Utshob Sondesh | How to make Utsav Sandesh ~ Simple Delicious Food Recipes

Utshob Sondesh or Utsav Sandesh is my choice for U in the A to Z Bengali Sweets Series. We are into our final week of this Mega BM and I can’t believe it been almost like a breeze for me after picking up this theme. The last 6 alphabets were the toughest as I was not able to find recipes for any letter, and for some, I couldn’t even find a dish starting with that letter. So this week you will read about some innovative dishes I was able to come with.

Today’s Utshob Sondesh was listed in the online catalog sold by Nakur. The image looks very plain and didn’t carry any description on what goes into it. During my research, when I had joined a forum just to further my knowledge of Bengali Sweets, I asked the learned folks if they have something like the Upwas related dishes. For my A to Z Maharashtrian Sweets, I made some dishes like the Farali Chivda and Upwas Puran Poli, both of which are very popularly made during the Upwas season. On reading my comment, one gentleman replied that unlike such customs in other states, the bongs enjoy the festival season more exuberance, pomp, and show! All festivals and occasions are an Utshob for them! This prompted me to prefix my Sandesh with Utshob and just for curiosity sake, searched and came across that sweetshop listing. I was amazed at the thinking each region has!

So given the fact that this Sandesh has to be Utsav, I decided to make it colourful. And in order to make things easy for myself, I saved up some of the portions from other Sandesh to make this one. I was surprised that the final pictures turned out blue, instead of the green it is, but yes it is Pista and added with green colour! I have used Pista Sandesh, Gajar Sandesh and another one that’s coming up later to make this colourful Sandesh.

You can make the regular sandesh, divide it into different portions, add flavours and mix to serve. This was also prepared with the Tricolour combination in mind. In the Fruit layered Sandesh, I used Orange Sandesh, in this its Carrot Sandesh.

As with all Paneer Based Bengali Sweets, you need to make fresh soft Paneer/Chhana and then knead it well. The additional step you would be doing while making Sandesh will be finally kneading with half of the sugar quantity before cooking it.

How to Make Soft Homemade Chhana for Bengali Sweets

How to Knead Chhana for Soft Bengali Sweets

In this A to Z Bengali Sweets for Protein Rich dishes:

A for Aam Sandesh
B for Bhapa Sandesh
C for Channar Puli
D for Danadar
E for Elixir Sandesh
F for Fruit Sandesh
G for Gajarer Sandesh
H for Hot Chocolate Sandesh Truffle
I for Ice Cream Sandesh
J for Jilapi
K for Khirkadam
L for Lyangcha
M for Malai Sandesh
N for Nikhuti Payesh
O for Orange Sandesh
P for Pantua
Q for Quick Rasmalai
R for Rasgulla
S for Sita Bhog
T for Tota Puli

Step by Step Pictures for making soft chhana for Bengali Sweets

Step by Step Pictures for kneading to make Sandesh

Step by Step Pictures for making Carrot Layer

Step by Step Pictures for making Saffron Layer

Step by Step Pictures for making Pista Layer

Utshob Sondesh | How to make Utsav Sandesh

1/2 cup Pista Sandesh
1/2 cup Carrot Sandesh
1/2 cup Saffron Sandesh
Mixed Nuts for garnishing

Make the Chhana and knead it to softball. Knead with half the sugar required to make a soft mix.
Heat a nonstick pan, add the soft chhana and cook for 2 mins.
Then add another half of the sugar and mix well.
Proceed to make Pista Sandesh, Carrot Sandesh, and Saffron Sandesh.
Once done, pinch out small balls from each flavour, make a tight ball together.
Set it in a muffin mold, garnished with nuts.
Chill until serving.

Notes

Do not overcook the soft chhana, else you will end up with crumbly Sandesh.
If you are going to shape the Sandesh, then press the Sandesh into the mold when it is still hot, let it sit at room temperature or refrigerate for an hour or so.
Chhana mixed with sugar needs to be cooked only for about 5 mins max, else you will end up having crumbly paneer on hand.
Press the hot Sandesh into the molds for it to get shape quickly, else you will have heat it up again.
For best results, refrigerate for 10 to 20 mins before removing from molds.

Utshob Sondesh | How to make Utsav Sandesh

Utshob or Utsav Sandesh is a celebration Sandesh made with different flavours and makes a wonderful mix of taste and colour. This is made as a celebration of our Tricolour Flag!

CourseSweets
CuisineBengali
By Cook MethodStovetop
OccasionDiwali, Festival Meal
By DietProtein Rich
Dish TypePaneer Dishes

Servings4 pieces

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time15 minutes

Ingredients

1/2cup Pista Sandesh
1/2cup Carrot Sandesh
1/2cup Saffron Sandesh
Mixed Nutsfor garnishing

Instructions

Make the Chhana and knead it to softball. Knead with half the sugar required to make a soft mix.
Heat a nonstick pan, add the soft chhana and cook for 2 mins.
Then add another half of the sugar and mix well.
Proceed to make Pista Sandesh, Carrot Sandesh, and Saffron Sandesh.
Once done, pinch out small balls from each flavour, make a tight ball together.
Set it in a muffin mold, garnished with nuts.
Chill until serving.

Recipe Notes

Do not overcook the soft chhana, else you will end up with crumbly Sandesh.

If you are going to shape the Sandesh, then press the Sandesh into the mold when it is still hot, let it sit at room temperature or refrigerate for an hour or so.

Chhana mixed with sugar needs to be cooked only for about 5 mins max, else you will end up having crumbly paneer on hand.

Press the hot Sandesh into the molds for it to get shape quickly, else you will have heat it up again. For best results, refrigerate for 10 to 20 mins before removing from molds.