Oats Unda (Balls) ~ Step by Step Pics

How do you use oats in your meals? Porridge or make dosa or try out something else? I find it hard to sneak in oats to my kids, as they don't like eating oats as porridge. Waffles are a welcome(recipe listed below) choice, but I don't have a waffle maker now and so oats cookies is the other good choice that are OK like. So I keep experimenting different recipes that suit their taste buds to incorporate the fibre content.

Oats balls or oats unda are similar to ari unda or aval unda. This recipe comes in handy when it comes to making and also these can be stored over a week at room temperature in airtight containers. They are very easy to assemble and can be made instantly without much fuss. The best part of this recipe is that they are prepared with jaggery and no sugar is used. Dessicated coconut adds the nutty and sweet flavour. Enjoy this with a cup of tea and enjoy !!

Preparation time ~ 15 minutes

Cooking time ~  15 minutes

Serves ~ 16-18 balls

Author ~ Julie

Ingredients

instant oats(quick oats) 2 cups

dessicated coconut 1 cup 

jaggery 3/4 cup

water 3/4 cup

cardamom powder / elakka podi 1/2 tsp

chopped dates 4 tbsp

chopped cashews 2 tbsp

neyyu/ ghee 1 tbsp

Method

• Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan and add the oats. Fry till crisp, it may take around 3-4 minutes on medium flame. Remove to a plate and then add dessicated coconut. Fry till lightly browned and remove to the oats plate. Also fry the cashew in ghee and add to the dry mix along with ghee. Add the chopped dates too.
• Then melt the jaggery in 3/4 cup water and then strain the impurities. 

• Bring the jaggery to a boil and get one string consistency, add cardamom powder. Immediately add the dry mix to this and switch off flame. 
• Combine this well, leave to cool slightly. When it's warm to touch, pinch out small portions and make balls out of it. Apply a little ghee to the palm and then make if the mix is sticky.
• Finally, cool completely before tasting them or storing them in airtight containers.

NOTES

* You can powder the oats after frying to make smooth balls, but here kids like the chewy kind and so prefer doing this method.

* You can add raisins instead of dates or any other dry fruit. Cashew can be replaced with other dry nuts like almonds.

MORE OATS RECIPES-

* Oatmeal Raisin Waffles

* Oats Dosa

* Barley -Oats Idli

* Banana Oats Bar(Just 4 ingredients)

* Nutella Oatmeal Cookies

* Oatmeal Cookies(No sugar)

* Multi Grain Laddus