Paan Ladoos

I wanted to try this recipe for a very long time. I had seen it online by Manali Singh. Also my mother always used to make these laddoos when she used to have leftover condensed milk after some recipe but she never added Paan (Betel leaf) in it. But this variation was just too awesome. So many thanks to Manali’s recipe. I have always made this recipe with rose essence and red color as rose laddoos, will upload the detailed recipe for that too soon.

So here we go.

Ingredients:

1. Dry Coconut powder (desiccated coconut) or fresh grated coconut: 2½ Cup
2. Desiccated coconut: ¼ Cup 
3. Paan leaves (Betel leaf): 4-5 (depending on the size of the leaf) 
4. Condensed Milk: 14 oz can
5. Gulkand (Rose petal jam or preserve): 4-5 Tbspn. 
6. Velachi Powder (Cardamom powder): ½ Tspn. 
7. Ghee (Clarified butter): 2 Tspn. 
8. Green color: Optional

Method:

1. Cut betel leaves and put it in a mixie bowl along with condensed milk. Give a good pulse. I used my food processor. Use any mixer provided you don’t need to put any water in it. 
2. Take a pan and put dry coconut powder in it. Roast for a minute and now add ghee to it. 
3. Roast it for 3-4 minutes. Make sure to stir it continuously to avoid burning. We want white coconut and not brown coconut at the end.
4. Add velachi powder at this time. Keep stirring. 
5. You may add a few drops of food color in it while roasting. 
6. Take it out in a bowl and add paan mixture to it. Original recipe said that you will have to combine it on the stove and heat for couple of minutes but I prefer this way so I always make it this way. You may want to put it in microwave for a minute if you feel the consistency is too runny. Put it in microwave for 30 sec, stir and repeat the process until they are well combined. 
7. Follow the same procedure for plain and rose laddoos too. 
8. Mix it well. I added a couple of drops of food color at this stage and got a beautiful green color. However, putting food color is completely optional. 
9. Grease your palms with ghee and start rolling the laddoos. 
10. Press this coconut ball in the middle and fill it with a teaspoon of Gulkand and roll it again to seal it. 
11. Take a plate and spread dry coconut powder in it. 
12. Roll the ready ladddoo in it and keep it on a serving bowl. 
13. Tadaaaa!!!! Your laddoos are ready. Happy Cooking!!!

Notes:

1. If taking fresh coconut then roast it little longer to get rid of all the moisture from it. 
2. You will yield approximately 10 laddoos out of this measurement. 
3. If not adding food color then grind one paan leaf coarsely and add to the final mixture before rolling the laddoos to give a nice green color to it. 
4. These laddoos can be refrigerated for a week or so.
5. I have a very innovative recipe of Paan Shots too. Do check that recipe too here on my blog. 

I’m sure all your family members and friends will love and appreciate your creativity.

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Meetha Paan Shots/ Betel Leaf Shots

So today had to go for a potluck brunch but wasn't sure till the end if I will be able to make it for the brunch or no. So hadn't planned anything ahead of time. Also my very enthusiastic friends who all are by the way great cooks too, had already declared what they were going to get. And my desert plan flopped because there were already 2-3 deserts. All of a sudden struck a nice “after the meal” idea, Meetha Paan (Betel leaf mouth freshener) but again didn’t want to go to the traditional way. So decided to make nice little paan shots. I didn’t have fresh betel leaves or paan at home but had nice crushed ready-made Kolkata meetha paan so used it instead of fresh one but didn’t notice any difference in the taste at all (sometimes semi-homemade cooking is good and easy). Obviously since it was for brunch couldn’t add any alcohol to these “shots” but still they were as tasty as they would taste with alcohol. So here we go!!!

Ingredients:

1. Readymade Paan Mukhwas (crushed): ½ Cup 
2. Vanilla Ice-cream: 1Cup
3. Chilled Milk: ½ to 1 Cup (for grinding) 
4. Saunf/ Aniseed: 2-3 Tbsp. 
5. Green food color: 4-5 Drops (optional) 
6. Crushed Ice: ½ Cup (optional) 
7. Shot glasses: 20

Method:

1. Take out vanilla ice-cream from the freezer and keep it out for around half an hour. 
2. Now put ice-cream, crushed paan mukhwas, milk, 1½ Tbsp saunf (keep rest for garnishing) and crushed ice (optional) in a mixie bowl. 
3. Grind it till everything is well incorporated. 
4. Now put green food color and grind again. This is an optional step altogether. 
5. Take shot glasses and fill them ¾. Garnish each cup with little saunf. 
6. If you are going to use them immediately you may keep them open in the refrigerator.
7. Since I wanted to use them the next afternoon, I cling wrapped each shot glass and put it in the tray which I was going to carry it along with me to the venue.
8. I refrigerated it overnight and in the morning took the tray outside and filled the tray with ice cubes, so they were served chilled. Also they didn’t move much in the transit. I cling wrapped the entire tray for more safety.

The shots were a big hit and everyone wanted more than one. Since I had expected it, I had already carried extra cups for the party.

Note:  

1. Since I had to take it for the brunch I didn’t add any kind of alcohol in it. However, if you plan to serve it post dinner and you have guests who drink alcohol beverages, you may add around 90ml vodka while grinding other ingredients.
2. I have heard even white rum tastes good in these shots, never tried though.
3. Today after having these shots, one friend suggested we may add mint ice-cream instead of vanilla ice-cream and I loved that idea too. Haven't tried it yet but maybe next time I will try it.
4. If you have all the ingredients for making any kind of meetha paan, please use them instead of readymade mukhwas.
5. I got these shot glasses from Dollar store. 24 for $1.00, isn't it a great deal?

Please try these super easy shots for your next party and surprise your guests with it. 

My MIL tried it and sent the picture to me :)

If you like this recipe, give a thumbs up and please share it with others. Happy Cooking!!!! 

Please leave your comments and suggestions about this recipe. We welcome your feedback.

Also check my Paan Laddos recipe too. 

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