Pistachio Apricot Ladoos

Are you looking for a healthy, delicious, and easy-to-make snack? Look no further than these vegan pistachio apricot ladoos! These ladoos only require three ingredients and take 5 minutes to make. They're also gluten-free, with no added sugar, so they're ideal for people with type 2 diabetes. They're particularly delicious as Ramadan sweets, especially if you're after Iftar ideas.

As a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, I often hear folks say they're looking for healthy sweet recipes that are easy to make and don't require a lot of time or effort. This recipe fits the bill because it uses nutritious ingredients.

Apricots and pistachios are a nourishing combination of fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Plus, apricots provide delicious sweetness — without the need for added sugar.

This means these ladoos are the perfect heart healthy snack and ideal if you have diabetes and are concerned about blood sugar levels after eating sweets and desserts.

For those of you trying to reduce your sugar intake and adore ladoos, I hope you'll also give my fig and nut laddu recipe a try. It's a Ramadan favourite! And if you're more into healthy dessert ideas, this carrot halwa has us drooling.

What are ladoos made of?

In South Asian culture, ladoos are balls of sweetness. They appear at almost every festive occasion. Weddings, birthdays, graduations, and religious festivals are just a few examples where you'll see them.

South Asia comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan and the Maldives are sometimes included as part of South Asia.

Traditionally, ladoos are made of flour, sugar, ghee (clarified butter), and nuts. There are many different types of ladoos, but the most popular ones are made with either semolina flour or besan (gram flour). The ladoos are then shaped into balls and fried until golden brown.

What makes this recipe unique is that there is no cooking involved. It's my "raw" spin on an old classic! It uses ground pistachios and apricots instead of flour, which makes the ladoos gluten-free and much lower in carbohydrates, fat and calories.

As always, my goal is to make sure that many of you, particularly those with dietary restrictions, can enjoy your favourite flavours more often.

Benefits of pistachio nuts

Pistachios are a good source of healthy fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Pistachios, like all nuts, are high in essential fatty acids that may help prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer.

Pistachios have a lower fat and calorie content than other nuts. Also, they have the highest concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids, potassium, γ-tocopherol, phytosterols, and xanthophyll carotenoids — all of which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Indeed, if you're looking for heart healthy snacks, pistachios are a great choice.

Furthermore, because of the high fibre and nutrients present in pistachios, they might be beneficial for people struggling with high glucose (blood sugars), blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

Pistachio nutrition

Here are some highlights of raw pistachios worth noting:

• high in dietary fibre (almost 38% DV)
• low carb (almost 3% DV)
• source of fat (about 16% DV)
• Low sodium

Nutrition data is taken from USDA to calculate % DV.

The following is a detailed breakdown of pistachio nutrition. A handful of raw pistachios (28 grams) provide the following nutrients and calories:

Energy & Nutrients	Amount
Carbs	7.7 g
Fibre	10.6 g
Net carbs	4.5 g
Protein	5.7 g
Calories	159 kcal
Sugars	2.2 g
Fat	12.8 g
Monounsaturated fat	6.6 g
Polyunsaturated fat	4.1 g
Saturated fat	1.7 g
Folate	14.5 µg
Potassium	289 mg
Sodium	0.3 mg
Magnesium	34.3 mg
Calcium	29.8 mg
Iron	1.1 mg
Zinc	0.6 mg

You asked: are ladoos healthy?

This depends on your definition of healthy. Everyone's needs are different. Plus, I refrain from labelling foods as good or bad. Instead, I prefer to emphasize that focusing on enjoying a variety of whole foods that nourish your body and make you feel good is the way to go.

The most effective approach to maintain your health and wellbeing is to focus on utilizing a range of nutrient-rich foods — as close to nature — to create delicious and healthy family meals you love. And that includes sweets and desserts.

Remember, the types of ladoos you consume and the amount and frequency with which you do so are both crucial factors to consider when evaluating your dietary pattern.

This ladoos recipe checks a lot of boxes if you're looking for healthy sweet snacks: they're plant-powered, wholesome, and are made without refined ingredients.

And while traditional ladoos are high in calories, high in added sugar, saturated fat, and may even contain artificial colourings - if you're only eating them once in a while as a special treat, don't fret!

Nonetheless, with my ladoos recipe, you may enjoy them far more frequently.

Nutrition information per serving

Below you will find the nutrition information for one ladoo:

• 4 g of protein
• 9 g net carbs (for those with diabetes who may be counting their carbs)
• A good source of fibre

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Interpretation of DVs from US FDA.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you need to make these ladoos:

• Pistachios: Opt for raw shelled pistachios that are unsalted.
• Apricots: I love dried apricots that are unsulphured. You don't need to soak them in water before using them. Just make sure they are fresh and soft.
• Coconut oil: I like to use virgin cold-pressed coconut oil. It brings a hint of luscious coconut flavour to the ladoos.

Instructions - step by step

Pistachios, dried apricots and coconut oil come together to create a simple, delicious and energizing snack to keep you feeling fuller for longer! Plus, they are done in a flash. You can find the step by step instructions below:

1. Start by adding all the ingredient in a medium food processor (Step 1).
2. Then, process the pistachios and apricots with the coconut oil until grainy using a food processor. The mixture should not be dough-like yet start to come together (Step 2).
3. Transfer the nut-fruit mixture into a large bowl (Step 3).
4. Now it's time to shape the mixture into balls to form ladoos (Step 4).
5. Then, roll all the ladoos in the chopped pistachios until they are coated (Step 5).

All ingredient measurements and detailed instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Tips

• Make sure your pistachios are as fresh as possible because they are the star of this recipe!
• If you don't have a food processor, you can use a blender.
• I prefer to pick my apricots carefully since they should be soft and help bind the mixture.
• Remember to melt the coconut oil. The nuts and dried fruit will be easier to combine if you do so.

Storage

These ladoos will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Enjoy!

Are you a snacker? What are your favourite healthy sweets recipes?

If you try this recipe, would love to hear from you! Leave a comment, rate it, or share a photo and hashtag with #desiliciousrd on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Can't wait to see your photos.