Dates and Sesame Laddu
Ingredients
1 Cup - White Sesame Seeds
3/4 Cup - Chopped Dates
1/2 Cup - Dessciate or Dry Grated Coconut
Method:
Remove seeds from dates if not suing pitted dates and finely chop it. If you keep dates in fridge then take it outside a night or day before, this will make dates soft, easy to chop and make laddus. Dates has to soft so it can bind well.
Dry roast sesame in a pan or wok until it light golden brown around 1-2 minutes in medium flame, keep aside to cool. In the same pan add coconut, stir and off flame
Grind sesame in a mixer or coffee grinder only for 3-4 seconds, don't not grind more than that, we want to light crush the sesame seeds and not powder it. While you grinding count to 3 so you don't over do it :) OR you can also pound sesame seeds in mortar and pestle.
Take sesame seeds in a large bowl, add chopped dates, coconut (keep 1 tbsp of coconut aside) and mix well to combine everything together well and to bind it, using hand is best option.
Take small amount of mixture and roll it in hand to form a ball or laddu shape, roll prepared laddu in coconut we save and repeat same for rest.
Our laddu is ready, store in air tight container.
Variations
If you dates are not sweet enough then add more dates.
If mixture is not binding well then add 2-3 tbsp of honey to help it bind well. For Vegan version use oil.
You can use brown or black sesame seeds or a mix or white, brown/black sesame seeds too.
Use fresh good quality of dates.
=============================
