Kesar Malai Coconut Laddoo

A melt-in-the-mouth sugar-free Malai Laddoo a perfect Diwali recipe.

Malai Coconut Laddoos are an absolute hit with my family. They are my personal favourite too. The taste is rich in malai without over-the-top in sweetness, and when they are presented the Diwali platter looks exotic!

I am sure once you make them, you will fall in love with this recipe. The amount of ghee used in this recipe is just one teaspoon!

Many of our Indian sweets are either deepfried or ghee-laden, so a recipe like this one comes as a refreshing change.

There are two things I look out for in a recipe. Number ONE – It should be high on taste and secondly, it should be nutritious. Sometimes, both these things are not achievable in one single recipe, especially when it comes to sweets or desserts.

The addition of paneer in this recipe enhances the protein content of the sweet.

Hence this would be a safe alternative to the greasy store-bought sweets which are packed with sugar and we don’t even want to get into the harmful colouring agents they use in the markets these days,  which can wreak havoc and cause a set of health issues.

Festivities are always about sharing love and strengthening bonds.

What better way to do it than preparing something with your own hands ensuring your family gets the best.

KESAR MALAI COCONUT LADDOO

(Sugar free)

Ingredients :

250g paneer (grated)

100g desiccated coconut

3 tbsp milk powder

3 tbsp malai (milk cream)

3 tbsp milk

2 tbsp monk fruit sweetener

¼ tsp cardamom powder

1 drop lemon food colour

1 tbsp chopped pistachios

1 tsp ghee

Saffron strands for garnish

Method :

1. Start by first heating a thick-bottom nonstick pan and melt 1 tsp ghee.

2. Add the grated paneer to the pan and mash it thoroughly as it cooks.

3. The consistency of paneer will change to semi solid. Keep stirring on low flame for couple of minutes ensuring the paneer doesn’t stick to the pan.

4. Then add the desiccated coconut, malai and milk powder to the paneer and  stir well till everything combines together. This should take 4 to 5 minutes.

5. Now add the monk fruit sweetener and milk.

6. Cook the mixture till it comes together and starts leaving the sides of the pan.

7. Let the malai coconut laddoo mixture cool a little then take a  lemon size mix and shape the mixture into laddoos.

8. Decorate the laddoos with saffron strands and some finely chopped pistachios.

9. Ready to serve.

These will stay well for upto a week in the refrigerator.

So do try the recipe and let me know your experience in the comment section.

Handy Tips :

• Make sure you do not use more than 1 tsp ghee in the recipe. The paneer, desiccated coconut and the malai all have their own natural oils, which get released when we cook them. Adding more ghee than required will make the laddoos greasy.

• Here we have used grated paneer, alternatively you can also grind the paneer in a mixer jar. It will give you smoother laddoo mix and the texture of the laddoos will be softer and plain from outside. While the grated paneer laddoos have a coarser texture to them. It is how you like them. Else, the rest of the recipe remains the same.

• Shelf life of these laddoos is 2 days because of the cream and paneer in it.  Store these in the refrigerator to last longer for about a week or so.

Happy Diwali and lots of love!!!

Recipe courtesy : Greta Fernandes

Mumbai-based Certified Nutritionist & Food Blogger

Website : DeliciouslyURS.com