Maghe Sankranti Special Sweet Ladoos & Steamed sweet Vegetables

In Nepal we celebrate Maghe Sankranti which is the start of the Nepali month Magh, which is around the middle of January.

We celebrate it eating a lot of sweets, boil or steam sweet and fruity vegetables and curries, we gather our family and friends and celebrate the coming of longer and warmer days ahead.

Among those I make here some of these delicious and traditional sweets as well as steamed vegetables, for example: Puffed rice Ladoo, Sesame seeds Ladoos, Pumpkin, Sweet potato, Taro, etc. It is very quick and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

To make Puffed rice Ladoos

60g Puffed rice

160g Concentrated Cane Sugar

2 tsp Ghee

A pinch of Cardamom Powder

3 tbsp plain Water

How to make:

1. Heat a pan, on medium low heat

2. Add in 160g Concentrated Cane Sugar, 2 tsp Ghee, a pinch of Cardamom Powder and 3 tbsp plain Water.

3. Mix & cook it for 3 to 4 minutes if needed, lower the heat to avoid burning.

4. Now place in 60g Puffed Rice (Bhuja), Combine very well to coat the Puffed Rice evenly.

5. Transfer to a plate or keep in the same pan, allow to rest for 30 seconds.

6. It is still going to be hot so use cold water to put on your hands or use heat resistant gloves.

7. Take a hand full of sugar coated puffed rice & give a round shape pressing hard from both hands. Follow the same process to make it all. Use cold water if you need it to wet your hands.

8. Last one is a bit difficult to stick because it already becomes dryer but do your best to make a round. And enjoy.

To make roasted White & Black Sesame seeds Ladoos

100g roasted White Sesame Seeds

200g Concentrated Cane Sugar

2 tsp Ghee

A pinch of Cardamom Powder

2 tbsp plain Water

Process: Follow the instructions above like making Puffed Rice Ladoos.

To make roasted White & Black mixed Sesame seeds Ladoos

40g roasted black Sesame seeds

60g roasted white Sesame seeds

200g Concentrated Cane Sugar

2 tsp Ghee

A pinch of Cardamom Powder

4 tbsp plain Water

Process: Slightly different way of mixing the caramel with the Sesame seeds.

1. Heat a pan, on medium low heat

2. Add in 200g Concentrated Cane Sugar, 2 tsp Ghee, A pinch of Cardamom Powder and

3. 4 tbsp plain Water.

4. Cook it until it looks nice caramel color, take about 3 to 4 minutes on medium low heat or on low adjust the heat accordingly.

5. After it looks rich & beautiful color,Transfer to a bowl and put in the mixed 60g White Sesame Seeds and 40g Black Sesame seeds.

6. Combine them evenly while it's hot.

7. It is still going to be hot so use cold water to put on your hands or use heat resistant gloves.

8. Take a hand full of sugar coated mixed Sesame seeds & give a round shape pressing hard from both hands. Follow the same process to make it all. Use cold water if you need it to wet your hands.

To steam sweet root vegetables

Specially we use root vegetables but I use Pumpkin too so you can decide what steam vegetables you want and steam.

I steam 30 minutes, Pumpkin, Sweet Potatoes, Taro and yam. Time depends the size of your vegetables. And enjoy it with family and friends.