Karadantu is a crunchy mixed fruit bar originating from my hometown Karnataka(India). "Karadantu" means fried-edible gum in the local language Kannada. Its also called Gond in Hindi, Tragacanth or acacia gum in English . This natural gum is procured after drying the sap of a variety of gum-producing plants found in the Middle East and parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Punjab. The gum is traditionally been used in remedies to tackle ailments like diarrhea, cough and congestion. Pregnant and lactating mothers as well as those recovering from some illness are also recommended to consume gond laddoos for speedy recovery and optimum nutrition. I remember my nani (grandma) frying these gonds for laddus and was facinated by how a rock-stone like gond just puffed up like cheese balls when fried in clarified butter. Edible gum with its health benefits binds the other ingredients in these bars or laddoos like fruits, nuts and few spices. Its a power packed bar loaded with proteins, iron, fibers and other minerals essential to increase the hemoglobin levels and provide vitamin enrichment resulting to improved immunity. I loved having these bars during and post pregnancy. And now its become a healthy snack option for kids as it is loaded with Omega-3, an essential brain booster. Though my son hates nuts he somehow chomps on these without complaining.
It is widely available in popular sweet shops in Karnataka but nothing like making it from scratch at home. During these trying times, when the pandemic is at large, we have all resorted to immunity boosters both home made and bottled supplements. I personally have a strong belief that home- made is always the right way to go as a holistic approach. If not Scientifically at least it is Psychologically approved by ourselves! We know what goes into it as we see but do we know what ACTUALLY goes into those shiny bottles labelled as Vitamins, minerals and hemoglobin boosters that we frantically buy off pharma counters?
I followed this recipe from Hebbar's Kitchen which has a variety of fool proof yummies! you can replace some nuts with others. like walnuts, peanuts. Make sure you have the propotions right for it to hold together. Made few tweaks and here we go.
Pictorial guide:
1. In a deep saucepan, heat 1/4 cup clarified butter and toss in the edible gum.
2. Roast until the gum puffs up and turns slightly golden. Drain and remove in a bowl. Keep aside.
3. In the same pan, into the remaining ghee, add (all the dry fruits and nuts except the dry dates and coconut)chopped almonds, cashew, pistachios, figs, cranberry raisins and pumpkin seeds. roast until all the nuts get a little toasted and aromatic(3-4mins). Take off heat and add into the fried gum bowl.
4. In the same pan dry roast the grated dry coconut until light brown and aromatic followed by poppy seeds. Take off heat and toss them onto the mixed nut-gum bowl. keep aside.
5. In the same pan heat 2 tbsp ghee and add the dry dates and toast them(1-2 mins).
6. To the dates add 1 cup jaggery(I used powdered jaggery) followed by 1/4 cup water. Stir well till it dissolves and gives foaming boils. Toss all the nutty- gum mix into the bubbling jaggery- dates. Add in the spices, fennel, cardamon and nutmeg powders. Give a good mix to get everything incorporated. Take off heat.
7. Transfer the mix into bar moulds, or flat brownie tins and press evenly through while its warm. You can also shape them into round laddoo balls. Allow to set for 30 mins, remove from bar moulds or cut into bars or cubes. Store them in airtight container in refrigerator. Stays good for a month. If it stays that is!
Enjoy!!
Ingredients
- Ghee(clarified butter)- 1/4 cup
- Chopped Pistachios- 3-4 tbsp
- Chopped Cashew- 1/4 cup
- Almond chopped- 1/4 cup
- Chopped figs- 1/4 cup
- Raisins- 2tbsp
- Dried cranberries/blueberries- 2tbsp
- Pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds or watermelon seeds- 2 tbsp
- Flax seeds- 2 tbsp
- Sesame seeds- 1 tbsp
- Poppy seeds- 2 tbsp
- Dry grated coconut- 1 cup
- Edible gum (gond)- 1/4 cup
- Ghee(clarified butter)- 2 tbsp
- Chopped dry dates- 5
- Jaggery- 1 cup approx(170 gms)
- Water- 1/4 cup
- Nutmeg powder- 1/4 tsp
- Crushed fennel powder- 1/2 tsp
- Cardamon powder- 1/2 tsp
Directions
- 1In a deep saucepan, heat 1/4 cup clarified butter and toss in the edible gum.
- 2Roast until the gum puffs up and turns slightly golden. Drain and remove in a bowl. Keep aside.
- 3In the same pan, into the remaining ghee, add (all the dry fruits and nuts except the dry dates and coconut)chopped almonds, cashew, pistachios, figs, cranberry,raisins, flax seeds, sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds. Roast until all the nuts get a little toasted and aromatic(3-4mins). Take off heat and add into the fried gum bowl.
- 4In the same pan dry roast the grated dry coconut until light brown and aromatic followed by poppy seeds. Take off heat and toss them onto the mixed nut-gum bowl. keep aside.
- 5In the same pan heat 2 tbsp ghee and add the dry dates and toast them(1-2 mins).
- 6To the dates add 1 cup jaggery(I used powdered jaggery) followed by 1/4 cup water. Stir well till it dissolves and gives foaming boils(3 mins). Toss all the nutty- gum mix into the bubbling jaggery- dates. Add in the spices, fennel, cardamon and nutmeg powders. Give a good mix to get everything incorporated. Take off heat.
- 7Transfer the mix into bar moulds, or flat brownie tins and press evenly through while its warm. You can also shape them into round laddoo balls. Allow to set for 30 mins, remove from bar moulds or cut into bars or cubes. Store them in airtight container in refrigerator. Stays good for a month. If it stays that is!
