Sooji laddu

Sooji laddu
Sooji known as rava in tamil is nothing but wheat farina. Laddu (proounced - LA DOO)typically means sweet balls. There are so many kinds of laddu's besan(chick pea flour), boondi laddu, mung dhal flour laddu, dhalia flour laddu. THis recipe is the base for all the flour type laddus'. All other kind of laddus can be made following the same recipe variating the flour.
Ingredients:
Sooji/Rava - one cup
sugar - 2 cups
ghee or clarified butter - 4 tbsp
cashewnut pieces 2 tbsp
cardamom ground one tsp

Method:
Roast the sooji on a plain pan until you start smelling the warm flavor. Grind the sooji when warm in the food processor.
Grind the sugar into powdered form(i dont recommend replacing castor sugar/confectioners sugar as it contains corn flour in it)
Roast the cashewnut pieces in ghee and keep it aside.
keep the ghee melted and warm/
Combine the ground sooji, sugar, cardamom powder and cashews. Add the warm ghee and start making balls by taking a handful of the mix on the left hand and pressing them with your right hand index, middle and ring fingers..keep pressing until the laddu is strong and doesnt break. If the laddu breaks while keeping in a container it needs more ghee and little but more pressure.
It is highly recommned to press the laddu when the mix is warm along with the hot ghee.
The above recipe yields golf ball size 10 laddus. Enjoy making laddus.
Variations: For besan and mung dhal laddus saute the flour on the stove a bit more and add subsequent amount of ghee.