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This soft Sandesh Recipe sweet is very soft, as if it will fall when we lift it. I learned this recipe from my Bengali friend. It can be easily prepared(only three ingredients), chilled, and served as dessert.
I had Sandesh or 'Shondesh' for the first time when I was in West Bengal. Its soft texture and mild sweetness take us somewhere in heaven. This sweet is very soft as if it will fall when we lift it.
I learned this recipe from my Bengali friend. It can be easily prepared(only three ingredients), chilled, and served as dessert.
With a similar type of essential preparation, another sweet recipe Chum Chum can be made. If interested, look into other Indian sweets like Paruppu Poli, MotiChoor Laddu, and Badhusha recipes.
What is Sandesh?
Sandesh is an authentic sweet from the Bengal region in Eastern India. It is made with curdled milk and is one of the traditional recipes made on festive days in Bengali homes.
West Bengal is known for its milk sweets, which are always fresh and high in quality. In West Bengal, you could see sweet stalls in every nook and corner.
I have tried many of them, from the high-end restaurants to the small stalls on the street. The sweets are high in quality and remain the same throughout the state. This shows the Bengal people’s love for sweets.
What does this taste like?
Bengali sweets are mild, unlike other Indian sweets. This Sandesh sweet is a soft and fresh list mist. It does taste like a very gentle version of Western cheesecake, but the texture is entirely different.
How this Sandesh sweet can be your favorite?
The kitchen skill. This benchmark recipe is perfect for beginners to brush up their interest in the kitchen. It does not involve a long process and a long list of ingredients.
All it needs are just three ingredients. The method of making is also simple and easy to understand, so there are fewer chances of going wrong, even when tried for the first time. So, to sum up, easy dessert recipes are a good choice when trying sweet Indian recipes.
Time. The making of this dessert takes minimal time compared with other Indian sweets.
For the Crowd. Are you Making Sandesh sweets for a special occasion or a crowd? You should make these, as it is all one step for large or small quantities. Making in batches is also possible.
Another good point is that you make ahead of time and refrigerate it. Serve whenever necessary. It can save you a tonne of time and accessible from last-minute hassles.
Can I make Sandesh's recipe with condensed milk?
Yes, you can. Adding condensed milk makes this easy Bengali sweet recipe more rich and tasty. Do not substitute condensed milk with milk in this recipe. Just add along with the quantity of milk stated in this recipe since condensed milk already carries the sugar it needs for the sweet.
The Ingredients
This Sandesh recipe is made with universally available ingredients and has no unique Indian elements. So, there is no need to rush to the nearby Indian store or make an online purchase before making this dish. All you need is milk, lemon, and sugar. If you have a cardamon, it is good. Otherwise, no problem; you can use any spices in your kitchen already.
Milk is the Key Ingredient. Whole milk is perfect for this Sandesh recipe. The whole cream milk gives a nice, rich flavor and taste. The fat content also offers a great creamy texture to Sandesh. But if you are health conscious, you may use low-fat milk.
If you have paneer or Indian cottage cheese at home, you can skip curdling the milk and proceed with the next step immediately.
Lemon Juice. This is used for curdling the milk. You can substitute.
Sugar. Use regular refined sugar; no particular sugar is needed, like powdered or crystal sugar. Each variation of sugar brings out a whole new dish and dramatically changes the color of the Sandesh.
How long can you store this?
Since this Indian dessert is made with milk, its shelf life is minimal. It is good to use for two days on the kitchen counter. And you may use Sandesh for 5-6 days when refrigerated. And for 3-4 months when frozen.
Other desserts you may like,
- Carnival funnel cake
- Dry fruit laddu
- Dessert recipes
Printable recipe card
Sandesh Recipe
Sandesh Recipe sweet is very soft as if it is going to fall when we lift it. I learned this recipe from my Bengali friend. It can be easily prepared(only 3 ingredients),can be chilled and served as dessert.
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 192kcal
Ingredients
- 8 cups milk
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder
- ¼ cup almonds sliced-for decoration
Instructions
In a big sauce pot, add milk and bring it to rolling boil.
Add lemon juice and switch off the flame.
Stir continuously until, milk curdles and whey water separates.
Strain and keep the strainer under running water. This removes the lemon's tart flavor and taste.
Allow paneer to cool down to the room temperature.
Then knead paneer well, either in hand or in the blender. Paneer has to become like a paste with no lumps on it. The consistency of paneer should be like thick.
Take equal amount of sugar.
Over medium heat, in a pan add sugar, paneer dough, and cardamom powder. In mild flame cook this mixture for 4 minutes, or until it leaves the pan.
Cook it until the mixture starts leaving the pan.
In a tray, set the mixture to 1" thickness and leave it for 5 minutes.
Sprinkle almond slices for decoration, and then with the knife cut them into pieces for serving.
Notes
This is the basic preparation. Sandesh can also be prepared with your choices of food color, food essence, molds.
Nutrition
Calories: 192kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 17mg | Sugar: 25g | Calcium: 142mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Course Dessert
Cuisine Indian
Author Sujatha Muralidhar
**Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided is an approximate estimate only.
Serving Suggestions:
1. Serve warm or store in the refrigerator for 3 hours, then serve cold as dessert.
2. Sprinkle saffron on the top for extra rich flavor.
Tips and Variations for Sandesh Recipe:
1. Add rose, your favorite essence, and food color for different variations.
2. Cut into different shapes.
3. Ready-made molds are available in different sizes and shapes; you are most welcome to use them.
4. You may also try the Sandesh recipe with powdered milk.
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