I have recreated this recipe from +PIYALI SEKHAR MUTHA /My Tryst With Food And Travel . She always gives me such beautifully cooked and photographed recipe; like this one.

It’s my first time trying out. Overall, I am happy it turned out well. However, I could have use less cheese: 250 g instead of 375g. As I don’t like wasting food and I don’t have Khoya Milk Solids so it would set a bit firmer as Piyali.

At least I did try and get to eat this dessert. In my next time making I will remember to reduce the liquid. and it should have more brown layer top.

Ingredients

For the Sandesh

375 g ricotta cheese
25 ml thickened cream
3-6 Tbs sugar

For the Malai

1 L full cream milk
350 g condense milk
a few strand of saffron
2 cardamom pods, crush lightly

Garnish

Strawberries,  blueberries

Method

Pre heat the oven at 180 degree C. In a large mix well the ricotta, sugar, thickened cream. Divide the mix into 4 equal parts in the dariols.

Smooth out the ricotta cheese mixture with table spoon and gives a gentle knock on the bench so they have smooth even surface.

Take a large oven proof tray. Place the dariols in it. Fill with water till it touches about half the surface of the dariols. Place the tray in oven and bake for 30-45 minutes.

Meantime, make the malai. Take a large saucepan. Add milk, saffron and cardamom pods. Cook the milk stirring intermittently and also scrape the milk solids off the saucepan walls from time to time.

Once milk mixture reduces to half, add condensed milk. Stir to mix well. Simmer for another 5-10 minutes and the Malai will be ready. Remove the tray from the oven. Insert skewer and test if the Sandesh is fully done. It should come out clean.

Remove the dariols from the water bath. Pour the thickened milk over the Sandesh up to the brim. Increase oven to 220 degree C. Switch on only the grill mode.

You can place the dariols in without water as close to the grill beams for 8-15 minutes or till you get a lovely caramelised top. Remove from the oven. (I put my a shelf below, not too close).

Garnish with strawberry and blueberry or anything you wish like nuts, edible flowers. Serve hot or cold according to your choice. I serve mine hot (rested 10-15 minutes).

Note: Oven temperature vary. You might need less time to cook Sandesh. You can use cottage cheese and instead of thickened milk use Khoya, Milk Solids, skip if you don’t have. You don’t have to use cardoman pods and saffron if you don’t want to.

https://helenscchin.com/2017/09/28/baked-sweet-ricotta-cheese-in-thickened-milk/

Piyali’s recipe link: https://mytrystwithfoodandtravel.blogspot.ae/2017/09/baked-malai-sandesh-recipe-baked-sweet.html

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