Sweet lovers often prefer to make laddus from legumes (besan) or bundi, but these desserts contain a large amount of ghee, refined sugar, and calories, which is not considered healthy. If you are striving to improve your well-being, immunity, and strengthen muscles, it is recommended to prepare these powerful high-protein laddus using shelled chickpeas and dried fruits.
Roasted chickpeas, rich in protein, fiber, and iron, provide the body with a quick energy boost and help eliminate daily fatigue and weakness.
The following ingredients will be needed for preparation: 2 cups of shelled chickpeas, 1 cup of cane sugar (grated) or dates (pitless), 1/2 cup of mixed nuts (chestnut, almond, walnut), 1 cup of makhana, 2 tablespoons of pumpkin and sunflower seeds, 3-4 tablespoons of desi ghee, 1/2 teaspoon of cardamom powder, and a pinch of nutmeg powder.
First, the shelled chickpeas must be ground in a food processor into a coarse or fine powder and placed in a bowl. Then, 1 tablespoon of desi ghee is heated in a pan, and almonds, chestnuts, walnuts, and makhana are roasted over low heat for 2-3 minutes until crispy. The roasted nuts and makhana are cooled and then ground in the processor to a coarse grind.
In the same pan, another 1 tablespoon of ghee is added along with grated cane sugar, heating over low heat for 1-2 minutes so that it just melts, without forming a syrup. Next, the ground chickpeas, coarsely ground nuts and makhana, pumpkin seeds, cardamom powder, and nutmeg are added to the melted sugar, mixing all ingredients thoroughly.
As soon as the mixture cools down a bit, a little ghee is applied to the hands, and round laddus are formed from the mass. The finished high-protein laddus can be stored in an airtight container for several months.