Kuthiraivali Laddu is a healthy and delicious sweet made with barnyard millet flour (kuthiraivali flour), jaggery, and ghee. This gluten-free treat is flavored with cardamom and enriched with sautéed cashews and raisins, making it both nutritious and tasty. The millet flour is roasted until aromatic, then combined with jaggery syrup to form a dough-like consistency, which is shaped into small, round laddus. 

Ingredients:  

• 1 cup Kuthiraivali flour
• 1/2 cup jaggery (or sugar)
•  2 tbsp ghee
• 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
•  2 tbsp cashews (chopped)
• 2 tbsp raisins
• A pinch of saffron strands (optional)

Instructions:

• Roast Flour: Heat 1 tbsp ghee in a pan, roast 1 cup Kuthiraivali flour for 3-4 minutes until golden and fragrant. Set aside.
• Melt Jaggery: In the same pan, melt 1/2 cup jaggery with 2-3 tbsp water on low heat until it forms a syrup. Strain to remove impurities (if using jaggery).
• Prepare Nuts: In a separate pan, heat 1 tbsp ghee, sauté cashews and raisins until golden.
• Mix Ingredients: Add the roasted flour to the jaggery syrup, stir well, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add cardamom powder, saffron, and sautéed nuts.
• Shape Laddus: Once the mixture cools slightly, shape it into small laddus using your hands.
• Serve: Let the laddus cool completely and serve.

Enjoy your delicious and nutritious Kuthiraivali Laddus!

Tips:

•    Sweetness: Adjust the quantity of jaggery according to your sweetness preference. You can also experiment with other sweeteners like coconut sugar if you prefer.  
    
• Binding: If the mixture feels too loose and doesn’t hold shape, add a bit more ghee or a small amount of milk to bind it.  
    
•  Vegan Option: For a vegan version, simply use coconut oil instead of ghee and coconut milk for a richer texture.

Kuthiraivali Laddu is a nutrient-packed, gluten-free sweet that's perfect for anyone looking for a healthy yet tasty dessert. Enjoy these laddus as a treat for festivals, special occasions, or as a wholesome snack!