First, prepare the boora shakkar or porous sugar. Heat the wok and add the sugar. Then, add 2 tbsp of water and stir. The sugar will start melting and release moisture on its own. Do it in a low heat.(Pro tip: Ensure you prepare this on low heat as high heat may cause it to change color due to caramelization.) Once the sugar has melted, add 1 tbsp of ghee. Keep on stirring.(Pro tip: You can also use refined oil, but ghee releases a fantastic aroma. Keep stirring to prevent it from sticking to the bottom.) Continue stirring otherwise it will stick to the bottom.(Pro tip: You can prepare the syrup with batasa (sugar drop) or nakul dana (mimosa sugar balls) instead of sugar.) When you see foam appearing while stirring, the syrup is ready. Turn off the flame and continue stirring to cool it down until it turns granular into boora sugar.(Pro tip: To avoid lumps, use a spatula to break them up while stirring.) Eventually, the sugar will lose its moisture and begin to crystallize, turning into boora shakkar or porous sugar.(Pro tip: For a finer version, you can strain the porous sugar with a strainer.) Now dry roast the magaz or melon seeds. Stir it on a low flame. Fry it very lightly, when it will emit a nice aroma, take it off the flame.
Add the chopped cashews. Sauté it.
In a separate nonstick pan, add 4 tbsp of ghee or fortified butter and let it melt.
Add the besan or gram flour. Continue stirring on a low flame. Mix the ghee or fortified butter with besan or gram flour very well. Gradually add the ghee with the besan or gram flour while continuously stirring on low flame.(Pro tip: Have patience while stirring the besan, it should be stirred continuously on a low flame. Take your time with this process and do not add all the ghee at once, as the besan may lose its consistency.) Embrace stirring, do it continuously. Make sure it does not turn brown in color then it will taste bitter.
Add 1 tbsp ghee into the besan or gram flour gradually. Mix it well.
Now sauté the mixture and let it cool down to a lukewarm state.
Once the mixture cools down to a lukewarm state, add the boora shakkar or porous sugar into the gram flour mixture and mix well using your hands.
The mixing is done. Add less than 1 tbsp of ghee into the mixture and combine thoroughly.(Pro tip: If the mixture is too granular and needs more firmness, you can add more ghee. On the other hand, if it is slightly soggy, you can dry roast the gram flour and add it.) Now, add the roasted melon seeds, pistachios, cashews, and cardamom powder to the mixture. Mix everything thoroughly.
Form small balls to shape the ladoos, and use the strength of your hands to mix them well. Ensure the powdered sugar melts into the gram flour and ghee mixture.
The Besan ladoo is shaped and almost ready.
Garnish Besan Ladoo with silver vark (tabak) and chopped pistachios and serve.