Chana Laddu

Chana or whole black chickpea is among the healthiest food items, with a high protein content. Consumed by Indians for thousands of years, it can be boiled, roasted, fried, or ground into flour. One popular way of consuming it here is through making Chana Laddu, using roasted chanas, sugar, almonds, cashews, cardamom powder, and ghee. The chana and dry fruits are ground into a powder, the ingredients are all mixed together, and small, tight balls are created, with enough ghee to make sure they’re not falling apart. The laddus are ready!

Chana, high in protein, also comes with several other health benefits. It balances blood sugar levels, promotes brain health and prevents major diseases. It's fibre content keeps one feeling full and prevents hunger pangs and eating, aiding in weight loss. Its antioxidants also lower cholesterol, keeping chronic diseases at bay. Since it's rich in iron, it improves the body’s haemoglobin. Regularly consuming chana also results in better skin and hair.

A fistful of roasted chana can be consumed as is, in the form of a snack. There’s also options like adding chana to chaat or bhels for a nice crunch. Or add tomatoes, onions and other ingredients to a bowl of chana, essentially creating a chana chaat. And among the sweet options, of course, there’s the Chana Laddu.