Sandesh

Sandesh Recipe: A Delicious Bengali Sweet Treat

If you have a sweet tooth, you must have heard of Sandesh. It is a popular Bengali sweet that is made using chenna (paneer), sugar, and cardamom powder. Sandesh is a versatile sweet and comes in different shapes and flavors. In this article, we will discuss the traditional Sandesh recipe and its variations.

Ingredients:

• 2 liters of full-fat milk
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp cardamom powder
• 1 tbsp chopped pistachios (optional)

Instructions:

1. Making Chenna: To make Sandesh, the first step is to make chenna. In a heavy-bottomed pan, heat the milk and let it come to a boil. Once it starts boiling, add lemon juice to it and stir continuously. The milk will start to curdle, and you will see the whey separate from the milk solids.
2. Draining Whey: Once the milk has curdled completely, turn off the flame and let it rest for a few minutes. Then, strain the mixture through a cheesecloth or a muslin cloth. Rinse the chenna under running water to remove any traces of lemon juice.
3. Kneading the Chenna: Take the chenna in a bowl and knead it with your hands until it becomes smooth and soft. It should take around 10-15 minutes. Kneading the chenna properly is essential to get a smooth texture of Sandesh.
4. Adding Sugar and Cardamom: Now, add powdered sugar and cardamom powder to the chenna and mix it well. Keep kneading the mixture until the sugar has completely dissolved, and the mixture becomes smooth.
5. Cooking the Sandesh: Take a non-stick pan and heat it on low flame. Add the chenna mixture to the pan and keep stirring it continuously. Cook the mixture until it starts leaving the sides of the pan and forms a mass.
6. Shaping the Sandesh: Turn off the flame and let the mixture cool down for a few minutes. Once it is cool enough to handle, take small portions of the mixture and shape it into round balls or any other desired shape. You can also use molds to shape the Sandesh into different shapes.
7. Garnishing: Garnish the Sandesh with chopped pistachios or any other nuts of your choice. You can also add saffron strands to the mixture while cooking to give it a beautiful yellow color.

Variations:

1. Nolen Gurer Sandesh: Nolen Gurer Sandesh is a winter delicacy in Bengal. It is made using date palm jaggery instead of sugar. The jaggery gives the Sandesh a unique flavor and aroma.
2. Chocolate Sandesh: If you are a chocolate lover, you can try making chocolate Sandesh. To make chocolate Sandesh, add cocoa powder and chocolate chips to the chenna mixture. Mix it well and cook it on low flame until it forms a mass. Shape it into balls or any other desired shape and garnish it with chocolate chips.
3. Mango Sandesh: Mango Sandesh is a popular variation of Sandesh that is made using fresh mango pulp. To make mango Sandesh, add fresh mango pulp to the chenna mixture and mix it well. Cook it on low flame until it forms a mass. Shape it into balls or any other desired shape and garnish it with chopped pistachios.
4. Pista Sandesh: To make Pista Sandesh, add chopped pistachios to the chenna mixture and mix it well. Cook it on low flame until it forms a mass.