I was thinking… should I post a Diwali recipe or not? These days I'm surrounded with Diwali celebrations, both virtually and in reality. So, even though it's a festival that we dont celebrate at home, there is no harm in starting something new, right? There wasnt any doubt about what to make, it has to be a sweet. Because, the first thing that comes to my mind when I think about Diwali is the red coloured printed “Mithai (sweets) Box”. There is one more reason… it was Jose's b'day yesterday and he loves this kinda sweets. So this year we celebrated his b'day with this wonderful sweet instead of a cake.
Now which sweet to make… that took some time because I didn't want to make any complicated and time consuming one. I wanted a simple no fuss recipe and that's how I ended up with this one.
I tasted this the first time, when My friend Simi made this for us. I remember she saying that it's a very simple and quick sweet to make. I called her asking for the recipe, but since it's Diwali time, I got a double dhamaka offer. Yep, she agreed to come to my place and make it with me, thank you Simi! :) We had a great time making this. It's always nice to have somebody in the kitchen to keep you company, especially when you are making something like this… don't you think so?
If you are yet to decide whether to join the celebrations or not, don’t hurry, you’ve time. Yep, this is something, you can make as a last minute thing :)
We, Jose and myself, Wish You a Happy and Safe Diwali!!
Here is the recipe…
Soak kesar in 1 tbsp hot water for 10-15 mins. Mash paneer coarsely…
Add condensed milk and milk powder to crumbled paneer. Heat the mixture in a thick bottom pan. Cook on low – medium heat with constant stirring till the mixture becomes thick and starts leaving the sides of the pan…
Remove from the fire and spread onto a greased plate/tray. Level it with the back of a spoon or a spatula…
Sprinkle cardamom powder and saffron soaked in hot water & top with pista slivers. Refrigerate for a minimum of 45 mins to set. Cut into squares. Keep refrigerated…
For more Diwali / Indian sweet recipes, click here.
Recipe adapted from here.
Ingredients
- 1 tin (400gms) Condensed Milk
- 500 gms Paneer
- 2 heaped tbsp Full fat milk powder
- 4 Caradamom ( powdered)
- A few strands Kesar (saffron)
- 7-8 Blanched pistachio (sliced)
- 1/2 – 1 tbsp Ghee (for greasing)
Instructions
- Soak Kesar/saffron in 1 tbsp hot water for 10-15 mins.
- Mash paneer coarsely and mix in condensed milk and milk powder. Heat the mixture in a thick bottom pan. Cook on low – medium heat with constant stirring till the mixture becomes thick and starts leaving the sides of the pan. Remove from the fire and spread onto a greased plate/tray. Make sure you dont spread it too thin. Level it with the back of a spoon or an icing spatula.
- Sprinkle cardamom powder (discard the skin and powder the seeds only) and saffron soaked in hot water & top with pista slivers. Refrigerate for a minimum of 45 mins to set. Cut into squares. Keep refrigerated.
Notes
To remove the skin of pistachio, soak it in hot water for 5-10 mins.
It's ideal to use a rectangular or square tray/tin for this. I used my swiss roll/jam roll tin. The thickness of the sweet depends on the type of plate/tray you use.
You can serve it straight from the fridge. However keeping at room temp for 15-20 mins before serving, will make it more softer.
You can store it in the fridge for 5-6 days in an airtight container.
Hi Maria chechi
Dont know from where to start but really thanks a tonne for all these hearty, simple and awesome recipes you gift us !! I am a zero in cookng and if ever I have got any compliments from anyone and any confidence in my cooking its all because of your recipes!!
Tried Kalakand and it turned out too good. I have pics but dont know if i can upload here.
My kalakand was not rigid enough i felt. Is it like that actually? So i couldnt get perfect squares… I couldnt use saffron. Thats the only difference from your recipe. Could tat be the reason ?
Thanks a lot :)
Any substitute for milk powder?
Hi Lian,
Sorry I havent tried this without milk powder :((
Tried this also on this weekend…. came out yummy….. you made my sunday :) my son also liked this so much…. Thanks a lot maria chechi for making my cooking fun…
Thanks Deepthi dear. Great to know that your son also enjoyed this :)
Btw, pls call me Maria ;)
Cheers
Maria
Thanks Deepthi dear. Great to know that your son also enjoyed this :)
Btw, pls call me Maria ;)
Cheers
Maria
hey i made this last sat..and it was really good (except the shape cos of my round low plate)..esp the sweetness was just right…my husband n friends loved it..thank you!!
You are welcome Deepthi! Glad to know that this one came out well for you. It’s my husband’s fav sweet too :)
Cheers
Maria
Hope you had a wonderful Diwali Maria,and belated Birthday wishes to Jose!
Yes Divya and Jose says thank you for the wishes :)
Hi Maria.. I tried this recipe for Diwali and it came out really gud.. This is one site from which I can blindly try any recipe. When I thought of making a sweet for Diwali Kalakand, was the first thing that came into my mind.. And it was a great coincidence that You posted the same for diwali.. Thank you so much.. Luv this site.
Divya
Hi Divya,
Thanks a lot for such a wonderful compliment. I’m really honoured to know that you trust the recipes posted here so much.
Glad that you got the recipe on time :) Hope you had a wonderful Diwali!
Cheers
Maria
Happy Diwali Maria! Have tried this recipe and it is excellent!
Thanks for the wishes and also for the comment :) Hope you had a wonderful Diwali!
Cheers
Maria