Mango Sandesh

Mango is the favourite of fruit of the family. Ever since the first lot arrives in the market in the early summers to almost the end of monsoons, or to say, as long as the fruit stays in the market, it is bought religiously and enjoyed fervently. However, of late, because of the scare of the carbide ripened mangoes, we have stopped buying the fruit from the market. We have discovered some farms in the outskirts. Now, our fruit is lifted from these farms while it is being plucked, thus ensuring that fresh produce presumably chemical free and definitely carbide free lands up on our plate, and, at the same time reducing carbon footprint.

Mangoes in the farm

Last month, there was a lovely recipe posted by a blogger friend from Kolkatta that swept me off my feet. Amrita posted the recipe of Mango Sandesh in her blog Sweet 'n' Savoury. She used mango pulp in the famous Bengali sweet Sandesh. It was a beautiful fusion of two of our favourite things. I made mango sandesh twice and we loved it immensely.

Second round of Mango Sandesh

This is how I made Mango Sandesh.

Mango Sandesh

Ingredients
1 liter full cream milk

½ cup curd (1 used the standard 240 ml cup)

¾ cup mango pulp (peel, chop, puree the mango and strain the pulp)

3 tablespoons sugar

Pistachios chopped (for garnishing)

Method

Boil the milk. Reduce the heat.

Add curd and stir till the milk curdles and green whey separates.

Turn off the heat after two minutes.

Put the curdled milk in the muslin cloth and squeeze out excess water. Hang the muslin bag for fifteen minutes. The cottage cheese is ready for use.

Transfer cottage cheese to a plate. Mash it well. Knead it with the heel of your palm till it becomes smooth.

Take mango pulp in a thick bottomed steel wok. Add sugar. When sugar dissolves, add mashed cottage cheese. Mix well.

Cook on low flame stirring continuously.

Mixture starts turning thick. After about 10 to 15 minutes, it begins to move  like a big lump when stirred. Turn off the heat.

Let the mixture cool. 

When it is comfortable enough to handle, shape into small balls, roughly the size of a walnut. Flatten it between palms.

Garnish with chopped pistachios.

 Chocolate Sandesh ....chocolaty and delicious!