Ladvachi Bhakari Recipe | Traditional Goan Sweet Cake with Coconut & Jaggery

Ladvachi Bhakari Recipe | Traditional Goan Sweet Cake with Coconut & Jaggery

  

🍰 Ladvacho Cake

A traditional Goan breakfast cake made using laddoo, rava, jaggery, and coconut — rich, aromatic, and perfect with tea or coffee.

Ladvachi Bhakari is a lesser-known Goan sweet that feels like a warm hug from grandma’s kitchen. Made with roasted rava, ghee, jaggery, and coconut, it’s dense, filling, and rich — often made during Ganesh Chaturthi or as a temple prasad.”

Servings: 3 People
Cooking Time: 30 minutes (plus soaking & baking time)
Author: Puja Raghuvir Naik

✨ Ingredients:

1. Ladoo 1 Bundi laddoo (Big crunchy one)
2. rava idli (salmonella) 3 cup
3. cashew nuts
4. Badam chopped
5. salt to taste
6. jaggery grated 1 cup
7. grated coconut
8. 2 tsp pure ghee
9. Water as required

🧑‍🍳 Method:

1. Prepare the Laddoo Paste:
2. Break the laddoo into small pieces or powder. Soak it in milk or water for 4 to 5 hours, or preferably overnight. Then grind it into a smooth paste using a mixie.
3. Prepare the Rava:
4. Heat 1 tsp ghee in a kadhai and roast the rava until light brown and aromatic (optional). Let it cool.
5. (Note: In today’s version, I skipped roasting — and it still turned out delicious!)
6. Mix the Batter:

1. In a large vessel, combine:

• Laddoo paste
• Idli rava
• Grated jaggery
• Grated coconut
• Salt
• Cashew nuts & chopped almonds
• Add water as needed to form a thick, smooth batter. Mix everything well.

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🍰 Cooking Option 1: Pressure Cooker (No Whistle)

1. Grease the base of a pressure cooker with ghee.
2. Pour the mixture into it and level the top.
3. Place the cooker (without the whistle) on a small burner over a low flame and bake for 45 minutes.
4. After 45 minutes, open the lid and drizzle 1 tbsp ghee along the sides. This helps the cake brown further.
5. Close the lid and cook for another 15 minutes.

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🍰 Cooking Option 2: Idli Cooker with Banana Leaf

1. Grease banana leaves with ghee and place them inside the idli cooker.
2. Pour the mixture in and cover with the lid.
3. Cook on low flame for 20 minutes, check, and if needed, cook for another 10–15 minutes.

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🥄 Final Steps:

1. Switch off the gas and allow the cake to cool completely before unmoulding.
2. Slide a knife along the edges, place a plate on top, and gently flip it.
3. Slice and garnish with dry fruits and coconut.
4. Serve with hot tea or coffee!

💡 Tips for Perfect Ladvacho Cake

1. Choose the Right Laddoo:
2. Use a big, crunchy bundi laddoo (not soft ones). The texture and sweetness of the cake depend heavily on the quality of the laddoo.
3. Soaking Time is Key:
4. Soaking the laddoo for at least 4–5 hours (or overnight) ensures a smooth paste and richer flavor. It also helps blend the jaggery and ghee already in the laddoo with the rest of the ingredients.
5. Roasting Rava – Optional but Adds Aroma:
6. Roasting rava before mixing gives a nice nutty flavor and makes the cake more aromatic. If you're in a hurry, you can skip this step like I did — and it still tastes great!
7. Consistency of the Batter:
8. The batter should be thick, like idli batter — not too watery. This helps the cake hold shape and bake evenly.
9. Add Dry Fruits Smartly:
10. Toasting cashews and almonds slightly before mixing adds a nice crunch and enhances the flavor.
11. Use Banana Leaves for Authentic Aroma (Idli Cooker Method):
12. If using an idli cooker, line the container with banana leaves. It gives a traditional touch and lovely aroma to the cake.
13. Don’t Rush Unmoulding:
14. Let the cake cool completely before unmoulding. This helps it firm up and prevents breaking or sticking to the pan.
15. For Extra Moisture:
16. You can add 2–3 tbsp of milk or coconut milk to the batter for a softer texture.
17. Ghee Along the Sides – The Magic Step:
18. Adding ghee along the sides during the final cooking helps the cake brown beautifully and makes unmoulding easier.
19. Serving Tip:
20. Serve warm slices with a drizzle of honey or sprinkle some extra coconut on top for a festive touch!

Does your family make Ladvachi Bhakari for Ganesh Chaturthi or temple offerings? Comment with your version and tag @goanregularrecipes if you try this nostalgic treat.