Happy Bengali New Year Poila Boiskhakh April 15, 2011
(in Bengali Sidereal CalendarYear 1418 of Boishakh month)
I love all Bengali festivals.. only for sweets! Sweets are not just a part of food, but have become significant part of Bengali culture. On the eve of Poila Boishakh (West Bengal New Year), I plan to prepare homemade nolen gurer sondesh. Literal translation would be date palm brown sugar milk fudge.
Being a Bengali and never been to West Bengal may surprise you, but its true! That doesn't stop me from being sondesh lover (a non-bengali would pronounce as sandesh) without worrying about my waistline (will make it up by running an extra mile for a week). Making sondesh is not easy task.. it requires tons of sweet patience. Here is the recipe if you want to try at home. Otherwise, just find an authentic Bengali Sweet shop (my favourite is Sweet Bengal in Mumbai) and buy delicious sondesh! Or, just visit a sweet Bengali friend ;-)
You need:
Fresh milk
Nolen Gur (or date palm jaggery)
Raisins
Wooden mould (of different design and shapes)
Most Bengali sweets are made from chana (cottage cheese) and date palm jaggery. Prepare the chana by boiling and coagulating the milk. Then knead the chana with nolen gur till soft and light. Finally use the prepared dough to make shapes and sizes with the help of wooden mould. Decorate with raisins. Ready to serve!
Next month will come with more authentic traditonal bengali sweets!!
