Sunday, October 14, 2007

Whole Grains : Popcorn Laddu




Popcorn Laddu a.k.a, Pelala Laddu in Telugu. I was looking for a recipe with corn and came across a recipe on the popcorn kernels packet which said 'Popcorn balls' and i decided to Indianise it by adding Jaggery instead of Maple Syrup. I vaguely remember that it is also made in rural parts of telangana with Jonna pelalu, called as Jonna Pelala Laddu. So i decided to give it a try. I followed Borugula (Murmura) laddu recipe of Indira of Mahanandi. Here's the experiment from my kitchen to yours.


Pelala Laddu:

Popping the corn:

1)A pan with a lid and handle to hold (or) a popcorn popper
2)Oil - 3tbsp
3)Corn - 1/2 cup

I don't recommend a Microwave to pop the kernels as it is harmful to your health. I would be posting more on that later. Preheat oil on high heat in the popper or pan for approximately 1 minute. Add kernels to the pan and cover. As the corn starts popping, Lower heat slightly. Agitate popper or pan until the popcorn ceases to pop. Pour popcorn into a bowl. Now grind the popcorn coarsely. make up to 6 cups of coarse popcorn.



Jaggery syrup:

1)Jaggery - 1 cup(powdered)
2)water - 1 cup
3)Cardamom - 2 (seeds powdered)
4)popcorn- 6 cups
Keep a small bowl with cold water ready.

Take a thick-bottomed vessel, add water and jaggery. Cook on medium-high heat. Jaggery melts and begins to concentrate. When it starts foaming , it reached the consistency we want for this recipe. To test, add few drops of Jaggery syrup to the cold water. When pushed with fingers, if the syrup can be rolled to a round without melting in spite of tilting the plate to different directions, it is done and the syrup is ready. This whole process takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
Constantly stirring, add popcorn. Also sprinkle in cardamom powder. Within one or two minutes, popcorn starts to soak up the syrup and comes together in to dry mass. Turn off the heat. Remove the pot from the stove top to counter top.Wait for about 5 minutes for popcorn-jaggery mixture to cool down and then start making laddus. Take a spoonful of mixture into hands and press gently into round shape.



Be Nourished!!

17 comments:

DK said...

luks like it could melt in my mouth :)

Apple said...

Very nice Recipe Swaroopa...Indianized popcorn laddu looks nourishing n delicious...

KayKat said...

Wow! This is totally new to me! Maybe I'll make it one of these Navarathri nights. Thanks for sharing :)

Lissie said...

the laddu looks delicious! unique recipe. thanks for visiting my blog!

Anonymous said...

these popcorn ladoos seem interestng...:)

Viji said...

Such a creative idea. Very nice Swaroopa. Thanks for dropping by. Viji

TBC said...

The popcorn laddu looks really good! Pretty simple to make too.

sunita said...

That's so very creative...feel like tucking into one of them right now.

Laavanya said...

What a cool idea this is Swaroopa. Laddus look very good. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Sharmi said...

Dear swaroopa, thanks a lot for dropping by with your lovely comments! you have a great blog. loved the popcorn laddus!

SPICE OF LIFE said...

very Creative idea Swaroopa ....will have to try them out sometime now ....

Anonymous said...

interesting...!and very innovative

Kumudha said...

Popcorn laddu is new to me.
Looks so delicious!

Swaruchy said...

wow Swaroopa...Popcorn laddoooo.....looks so good and what a novel idea dear......:-) loved these.....

Namratha said...

Oh yummy, my granny used to make this with Puffed Rice as well as Panalu..what you call Palalu..I totally miss them here..should try this sometime :) thanks for sharing the recipe..

Seena said...

ummmmmmmmm, sooooo yum Swaroopa..!

Anonymous said...

Wow! What an idea, never heard of pop-corn laddus anytime!! They seem to make a yummy snack. Thanks for sharing!

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