Kalakand is a rich Indian sweet made by condensing milk with paneer or Indian cheese. Whole milk is cooked along with paneer until solidified and shaped into a cake. It is a laborious process but there is always a shortcut. Microwave kalakand is a simplified version of preparing this delicious Bengali sweet.
Microwave Kalakand is making rounds in the blogosphere ever since I started blogging, little over three years ago. I heard and read a lot about this kalakand but never made it at home nor tasted it. Last Diwali, my cousin invited us to her house as it was her first Diwali in her new home. One of our aunts brought some homemade sweets and this kalakand was one of them. It was awesome and ever since, I wanted to try it. When I decided to participate in this month’s blogging marathon and picked my themes, I remembered this kalakand. I remember my aunt mentioning that all we need to prepare this delectable sweet is condensed milk and ricotta cheese and it would be a perfect recipe for cooking with five or less ingredients.
For the day 2 of the marathon, I made microwave kalakand. There are many recipes online for this sweet. I followed Sandeepa’s recipe and Hetal & Anuja also have a recipe similar to Sandeepa’s.
Source: Bong Mom’s Cookbook
Total Time: 27 – 30 minutes
Preparation: 10 minutes
Microwave: 17 minutes
Yields: 24 pieces
Ingredients:
- 15 oz. Ricotta Cheese
- 14 oz. Condensed Milk
- ½ tsp. Cardamom Seeds powdered
- Butter to grease the dish
- Garnish
- 1 tbsp. chopped Almond
- ½ tbsp. chopped Pistachios
Preparation:
- Grease a microwaveable dish with butter.
- Pour condensed milk into the pan. Add the ricotta cheese and mix well so that there are no lumps.
- Add cardamom powder and mix well.
- Microwave it for 5 minutes. Remove and stir it nicely.
- Microwave it for another 5 minutes. Keep an eye on the dish and stop the microwave if the mixture over flows. Remove, stir it and put it back in the microwave and continue to cook. My mixture did not over flow.
- By now the mixture will thicken. Continue to cook for another 5-7 minutes, stirring it every 2-3 minutes. If the mixture begins to over flows, mix it every 1 minute. By now the mixture will become grainy and most of the liquid will evaporate. It should not be too dry either. Microwave oven settings vary from oven to oven and cook it a little longer, if required.
- Once the mixture thickens, that would be in 15 – 17 minutes of cooking, let it cool on the counter top. After 30 minutes, sprinkle the nuts and press it firmly so that the nuts stick to the kalakand. Cut it into desired pieces and let it cool completely.
My Notes:
I cooked mine for 16 minutes and was not sure if I should cook it for another minute. I liked the taste and next time will definitely try cooking it for another minute to see if there is a difference in taste.
This is my second entry to Srivalli's MEC: Potluck Party.
Suma Gandlur says
Looks very delicious. I too have been planning to make this ever since I saw it on Sandeepa's blog.
Srivalli says
Usha, looks awesome!..Actually the one I make gets done in 5 mins in microwave, though takes abt 40 mins to get set. So who cares about the shape, we dig in as such..:)..
Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal says
I too need to give this recipe a try, I have heard it and even tasted it, but never tried it at home. Looks so awesome, those kalakand pieces just look so heavenly 🙂
PJ says
Looks perfect. I too make this in the MW. Very easy na..
MySpicyKitchen says
@Nirmala, Kalyani & Vaishali
If you can not find ricotta cheese, I think you can substitute it with paneer. Ricotta cheese is italian version of paneer and it is not very firm like paneer. It also has some moisture in it, unlike paneer.
If you decide to use paneer, the cooking time might be less as it has less moisture in it. I have not made kalakand with paneer though.
Pavani says
Wow.. microwave kalakand have come out perfect. They look delicious. Will have to try these.
vaishali says
will have to check on the Ricota cheese....kalakand looks yum..n awsum!!
Priya says
Kalakand looks super prefect and irresistible..
Kalyani says
Must try this for a variation..Btw, do you think this would work with panner too Usha ? Any ideas on how ricotta cheese could be replaced ...?
Kalyani
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Vidhya Jayadeep says
Its so perfect and yum.
nirmala says
Looks mouth watering!!!Want to make sure whether ricoota cheese is available in Chennai
aarthi says
looking good
smitha says
perfectly made...looks delish!
harini-jaya says
yumm this sounds too good to pass..I usually make doodh peda with condensed milk and milk powder ..but ricotta cheese sure adds a new dimension!