What sweet was invented when the Portuguese who settled in India on the banks of river Hooghly brought their love for cheese all the way to the country? The delectable Sandesh/Sondesh was born! Derived from the Hindi word Sandesh, which means news or message, this sweet dish was sent as a gift to families and friends by Bengalis. This is also how it got its name.
It was a taboo and absolutely inauspicious to use curdled milk traditionally in India. However, as an excpetion, Sandesh is the only dessert made out of chenna, which is an extract taken from curdled milk. This chenna is tossed along with sugar on a low flame. This is then shaped into small balls called kanchagolla, which is also the simpler version of the Sandesh. Today, Sandesh is not just available in a variety of versions but also shapes. It is also given some very attractive names.
Nolen Gurer Sandesh is the most famous variant of this dessert and made out of palm jagger, which explains the brown color. Two other variations are Narom Pauk Sandesh and Koda Pauk Sandesh. The ingredients that go into making a Sandesh include Nestlé MILKMAID, maida, powdered sugar, paneer and Nestlé Everyday Whitener. Now before we move on to the Sandesh recipe, here are some tips for you to consider.
Sandesh can be kept in an airtight container for about 2 to 3 days
Yes. However, it is important to note that the paneer you buy is fresh and not one that is kept for some days.
It is possible to make different varieties of Sandesh by using other essences like coffee, mango pulp, rose, etc.