HOME        |        ABOUT        |        COPYRIGHT        |        CONTACT        |         RECIPE INDEX        |         INDIAN THAALIS        |         MILLET RECIPES        |        EVENTS' ROUNDUP        

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Kesar Sandesh / Sondesh


Bengali cuisine is well known for many mouth watering, dairy based sweets and I am fond of them all. I am a sucker for chhena based desserts like champakali, chamcham, rosgulla and rasmalai since I was a kid. Those were the things I would order at the end of a meal at restaurants back when I was in India and still do when I visit India. Somehow I like the succulent texture of the above dishes and they top my "most favorite desserts" list even today. I couldn't therefore let go this "Something Sweet" themed week of BM#12 without a milk based sweet and so here is kesar sandesh or sondesh, as Bengalis call it.
Sandesh is prepared with chhena and it has just melt in mouth kind texture and palate pleasing yumminess. If you have chhena ready, this is a simple dish to prepare and impress your guests. It gives an impression that you toiled for long in the kitchen.

Ingredients:
10 cups milk (About 2 litres of milk)
6 Tbsp of sugar
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
a pinch of saffron soaked in a tsp of warm milk
Sliced pistachios for garnishing
(Additionally vinegar / lemon juice to prepare chhena.)


Method:
* Prepare chhena with the milk as shown here.
* Traditionally the chhena and sugar are kneaded well, manually. This time around, I skipped that step since I had seen some of the blogger buddies blending the two ingredients in a mixer. I followed that this time and put the chhena, sugar and cardamom powder in the food processor and pulsed it until I got a smooth mixture.


* Put the mixture and saffron along with the warm milk it is soaked in, in a non stick pan and start cooking on low - medium flame. I added a pinch of yellow color for appeal and that is totally optional. Keep stirring in between to avoid the mixture from scorching, especially if you are not using a nonstick pan.
 

* After a few minutes, you will start to notice that the mixture almost reaches liquid stage again. Don't panic. Keep on stirring until it thickens. The whole procedure takes a good 20 - 25 minutes. This is really a simple dessert to prepare and woo your guests. No expertise or knack required. You just must be able to stir the contents in the pan. :)



* When the mixture comes together, turn off the stove and let it cool a bit. Then mould the mixture into preferred shape using your hands and garnish with nuts and extra saffron if desired.

Check out here to know what my fellow marathoners have come up with during this marathon.


Comments

29 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow they looks so beautiful nice idea of blending chhena and sugar will try this

Fairy Garden said...

That's a great recipe. Only thing is you should have energy to stir the sweet till it is almost done.

Could you please tell me what is chhena is it the besan itself?

Ongoing Event: MurariAnniversary-Giveaway-2012

The Pumpkin Farm said...

yummy and easy too, good that you managed to do a step by step ...will it a shot sometime, for now bookmarked

Ms.Chitchat said...

Wow, a true tasty dessert. lovely clicks too.

chef and her kitchen said...

very delicious sandesh..looks colorful n yumm

Anonymous said...

You make it sound so simple! When I lived in Bangalore, KC Das was a favourite haunt for us to try Bengal sweets.

lubnakarim06 said...

Wow...looks extremely yum....Perfect to relish on...

Anonymous said...

We used to visit KC Das regularly when we were in bangalore for their Sandesh and chamchams. You make it sound so simple and it looks lovely!

Unknown said...

We used to visit KC Das regularly when we were in bangalore for their Sandesh and chamchams. You make it sound so simple and it looks lovely!
-http://foodiliciousnan.wordpress.com

Santosh Bangar said...

yum..yum sweet of bangal looking inviting

Priya Suresh said...

Damn tempting and super addictive kesar sandesh..

Unknown said...

My fav..looks yum

Mélange said...

Awesome Sondesh Suma..Nicely baked.Yum!

Kalyani said...

mind blowing recipe Suma :) bookmarking !

Srivalli said...

That's so soft to look at!..I am sure it is really melt in the mouth types..:)

Anjali Shukla said...

oh gosh!! This looks so tempting and the way you have explained is just so easy. I can't wait to try this one... :)

veena said...

suma, dont do this to me....i am drooling....i want some

Usha said...

These look perfect & just like the store bought ones.. :) Nice recipe, Suma!

Harini said...

Awesome recipe!! As you said very easy to make and enjoy as well!

Roshni said...

lovely clicks. very tempting

FewMinute Wonders said...

I love sandesh. I ate it towards the end of my pregnancy everyday. Have never thought of making it at home. Looks very simple. My aunt gave me her recipe but its been years. Yours looks yummy.

anjana said...

Yummy and so delicious..looking very cute and beautiful...perfectly done recipe.loved it.

Unknown said...

they look awesome!

Chitra said...

Bookmarked it.. lovely step by step clicks :) thnx so much for the recipe//

Suma Gandlur said...

Hema, I have provided the link for chhena preparation in the recipe. Please check it.

Cool Lassi(e) said...

Bengali's are well known for their sweet treats! This looks fabulous!

Deeps @ Naughty Curry said...

looks lovely, milk sweets are my husband's fav so gonna give this a try :)

Vanamala Hebbar said...

bookmarked..looks delicious

vaishali sabnani said...

Book marked!!...have always been hesitant to try these...u give me confidence...dear:)