Famous street food of Delhi, India. In Delhi’s dialect, it is more commonly called ‘ Moong dal ke laddu hari chatni aur lal chatni wale’. Ram ladoo are fried moong dal vadas served with juicy grated radish drizzled in sweet and tangy tamarind chutney with a spicy kick of coriander-mint chutney.
Ram ladoo
One of the interesting fact about Ram Ladoo is, a similar version is also served in Lakhanpur (a town in Jammu and Kashmir India) and are also called Lakhanpur Ke Bhalle or in Punjabi language Lakhanpur De Bhalle. So if you are wondering about how to prepare Moong dal ladoo / Ram Ladoo? then this recipe can give you a quick, easy, and concise overview. Do try this recipe and let us know how it turned out?
Why make Ram Ladoo?
Ram Ladoo for me are very special and they always bring back so many childhood memories.When we were kids the ladoo wala bhaiya used to come to our street and yelling to sell the ladoos and we would just run behind our mom to let us buy the mouth watering ladoos. Now one may ask why this long childhood saga?. Well this scrumptious street is related with the childhood of every delhite and has become impregnated in culture of Delhi.
When I made Ram Laddo chaat two months back all those memories refreshed in my mind. The smell of the ladoos made me feel nostalgic. My daughter tried them for the first time and asked how come she never tasted them before. If you happen to visit Delhi you could find local vendors with their cart at Central Market CP, Janakpuri, South Ex, or near UPSC Bhawan Building.
Ingredients Needed for ram Ladoo
- Yellow moong dal: Split yellow moong dal tastes best in ram ladoo.
- Ginger: To add some zing and flavors.
- Green chili: For heat.
- Cumin seeds: Adds a nice flavor and taste.
- Red chili powder: For some extra spiciness.
- Salt: To season.
- Oil for frying: To deep fry the ram ladoo.
- Radish: Freshly grated white radish to serve.
- Green Chutney: To serve.
- Tamarind Chutney: To serve.
- Coriander Leaves: To add refreshing flavors and garnish.
- Chaat masala: For extra flavors to garnish.
How to make Ram Ladoo?
Step 1. Make Dal Paste– Wash and soak moong dal in enough water for 3-4 hours or overnight. Drain and make a fine paste of dal with green chilies, ginger and coriander leaves in a blender or food processor. Now add the batter in a mixing bowl. Add in ginger, salt, red chili powder, peppercorn powder, and cumin seeds. Whisk until the batter is light and fluffy.
Step 2. Deep Dry– Heat oil in a wok or pan. When the oil is hot enough drop small balls of the batter into the oil using hands or spoon. Fry the dal laddoos for 2-3 minutes or until golden and crispy from both sides. Drain on a paper towel and set aside.
Step 3. Assembling– Place 4 or 5 ladoo in individual serving bowls. Add in a tablespoon of each of tamarind and mint chutney or as per taste. Top up with grated radish and coriander leaves. Sprinkle with chaat masala and serve immediately.
Serving Suggestions
Serve ram ladoo with your favourite green chutney and sweet chutney, topped with grated radish and fresh coriander leaves and serve warm. For variations, you can also add chopped tomatoes, onions and grated carrots.
Like Ram Ladoo, try these recipes…
- Gol Gappe | Pani Poori
- Aloo Tikki Chaat Recipe +Video
- Bhutte ka Kees (+Video)
- Dahi Vada | Dahi Bhalle
- Veg Chowmein Noodles
Looking for more such lunch recipes to get some ideas for your snacking? Do not miss my Grilled Corn Salad and Crispy Tofu Taco and the best one’s Watermelon Pops.
*If you ever try this recipe don’t forget to share your photos with me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter or tag me on Instagram @cookingwithsapana using the hashtag #cookingwithsapana and stay connected* I would love to see your creations from my space!!
Ram Ladoo, Street food of Delhi Ram Ladoo
Equipment
- Wok
Ingredients
For Ladoo
- 1 cup split moong dal/dhuli moong dal
- 2 green chilies
- 2- inch ginger
- salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon peppercorn powder
- 2 tablespoon coriander leaves chopped
For Assembling
- 1 cup radish grated
- 1/4 cup coriander leaves chopped
- 1/2 cup tamarind chutney
- 1/2 cup mint chutney
For Masala
- 1 teaspoon roasted cumin powder
- salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon chaat masala
Instructions
- Wash and soak moong dal in enough water for 3-4 hours or overnight.
- Drain and make a fine paste of dal with green chilies, ginger, and coriander leaves in a blender or food processor.
- Now add the batter in a mixing bowl. Add in salt, red chili powder, peppercorn powder, and cumin seeds. Whisk until the batter is light and and fluffy.
- Heat oil in a wok or pan. When the oil is hot enough drop small balls of the batter into the oil using hands or spoon.
- Fry the dal ladoos for 2-3 minutes or until golden and crispy from both sides.
- Drain on a paper towel and set aside.
Assembling
- Place 4 or 5 laddo in individual serving bowls. Add in a tablespoon of each of tamarind and mint chutney or as per taste.
- Top up with grated radish and coriander leaves. Sprinkle with chaat masala and serve immediately.
Video
Nutrition
Always let me know how these recipes turned out in the comments below and give a ★ rating. I will be so excited to hear how you enjoyed your Ram Ladoo and please do share your tips and tricks with me.
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Best Regards,
Sapana Behl
Sapana, you are tempting me. That looks so good. Savory ladoo any time for me. Wish I could grab one. (nahh the entire plate)
A recap of childhood memories…though mine are related to ice cream vendor ringing bell to sell his ice cream.While writing this comment I'm drooling….want these ladoos right now 🙂
So nice to hear about the story behind the recipe. It's sweet and I hope you and your brother made it easy for some vendor at least. A I thought it was a sweet dish but it's a pleasant surprise to find that is not!
Nice reading about your childhood memories. The ram ladoo looks so irresistible..
Nice to know about your childhood memories associated with these ladoo. Even I expected a sweet ladoo recipe and this is even more tempting, spicy ladoo served like a chaat.
Looking by the name, I thought it would be a sweet dish too. Love the story bringing back your memories. The ladoos and the chat are very inviting. Thanks for sharing this amazing dish:)
Lovely lovely post . Filled with nostalgia :)) these ram ladoos so taking me back to Lucknow / Delhi trips :))
That plate of ram laddoo is calling me, wish i get that plate rite now from my lappy screen, alluring chaat.
Seeing the recipe name that it was sweet ladoo, but this is something else. Looks yummy and good to know about your childhood memories.
Loved reading your post Sapana. Childhood memories are always so fresh in our minds. Ram laddoos look scrumptious.
The title tricked me 🙂 But the visual treat spread out here compensated 🙂
Oh my! What a lovely platter that is. I am so tempted to eat some right now.
The name and your pictures are making me drool…I'm craving this dish now…
these savory ladoos look so good – would love to dig into that plate
Lovely post and yes we enjoyed it when I had made it couple of months back!
this is one of our family’s favorite savory snack. I love the topping. Your platter looks absolutely amazing. Lovely childhood memories.
Very well explained
Last bm in Delhi vaishali fed me these delicious ram ladoo. I am yet to make them. My mouth is watering looking at the pics. Yummy
Wow you reminded me of my Delhi days having numerous chaat varieties around the city. It tastes amazing with intresting combination of fried moong dal vada and chutneys. Lipsmacking good.
These are made here at my UT too with the name gulgule and on J&K and punjab border as lakhanpur de bhalle. I can well imagine how delicious they could be and the pictures are saying it all.
That whole bowl looks so tempting! Those moong dal pakoda types and the chutney on top, definitely sounds like a yum bowl to have on a rainy evening…
Lip smacking chaat. I remember we had this in Delhi and loved it. Such a simple and yet very flavorful Ram Ladoo.
This is such a mouthwatering chaat..That bowl looks so tempting…Just want to grab it! I’m craving for chaat now! It tastes amazing…combination of fried moong dal vada and chutneys….oh so yum
I am yet to try Ram ladoo, by looking at the ingredients and method these are so similar to GUjarat Na Daal Vada..but here we enjoy with only fried green chillies and onion. Can’t wait to try these, so delicious!
One of the recipes that has been in my to make list for a very long time. I really need to make this tempting street food. I have heard a lot about it and your pictures are enough to convince me to try it right away.
This is an amazing traditional recipe. I am so glad to see the way it is served as this is an important part of how to enjoy the dish.