Quick Bengali Sandesh Recipe: made using channa/ricotta cheese, sugar, ghee, and few other ingredients, this Sandesh or sondesh recipe is extremely easy and delicious
Post By: Molly Kumar
Sandesh /Sondesh is an Extremely Popular Bengali Sweets
The Indian Festive Season is in full swing (started yesterday) and here I’m with my Bengali Sandesh Recipe for you’ll.
Sandesh is a sweet, lightly flavored, cheese fudge that’s extremely delicious.Every year, end of September or early October marks the beginning of winter Indian festivals and they end by March or April.
Being such a large country, every state/region have their own little festivals too and that means that the entire country is completely immersed in celebrations!
Ingredients for the Bengali Sandesh Recipe
- 15 oz Ricotta Cheese – you can use fresh paneer crumble too.
- 4 Tbsp Condensed Milk
- 2 Tbsp Ghee
- 4 Tbsp Sugar – you can use less or more as per your taste
- 5-6 Strands of Saffron – dissolved in 2 tbsp of milk – optional
- 1 Tsp Cardamom Powder
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Pistachio – optional
And, when we say celebrations, our thought always goes to ‘FOOD’ First 🙂 be it any city or state, then comes the decoration followed by clothes, etc.
For those of us, who can’t travel back home, we host our very own Indian festival parties with friends/family and make sure we create an environment similar to that in India.
Sandesh (<-Find more info here)
What is Bengali Sandesh or Sondesh
It’s one of ‘THE MOST Popular’ sweet from Kolkata (apart from Rasgulla – Eastern India).
Now, a traditional Sandesh is made by boiling milk, then converting it into cheese, then going ahead and sauting, mixing more ingredients.
Which is definitely delicious, but an extremely laborious process and that’s one of the main reason why it’s not made so often (trust me it’s a very simple sweet but the traditional recipe is lengthy).
How to Make Bengali Sandesh Recipe?
How to Make Bengali Sandesh using Ricotta Cheese?
My quicker version uses ‘Ricotta Cheese’ instead of using homemade cheese (paneer/chenna).
The texture of Ricotta cheese is similar to the consistency of paneer/chenna needs to make the Sandesh or Sondesh recipe.
After shifting to the US, I came up with this extremely easy and Quick Bengali Sandesh Recipe (tasting similar to the original one).
It turned out so good that it actually became favorite of all our friends/family and a MUST on festive occasions.
But, this year, it’s extra special as I got these ‘Sandesh Molds’ all the way from India.
I got very excited when i found these traditional ‘half wood – half stone’ authentic Bengali Sandesh molds at a local store in Delhi.
Now, the molds do make, making the Sandesh lot easier and fun but you can definitely make them without any molds too.
Just shape them into any size or form you like, the easiest one is a ball and stick some dry fruits on top.
So, this Quick Bengali Sandesh Recipe is an actual fusion of ‘Tradition with Modernity’, where the end result is absolutely scrumptious!
It’s a no-mess or as my friends call it, no-fuss recipe.
It’s extremely easy to make and I can guarantee, once you make them, you cannot stop eating it…I’ve literally seen people fight over the last crumbs too!
It takes 15 minutes to make the Sandesh dough and another 15-20 minutes to make this Bengali Sandesh Recipe using the molds.
If you are not using molds and simply making balls, then it’s even quicker to make.
TIPS for Using Sandesh Molds:
1. Always, apply some oil to the molds (every nook and cranny of it). This helps in removing the Sandesh from the mold when it’s done.
2. Wash the molds with mild soap, air dry or wipe with cloth making sure no water is left (especially if using traditional molds) as they might rust or grow fungus from leftover crumbs.
3. Once washed and dry, use a little oil and evenly massage them to retain that gloss or smoothness.
4. Store them in a box and not cramped in a bag as they might scratch and change the design of your Sandesh.
Here are some different shots of the mold and Sandesh and I hope you make my recipe a part of your festive celebrations or any other party too.
You can even make this 2-3 day in advance and keep in the fridge or they even make great gifts.
Just wrap them in cute cupcake wrappers or in any gift box. This recipe makes 21 medium Bengali Sandesh Recipe.
It’s a perfect sweet to celebrate any Indian festival or served in any parties.
To all of you, who are celebrating this festival —-> Happy Durga Puja <—–
Tried Our Recipe – AWESOME!!!
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Bengali Sandesh Recipe - How to Make Sandesh
Bengali Sandesh Recipe: Absolutely divine & equally easy recipe to make Sandesh / Sondesh, as extremely popular Bengali/Indian dessert.
Ingredients
- 15 oz Ricotta Cheese
- 4 Tbsp Condensed Milk
- 2 Tbsp Ghee
- 4 Tbsp Sugar - you can use less or more as per your taste
- 5-6 Strands of Saffron - dissolved in 2 tbsp of milk - optional
- 1 Tsp Cardamom Powder
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Pistachio - optional
Instructions
Prep Work -> If using Sandesh/Sweet Molds:
- Lightly oil the molds and keep aside.
Making the Sandesh Dough:
- In a large microwaveable bowl, add ricotta cheese, condensed milk, ghee, and sugar.
- Mix this to a smooth consistency and microwave for 3 minutes on high (don't cover the bowl) - This forms granule in the mixture for texture.
- Remove the microwaved content to a non-stick pan and saute this mixture over medium heat for 5 minutes. (saute every 30 seconds to make sure it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.).
- Now, add saffron, cardamom, pistachio and saute for another 3-4 minutes over low heat.
- By this time, the mixture would have become more solid and started to leave the edges of the pan when you turn it.
- Also, the color would be light golden brown (you can even smell the fragrance like cooked ghee with flour).
- Remove from heat and let it cool to touch.
- Use a few drops of oil and spread it in your hand.
Making Sandesh with Molds
- Take a tbsp of mixture and make a rough circle and stick on top of the mold.
- Remove any excess from the edges of the mold and press the mixture into the mold.
- Leave it for 3 seconds and gently remove the Sandesh from the mold.
- Similarly, make all the Sandesh using the molds.
Making Sandesh without Molds:
- Simple make a dough and divide the entire mixture into equal parts (I made 21 Sandesh).
- Now, roll each part in your palms to form a round ball.
- You can stick some dry fruits on top of each ball.
- Complete the process until all the Sandesh are made.
- Serve the Sandesh fresh or you can keep them in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Notes
Ricotta Cheese - you can use fresh paneer crumble too.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
21Serving Size:
2Amount Per Serving: Calories: 53Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 24mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 3g
11 Replies to "Bengali Sandesh Recipe - How to Make Sandesh using Ricotta Cheese"
Barun November 11, 2019 (4:48 am)
The BEST recipe of Sandesh ive tried ever. Thank you for making it so easy Molly
Swagata October 24, 2019 (4:00 pm)
Thanks lot from bottom of my heart. Followed your recipe, came out perfect. Never thought I will ever be able to make Sondesh myself. You made it so easy. Thx again.
Molly Kumar October 28, 2019 (3:04 pm)
Hello Swagata, Thank you so much for trying my recipe and I’m so glad you liked it 🙂 It’s such a delicious sweet – Thanks, Molly
Marie February 23, 2019 (8:15 pm)
Does “condense milk” mean sweetened condensed milk, or evaporated milk, or something else?
Molly Kumar February 25, 2019 (2:23 am)
Hi Marie, Yes, the ‘condensed milk’ means ‘sweetened condensed milk’ and not evaporated milk.
Lshueman -- February 11, 2019 (4:47 pm)
Hello! My Daughter and I are about to make these without the molds for a project on Bangladesh for united nation days at school. I just want to ask if we are making them without the molds do we need to heat up the ingredients as you do in the first set of instructions for those using the molds ? Or do we simply mix everything together in a bowl without needing to heat anything up? Thank you!!
Molly Kumar February 11, 2019 (5:15 pm)
Hello, You need to heat the ingredients as per the instructions for the dough and then simply follow the ‘Without Mold’ procedure. We recently made them without molds too and used forks to make edges for design 🙂 Hope you’ll enjoy it. Thanks, Molly
Hema October 22, 2018 (6:46 pm)
lots n lots of blessings to you. just finished making and the sandesh came out extremely delicious. Just loved the ease of making this.
Molly Kumar October 23, 2018 (7:48 am)
Hello Hema, I’m sooooo happy that you liked the recipe and thank you so much for your kind words n blessings, Luv, Molly 🙂
Riti Roy October 18, 2017 (8:26 pm)
Happy Diwali ! I made it for Diwali , turned out yummy .
Molly Kumar October 22, 2017 (3:39 pm)
Hi Riti, thanks so much for your message and I’m so happy you enjoyed them as much as we do 🙂