Gujhiya is definitely made in most of the houses on Holi. For this, preparations start two days before Holi, but this Holi, try Sandesh along with Gujhiya. This Bengali sweet made of chhena melts as soon as it goes in the mouth. Its soft texture is amazing and apart from milk, it does not require many ingredients. This traditional and very popular sweet of Bengal is liked all over the country. You should also try making this delicious sweet at home once. Holi is the best occasion for this. So let’s see the recipe.
In Bengali culture, sweets were sent to close ones as a gift or a message of happiness. Till the 16th and 17th centuries, this sweet was called ‘Pranhara’ i.e. heart stealer. Later, this sweet became popular by the name Sandesh because it was sent to someone with a loving ‘message’. This sweet is made especially on festivals. In this article, you will know the step by step recipe of Chef Kunal Kapoor approved sandesh.
Ingredients for Sandesh
To make Sandesh, you need cow’s milk 2 liters, white vinegar 50 ml i.e. approximately 3.5 tablespoons, water 100 ml i.e. approximately ½ cup, separate water 2 liters, finely ground sugar 60 grams (its measurement will be approximately 5 tablespoons), corn starch 1.5 tablespoons, ground saffron for garnish. Now know the recipe.
sandesh recipe
- First of all, pour cow’s milk in a big pan and keep it to boil.
- Now take white vinegar in a vessel and mix it in 100 ml water.
- When the milk boils, turn off the gas and add diluted vinegar to it.
- You have to keep stirring the milk with a ladle until it curdles and a nice chhaina is formed.
- Now add some more water to the chhena so that it cools down and the taste of vinegar also reduces.
- Now take out Chhena in a muslin cloth and squeeze out the water thoroughly.
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- When Chhena becomes of thick texture i.e. water drains out, take it out in a big plate.
- Mix powdered sugar in chhena and mash it well with hands until it becomes soft, so that there are no grains in it.
- Now heat a pan or kadhai on low flame and add chhena in it. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the chenna becomes dough-like.
- Now take out the chhena in a plate and let it cool. Then add cardamom powder to it and mix.
- The last and finishing step is to make small balls of Chhena i.e. Sandesh and keep them in a plate.
- Now soak saffron in 1 teaspoon water for some time. Sprinkle it little by little on the message.
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You can create messages by giving a twist
In this way, soft and melt-in-the-mouth delicious sandesh is prepared without much hassle. Which you can serve to guests during the festival. People also add different flavors to it, like in summer people make sandesh with mangoes. So people also give twists like coconut, pistachio, rose, chocolate to the message. Instead of being round, you can give the desired shape to the message by putting it in a mold which looks good in plating while serving.