Karadantu

Karadantu: Karadantu is a sweet delicacy unique to the state of Karnataka, India. Karadantu means fried-edible gum in the local language, Kannada. It is made of edible gum mixed with dry fruits and has a chewy texture. The other ingredients used in its preparation are fried bengal gram flour, jaggery and seeds of marking-nut (Semecarpus anacardium) tree. Gokak town in Belgaum district and Amingarh of Hunagunda Taluk in Bagalkot district of Karnataka is famous for the karadantu produced in its sweet shops.

Notes:

• Ratio works like this: 6 cups of dried fruits mixture: 1.5 cups jaggery: 1 cups of gum
• If you do not have a sweet tooth, reduce the jaggery or palm sugar to 1 cup

Ingredients (serves 4):

• 200 gms dried dates
• 30-35 almonds
• 25-30 cashews
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 tbsp poppy seeds
• 4 tbsp grated dry coconut
• 4 cloves
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1 cup edible gum
• Ghee, for frying
• 1 cup jaggery, grated

Method:

• Deseed dry dates and chop them roughly
• Chop almonds into rough pieces
• Chop cashews into rough pieces
• Cut raisins into half.
• Gently fry coconut on warm pan taking care not to burn the coconut.
• Fry poppy seeds separately.
• Grate nutmeg.
• Mix chopped dry dates, chopped almonds, chopped cashews, raisins, fried oconut, popp seeds and nutmeg, in a bowl.
• Melt the ghee in a frying pan, on low heat.
• Fry edible gum in ghee till it puffs up like popcorn.
• Mix the fried gum and dry fruits mixture together.
• Mix grated jaggery with water and bring it to boil.
• Mix well and continue to boil until the syrup has reached 1 string consistency.
• Pour this jaggery syrup over the gum mixture.
• Mix well.
• Rub your palm with ghee and start making the laddus to make karadantu.

Note: These laddus may not come together initially, but squeeze them together and it makes nice round laddus.

• Karadantu are ready to be served.

Note: Karadantu is a high calorie food. Eat in moderation.

If you have any queries regarding the Karadantu recipe, please leave a comment.