=Singh |first1=Mayank |title=Traditional Herbal Care of Human Health in Jaunpur (U.P.) |journal=Indian J. L. Sci. |pages=61–65 |year=2012 |volume=1 |issue=2 |url=http://ijls.in/upload/1611558309CHAPTER%20014.pdf |access-date=13 April 2016 |archive-date=9 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809015218/http://www.ijls.in/upload/1611558309CHAPTER%20014.pdf |url-status=live }} These laddus are called dinkache ladoo in Marathi and gond ka laddu in Hindi. The main ingredient is gum arabic which is collected from the babhul tree. Other ingredients include coconut, almonds, cashews, dates, spices such as nutmeg and cardamom, poppy seeds, ghee, and sugar.{{cite web |title=Dinkache ladoo, Gund ladoo, Gond Ladoo, Gond Ka Laddu.....Easy Recipes on CuisineCuisine.com |url=http://www.cuisinecuisine.com/Dinkache%20Ladoo.htm |website=cuisinecuisine.com |access-date=11 April 2016 |archive-date=22 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422070454/http://www.cuisinecuisine.com/Dinkache%20Ladoo.htm |url-status=live }}

An alternative multigrain recipe will have a portion of gum replaced by grains and legume flours such as besan, urid, ragi (nachani in Marathi) and wheat.Naidu, Bhargavi G., Kirti J. Shirke, and Anuradha Shekhar. "Research Paper Open Access." (2012).

=Temple ''laddus''=

Some Hindu temples have their own laddu versions, which are offered to the deities and then served to devotees as prasada (sanctified food). The besan laddu served in the Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, India, has been called "the most famous temple laddu." The Maa Tarini Temple in Ghatgaon, India serves laddus made from coconut and khoa. The special laddu at the Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur, India is made from foxtail millet.{{cite book |last1=Collingham |first1=Lizzie |title=Curry : a tale of cooks and conquerors |date=2007 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=978-0195320015 |page=105 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q2rRCwAAQBAJ&pg=Pg105 |access-date=2018-12-22 |archive-date=2023-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314103616/https://books.google.com/books?id=Q2rRCwAAQBAJ&pg=Pg105 |url-status=live }}

=Others=

File:Atta Laddoos.jpg

File:Til Ko Laddu.jpg

File:RiceFlourLaddu Homemdae Mumbai.jpg

Every region of India has its own version of laddu. In Rajasthan, laddus are made from wheat flour, in Maharashtra from sesame seeds, in Kerala from rice flour, and in Andhra Pradesh from rice flakes. Optional ingredients include grated coconut, roasted chickpeas, nuts, and raisins.

World record

File:Largest Laddu (individual).jpg

The largest individual laddu weighs {{convert|29,465|kg}} and was achieved by PVVS Mallikharjuna Rao (India), in Tapeswaram, Andhra Pradesh, India, on 6 September 2016.{{cite news |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-laddu-(individual) |title=Largest laddu (individual) |website=Guinness World Records |access-date=2018-10-08 |archive-date=2018-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019071341/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-laddu-(individual) |url-status=live }} The laddu was made to a traditional Boondi recipe. The ingredients included ghee, refined oil, cashew nuts, sugar, almonds, cardamom, and water.

A laddu weighing 6,300 kg was made for a Ganesh festival in Andhra Pradesh, India in September 2012. This was claimed to be the largest known laddu.{{cite news |title=6,300 kg Tapeswaram laddu creates record |url=http://newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/article810888.ece |work=The New Indian Express |access-date=27 September 2012 |archive-date=6 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106125747/http://newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/article810888.ece |url-status=dead }}

In popular culture

In the Sesame Street episode "Rakhi Road", Elmo is shown eating laddus.{{cite news|title=Guide to Deepavali|url=https://www.timeout.com/kuala-lumpur/things-to-do/guide-to-deepavali|newspaper=Time Out|date=October 24, 2019|quote= ‘Sesame Street’ even paid tribute with a Rakhi Road episode which shows Elmo chomping away at laddu. }}