Baked Sandesh - Paneer (Indian Cheese) Sweet from Calcutta
Baked Sandesh
Note from Mamta; This easy recipe from my sister in-law Sunita. It probably comes from her mother, late Mrs. Vinodini Rastogi. This is one of a multitude of sweets made from paneer cheese or chena in India.
Ingredients
- 1 litre milk
- Juice of 1 lemon (bottled variety will do)
- 3/4 cup milk powder
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- A handful of flaked almonds
- 5-6 green pistachio grated/chopped finely
- 5-6 green cardamoms, seeds removed and powdered
Instructions
- Boil milk in a pan.
- Add lemon juice, a little at a time, until milk curdles (solids and whey separate). This solid is paneer.
- Drain paneer in a strainer for 5-7 minutes. Discard liquid.
- While still hot, place paneer, powder milk, cardamom powder and sugar on a plate or a work surface and knead thoroughly. It should have a granular consistency.
- Add almonds, saving a few for garnish, and mix well.
- Spread evenly in a lined and greased baking tray by pressing with a flat spoon or your palms.
- Sprinkle remaining nuts as garnish.
- Bake in a medium hot oven, 350°F/175°C, until it looks lightly brown.
- Cool.
- Cut into small pieces.
- Serve at room temperature.