Elixir Sandesh is my choice for the alphabet E in the A to Z Bengali Sweets Series. I had nothing else to fall back and the only options I had was either Easy Rad Malai or Easy Sandesh, which I wasn't ready.
It was a case of sheer desperation that I started searching again when I landed in some of the online shops that had their catalogs. While I came across a site talks about all the different varieties one can find in the sweet shops, landing on the online cart to order was even better, as most of them had their varieties listed out. I landed on Elixir that had a silver foil over it and no other explanation. Going by the word elixir, which means magical, I ended up deciding to create my own version of a magical Sandesh
As I have already said, there are so many modern takes on the Sandesh along with the traditional ones. You can find all seasonal fruit specials with Sandesh, with different nuts and different flavours. So I wanted to create my own when I couldn't lay my hands on Silver foil.
For all the three batches of sweets I did, I had chopped up a huge portion of almonds, pistachios along with soaked saffron and rose petals. One portion of almond and pista was finely chopped, some ground to a fine powder, the other half as silvers.
Today's Bengali Sweet is a Norom Paak with soft chhana kneaded with sugar and then slightly cooked over low flame, finally adding Almond, Pista powder and garnished with Mixed nuts.
Since the only dish that came up in my search was this Elixir Sanesh in the online listing.
As I had mentioned already, I made 3 batches for each type of Bengali Sweets. In that, I took one batch which was approximately 1 cup or 250 ml milk. This yields about 4 to 5 numbers depending on the size and best suited since I was making so many varieties. Apart from this, I even had fine powdered sugar of about 2 cups,
How to Make Soft Homemade Chhana for Bengali Sweets
How to Knead Chhana for Soft Bengali Sweets
In this A to Z Bengali Sweets for Protein Rich dishes:
A for Aam Sandesh
B for Bhapa Sandesh
C for Channar Puli
D for Danadar
Step by Step Pictures for making Soft chhana for Bengali Sweets
Step by Step Pictures for Kneading the fresh Chhana for Sandesh Varieties
Step By Step Pictures for Making Elixir Sandesh
Elixir Sandesh | How to make Almond Pista Sandesh
Ingredients Needed:
1 cup Paneer / Chhena / Cottage cheese
1/2 cup Sugar powdered increase if required
1/4 cup Pista Powder
1/4 cup Almond Powder
Mixed Nuts for garnishing
Make the Chhana and knead it to soft ball.
Heat a nonstick pan, add the soft chhana and cook for 2 mins.
Then add half of the sugar and mix well.
Next, add the finely ground almond, pista powder, continue to mix well with chhana.
Check for sweetness and add the sugar as per taste further. Cook for 5 mins
Do not let the mix overcook, you will end up having a crumbly Sandesh.
If you are going to shape the Sandesh, then press the Sandesh into the mold when it is still hot, let it sit at room temperature or refrigerate for an hour or so.
Garnish with finely chopped nuts before serving.
Chhana mixed with sugar needs to be cooked only for about 5 mins max, else you will end up having crumbly paneer on hand.
Press the hot Sandesh into the molds for it to get shape quickly, else you will have heat it up again.
For best results, refrigerate for 10 to 20 mins before removing from molds.
Recipe
Elixir Sandesh | How to make Almond Pista Sandesh
Ingredients
- 1 cup Paneer / Chhena / Cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup Sugar powdered increase if required
- 1/4 cup Pista Powder
- 1/4 cup Almond Powder
- Mixed Nuts for garnishing
Instructions
- Make the Chhana and knead it to soft ball.
- Heat a nonstick pan, add the soft chhana and cook for 2 mins.
- Then add half of the sugar and mix well.
- Next, add the finely ground almond, pista powder, continue to mix well with chhana.
- Check taste and add the sugar as per taste further. Cook for 5 mins
- Do not let the mix overcook, you will end up having a crumbly Sandesh.
- If you are going to shape the Sandesh, then press the Sandesh into the mold when it is still hot, let it sit at room temperature or refrigerate for an hour or so
- Garnish with finely chopped nuts before serving.
Notes
This is part of the A to Z Protein-Rich dishes, where I decided to showcase A to Z Bengali Sweets with Paneer/Chhana as the main source.
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vaishalisabnani says
Yes , there are a couple of alphabets that make you go crazy , but we bloggers find a solution . I like the word Elixir . Sounds exotic kinds .
The Sandesh series is absolutely beautiful and I am loving each and every one of these , hoping some day I will make at least a couple of them .
Padmajha PJ says
I couldn't guess what u would post for this alphabet. Elixir does sound exotic. It is indeed with all those nuts!!!
Gayathri Kumar says
Nice play on the word Valli. Now I know your secret of finding out dishes. I will use your idea for my next series. I am a great fan of sandesh and this version with almonds and pistas takes it to the next level..
themadscientistskitchen says
Wow magic in the air. This sounds exotic n delicious
Sharmila - The Happie Friends Potpourri Corner says
I just love this magical sandesh.. You are truly so determined valli..
Sapana says
The name indeed sounds magical and you know what the dish justifies the name. Very well made and presented.
Sowmya:) says
Just like its name, the Sandesh looks magical...brings alive various flavours together like the exilir of life!
Srividhya Gopalakrishnan says
I was wondering what you would pick for E... This sounds perfect and the recipe sure is magical. I am still in awww of how you completed cooking for this BM in just three batches.
Priya Suresh says
How fabulous the name sounds, Elixir Sandesh wow am loving it. And those sandesh with pistachios tempts me a lot. Drooling here.
Rajani says
Good to know about the small batch proportions Valli. That's helpful to avoid overindulgence for people like me :D.
Mayuri Patel says
Hahaaa, trust you to find a solution for E... elixir also means a cure all, sovereign remedy. This sadness is a remedy.... provides healthiness and takes care of the sweet buds.
Anlet Prince says
It indeed exotic. Brings in so many flavours alive...
Preeti says
The word elixir is new for me... sandesh looks awesome.
Kalyani says
trust you to be so determined. I really don't care what its name is - it looks and would have tasted awesome 🙂
end of the fork says
Great tips for making yet another delicious dessert - Your lucky family who get to taste them all!
ruchi indu says
Amazing!! How you have come up with recipes for difficult alphabets. pista and badam is a good combo.