Coconut Ladoo / Kobbari Undalu

Description

Coconut Ladoo, also known as Nariyal Laddu (in Hindi) or Kobbari Undalu (in Telugu), is a delicate, moist, and widely popular traditional Indian sweet. It is a soft spherical sweet made primarily from freshly grated coconut and a sweetener, which is typically Jaggery (Gud/Bellam) or sugar/condensed milk.

The recipe involves gently cooking or roasting the grated coconut to remove excess moisture and enhance its flavor. The sweetener (jaggery or sugar) is then added, often with a small amount of milk or water to form a syrupy base. This mixture is cooked down until it thickens into a pliable mass, often flavored with aromatic cardamom powder. While the mixture is still warm, it is portioned out and quickly rolled by hand into small, dense balls (ladoos). Some variations roll the finished ladoos in extra desiccated coconut for a final decorative touch.

Coconut Ladoos are considered auspicious and are frequently prepared for religious festivals, pujas, and celebrations like Ganesh Chaturthi and Diwali, as they are quick to prepare and highly nutritious, being rich in dietary fiber and healthy fats.