POSTED February 18, 2022
A traditional recipe: trade in high-calorie sweets for tasty healthy Indian treat
Children, women and the elderly are said to have a lot to benefit from this time-honoured snack
By P. Sree Latha, program director, Rural Organization for Poverty Eradication Services, one of our partners in India
Did you know a staple food of ancient India was millet, a grain from the grass family?
Our forefathers in India ate millet to keep strong and live a long, healthy life. Sweet and tasty, millet is packed with fibre, protein, amino acids, calcium, iron, zinc, folic acid, vitamin B and more.
The health benefits of millet have be lauded for centuries. In fact, this grain is said to support digestion, improve appetite, improve sleep and lactation for new moms, among other benefits, including being extremely nourishing, especially to children, the elderly, pregnant women and new moms.
What’s better? The ingredients in this nutty, healthy Indian treat are easily accessible and affordable.
So, next time you sip your tea in the evening, consider complementing it with this tasty treat as an alternative to high-calorie, processed food.
Laddoo recipe (or Nutri powder)
Ingredients
Foxtail millet
Horse gram  Â
Bengal gram (chickpea)Â
Green gram (mung)Â Â
Indian corn      Â
Black gram (vigna mungo)
Finger millet  Â
Little millet Â
PeanutsÂ
Wheat Â
Cashews
Almonds Â
Cardamom
Pearl millet
Sorghum millet
Proso millet
Kodo millet
Barnyard millet
Jaggery
250 grams
250 grams
250 grams
250 grams
250 grams
250 grams
250 grams
250 grams
250 grams
250 grams
250 grams
250 grams
250 grams
250 grams
250 grams
250 grams
250 grams
250 grams
1,000 grams
Directions
- Combine all ingredients, except jaggery, in an iron or aluminum pan and roast on the stove’s low setting until golden brown. Keep a close eye to avoid burning.
- After cooling, use a food processor to grind the ingredients into fine granules and set aside.
- In a separate pan, heat jaggery with enough water to create a syrup.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients and form into small round balls. (No need to refrigerate unless you plan to store them for longer than seven days.)
Yield
145 Nutri Laddoo balls
Alternative preparation options
- You can mix jaggery with warm milk and ghee instead of water, but the Laddoo balls will only keep for five to seven days.
- Instead of making Laddoo, you can eat the powder (which has a shelf life of about 15 days) or mix it with milk.
- You can cut the recipe in half to make 72 Laddoo balls if less is needed.
To learn more about our programs in India, visit childrenbelieveindia.org.
ABOUT CHILDREN BELIEVE:
Children Believe works globally to empower children to dream fearlessly, stand up for what they believe in — and be heard. For 60+ years, we’ve brought together brave young dreamers, caring supporters and partners, and unabashed idealists. Together, we’re driven by a common belief: creating access to education — inside and outside of classrooms — is the most powerful tool children can use to change their world.
About ChildFund Alliance:
A member of ChildFund Alliance, Children Believe is part of a global network of child-focused development organizations working to create opportunities for children and youth, their families and communities. ChildFund helps nearly 23-million children and their families in 70 countries overcome poverty and underlying conditions that prevent children from achieving their full potential. We work to end violence against children; provide expertise in emergencies and disasters to ease the harmful impact on children and their communities; and engage children and youth to create lasting change and elevate their voices in decisions that affect their lives.