Diwali Sweets : Rawa or Semolina Laddoo

Rawa or Rava Laddoo is a popular Indian sweet, originally from South India, which is prepared from semolina (rava), ghee, little milk, sugar, dry fruits and cardamom. Ladoos are normally prepared during festivals or for any special occasions at home and also offered to the God as Prasad. Rava ladoo is a very common and simple sweet that is prepared during Krishna Jayanthi, Ganesh chaturti and Diwali festivals. Preparing Rava ladoo is very simple and easy but every ingredient should be cooked on a very slow flame to get the perfect rava laddoo.
There are many culinary schools available nowadays, like pastry schools that are available for people who love making yummy sweets like this.
But for now, let's move to my culinary class and learn how to make yummy Rawa or Semolina Laddoo.......................

Ingredients :
Rawa/ Semolina/Suji - 1 cup

Sugar - 1 cup

Ghee - about 4 tbsp.

Milk - about 1/2 cup

Cardamom powder - 1 tsp.

Cashew nuts, pistachios and almonds - 1/2 cup (finely chopped)

Raisins - 1/3 cup(finely chopped)
Dates - 5 (chopped)

Grated fresh coconut - 25 gms/1/2 cup

Method :

Heat 1 tblsp. of ghee in a kadai/wok. Once the ghee is hot enough, simmer the flame and roast all the chopped nuts, dates and raisins. Once the raisins balloon up, remove. Then roast the grated coconut. Remove once done. Keep all these aside.
Add the remaining ghee and roast the Rawa till its well roasted and aroma starts coming out. Note that while roasting the semolina make sure the flame in simmered completely or else there are chances for the rava to get burnt.
After, rawa is well roasted, add sugar, roasted nuts, dates and coconut. Keep stirring altogether continuously for about 5-7 minutes. Add just the required amount of milk to combine all the ingredients to form a ball (ladoos).
When you can form a ball, remove the mixture onto a plate. When it is still warm make balls or laddoos as quick as possible.
How to roll the laddoos, take little cold milk on a flat plate, dip both of your hands in there, then roll the laddos, you won't feel the heat from rawa. Take a little mixture, press between your right hand. Then take a drop of ghee on your left palm, roll the lump of rawa with both hands as shown in the bottom pics. This way, you will get a perfect round laddoo. For every laddoo, repeat the whole process.

Tips :

While roasting the Rava, make sure you have the flames in sim, else there is a chance of the rava getting over roasted.
Its enough to add only the required amount of milk to get you form balls.
Since we add milk, its best to consume within 5 days of making them. If you store them in fridge, you can have them for a week.