CHANA DAL SANDESH

Keeping in tune with the ongoing festivity.... there will be a lot of sweets in the making in all of the Indian homes, be it in India or abroad. We love sweets at any given time, we perhaps do not need any occasion to have sweets. It is our ritual or custom to celebrate with the sweets. No prayer is complete without offering sweet to God. Can we say sweet sells best next to cosmetics? ....Perhaps we can. We have many sweet shops throughout the country, yet we love to prepare them in our homes during the occasions. Sweets and Desserts are an integral part of our life. Those who live abroad religiously try to follow all of their rituals and customs. I am also trying my hands on some new sweets besides the common ones I do on a regular basis. There are a number of chana dal sweet recipes throughout net but these CHANA DAL SANDESH was done all by myself, the idea is hired from the internet. I prepared them using boiled chana dal, khoya, coconut and sugar. Let us do it together.

INGREDIENTS : [for the instant khoya / semi-solidified milk]

Milk Powder : 3/4medium cup
Ghee : 1tbsp
Milk : 1/2 medium cup

INGREDIENTS : [for the sandesh]

Bengal Gram Dal : 1big cup
Coconut [shredded] : 1medium cup
Sugar : 5-6 tbsp [or as par your taste]
Yellow Food Colour : A pinch [optional]
Green Cardamom Powder : 1/2 tsp
Cashewnuts to garnish.


METHOD :

Let us prepare the khoya / semi-solidified milk first. Mix the milk powder, ghee, milk together in a bowl and microwave at high for 2-3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Done.

Wash and soak the chana dal in 2 medium cups of hot water for 2 hours. Pressure cook upto 2-3 whistles. Open once cold.

Blend the dal along with the shredded coconut and a pinch of yellow food colour in a blender.

Heat a wok. Pour the blended dal. Stir continuously for 10-12 minutes. Add the sugar and fold in well.

Keep stirring for another 7-8 minutes. Add the khoya. Fold in well and keep stirring until the whole mixture gets little sticky and tends to come out of the surface of the wok.

Now add the green cardamom powder and mix well. Transfer to a greased plate. Level the mixture with the back of a spatula.

Once cool, cut into desired shapes and garnish with halved cashews. They can be refrigerated upto 3-4 days.