Natun
Gud Sandesh (Cottage Cheese Palm Jaggery Sweet)
By FBWorld Team
If
you have ever pined for desserts without their sinful
baggage of eggs, cholesterol and calories, then just try
the Indian Sandesh. This is a dessert which is very popular
in Eastern India and more so in West Bengal. Although
Sandesh comes in all kinds of shapes, colours and flavours,
the classic variation that I'm presenting here contains
the natural flavour and colour of an unusual sweetener-Palm
Jaggery, which is also called natun gud (literally new
jaggery) in West Bengal.
Unlike
normal sugar, that is made from sugarcanes, palm jaggery
is made from the sap extract of Palm Trees and has high
medicinal value. It is rich in Calcium, Iron and other
useful vitamins and minerals, which the normal refined
sugar lacks. Palm Jaggery, being of fruit origin, is also
considered to be more suitable for people suffering from
diabetes.
Palm
jaggery, or Palm sugar (which I find less flavourful),
can be found in stores carrying Bengali, Thai, Malaysian
or Indonesian groceries.
Prep
time: 7 mins
Cooking time: 10 mins
Ingredients:
Fresh Paneer (cottage cheese)-1/2 kg
Palm jaggery-150 grams
Sugar-100 grams
Milk Powder-3 tbls.
Method:
1. In a thick bottomed wok, mix together
all the ingredients.
2.
Place it on fire.
3.
Keep stirring till all the water dries up and the consistency
becomes thick and smooth.
4.
Pour the mixture into a food processor and blend well.
5.
Pour out the mixture onto a big plate or serving dish
and let it cool down.
6.
Now pick up small portions and make it into any shape
with your hands (or using any moulds). You may even use
a cookie cutter if you want your Sandesh in a particular
shape (i.e. hearts, a smiley face, or a star).
Your
NATUN GUD SANDESH (Cottage Cheese Palm Jaggery Sweet)
is ready.
READ
MORE ABOUT IT HERE.
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