India GORam ladoo in Delhi
Ram ladoo is Delhi street food at its most literal: a leaf bowl of fried moong dal fritters buried under grated white radish and green chutney, eaten on the spot. It is neither a ladoo nor sweet, and it does not travel even a few minutes, so in Delhi it is something you come across and eat on the spot rather than carry away.
🟡 Ram ladoo
Fried moong-dal dumplings buried under shredded white radish and green chutney, served in a leaf bowl. Neither a ladoo nor sweet: Delhi's street food is careless with names.
How it's eaten
Eat immediately; the radish weeps and the dumplings go soft in minutes.
The city's food with veg and non-spicy filters, in the app.
Open in India GOWhat you get
The fritters are made from soaked, ground moong dal (split mung beans), often with some chana dal, spiced with ginger and green chilli and fried until crisp. The vendor piles on grated mooli (white radish), green chutney, sometimes a tamarind chutney, and chaat masala, and hands it over in a leaf bowl. Delhi's street food is careless with names, and this is the clearest case: the round shape is all it shares with the festive sweet. More on the ram ladoo page.
Eat it now
Ram ladoo does not wait. The radish gives off its juice and the fritters go soft within minutes, so eat it where you buy it, straight from the leaf bowl. That is also why it is a poor choice for takeaway or delivery.
Where to find it
Ram ladoo is Delhi street food, and the India GO guide does not yet name a specific Delhi vendor for it. It belongs to the same world as chaat, the family of tangy snacks layered with chutneys, so the Delhi street food page is the place to start, and the chaat counters there are where to ask.
What to order with it
Two other Delhi chaats make a natural round: aloo tikki, a griddle-fried potato patty, and papdi chaat. Ram ladoo has no meat, egg or dairy; the green chutney often contains garlic, as in a typical recipe, so ask if you avoid it, and check that no yogurt goes on top if you are vegan.
❓ FAQ
Is ram ladoo sweet?
No. Despite the name it is a savoury snack; only a tamarind chutney, if added, brings a little sweetness.
Is ram ladoo vegan?
Usually yes: dal, spices, oil, radish and chutneys, with no dairy or egg. Check that no yogurt is added.
Where can I eat ram ladoo in Delhi?
As street food. The India GO guide does not yet name a vendor; start with the chaat counters on the Delhi street food page.
Why is it called ram ladoo?
No reliable explanation is recorded. The fritters are round like a ladoo, and that is as far as the likeness goes.