Bengali cuisine is known for its traditional sweets, and one such sugary treat is Sandesh. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Now that the festive season is here, it is time to indulge in some lip-smacking Indian sweets.
Indian festivals are incomplete without sweets. Be it Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja or Diwali, sweets are something we cannot miss. Now that the festive season is here, it is time to indulge in some lip-smacking Indian sweets. When talking about sweets, how can we not talk about Bengali delicacies? Bengali cuisine is known for its traditional sweets, and one such sugary treat is Sandesh.
Made with chenna, sugar and milk, Sandesh or Sondesh is a melt-in-your-mouth Bengali sweet that is not only delicious but also healthy. The sweet has immense cultural significance in Bengal and is considered a message of love. Sandesh is a relatively healthy sweet as it is made from chenna. It will keep your cholesterol levels under check while giving you all the festive feels. Once you have tasted this Bengali sweet, there is no going back.
Over the years, Sandesh has become a global sensation and bloggers in India have turned the recipe into a gastronomic extravaganza. From chocolate sandesh, tutti frutti sandesh to mango sandesh and ice cream sandesh, the variations keep making rounds on the internet. But nothing beats the taste of original sandesh after a hearty meal.
So, let’s dive into the preparation of this quick and healthy sweet:
Ingredients:
- Milk: 1.5 Litres
- Vinegar or Lemon Juice with Water: 1 tbsp
- Coconut Milk Powder: 2 tbsp
- Powdered sugar
- Any pulpy fruit (mangoes, lychees, peaches)
- Desiccated coconut
- Cardamom powder
- Rose petals
- Pistachios
Method:
- Step 1: Boil the milk in a wok and add vinegar or lemon juice to it.
- Step 2: Stir slowly, and the milk will curdle within 2-3 minutes.
- Step 3: Then, take a bowl and separate the curdled milk with a strainer and muslin cloth.
- Step 4: Gently press the chenna and remove all the excess water.
- Step 5: In the next step, mix chenna, rose water, coconut milk powder and powdered sugar.
- Step 6: Add cardamom to give it an enticing taste and knead well until smooth.
- Step 7: Now, pinch off small balls of chenna and stuff your favourite fruit pulp (optional).
- Step 8: Coat with desiccated coconut and garnish it with rose petals and pistachios.
So, ditch the regular high-calorie sweets and enjoy this mouthwatering homemade creation this festive season.
