Strawberry Sondesh and a busy week ahead
This Strawberry Sondesh, is inspired by something my daughter imagined. Despite the rather motley pink color, they tasted really great.
I love berries. The strawberry influx this time of the year is unnatural inspired by valentine’s day I always pick some up. Deepta will be switching schools this fall, she has to decide which one. Luckily for her, she has obtained admission to all her three choices. She is tied between number 1 and number 2.
So she is wished for Strawberry Sondesh, maybe to help her make up her mind?
My Strawberry Sondesh Story
To infuse the strawberry sondesh with the strawberry flavor, I prepared a syrup with strawberry and maple syrup. I have to confess the concoction was so good, I ended up having about 1/3 of it plain, and mixed the rest into the sondesh.
I did this batch in a huge hurry, but realized along the way that the best temperature to work with sondesh molds is to ensure that the sondesh is just a little cooler. Does not surprise me, as a Bengali confectionery it will not be the hand scarring kind. Today, all things considered was a good day, had a great peaceful afternoon, complete with Sondesh.
Tomorrow is a dreaded doctor’s appointment! Nothing wrong with me, just do not like visiting doctor’s and dentists. The kids plan on spending the rest of the week, roboting, let us hope they remain thinking children after all this. I see long hours in the kitchen, thank goodness, I love to cook. But you know that already.
The key to sondesh is good channa or homemade paneer, here is my quick video on that. Just realizing that I need more than cooking to ground me this week. I have been craving all things comforting, the newest craving has been for fish fry.
Another interesting Sondesh story is this steamed Sondesh Story and then for strawberries you can check out my strawberry Lassi story.
A strawberry infused version of the Bengali Sondesh.
Ingredients
- 1/2 gallon whole milk
- 2 limes
- 1 cup hulled strawberries (about 8), plus one or two for garnishing
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup sugar
Instructions
- Heat the milk in a large wide bottomed pot until it comes to a rolling boil. Turn off the heat and squeeze in the lime juice gradually. Do this with each lime half at a time, and stir to separate. When the milk separates into milk solids and greenish whey.
- In the meantime place the strawberries and the maple syrup in a small sauce pan and simmer for about 5 minutes, until the strawberries are soft and mushy. Mash the mixture with the back of the spoon to mix well.
- Chop the remaining 1 or 2 strawberries into small pieces to garnish.
- Gather the solids into a cheesecloth and let the fresh paneer drain for a couple of hours. Knead the drained paneer for 5 to 10 minutes until it is very smooth and your fingers get tinged with the milk fats.
- Place the mixed paneer in a heavy bottomed pan. Add in the strawberry maple mixture and the sugar and cook for 6 to 7 minutes, until the mixture begins leaving the sides of the pan.
- Shape into decorative shapes using a mold or shape into round balls.
- Cool thoroughly and garnish with the chopped strawberries and serve.