Degchi
Fresh cheese curd cooked briefly with sugar and shaped into small moulded sweets, barely cooked so the milk's own flavour stays in front. Simpler and less wet than rasmalai or roshogolla, this is the everyday Bengali mithai, often made plain for Saraswati Puja offerings.
Quick answer: 35 min in total · serves 10 · main ingredients: Milk, Lemon, Sugar · amounts in metric and US
Ingredients
- 1.5 l 6.3 cup Milk, full-fat, for the cheese curd
- 2 tbsp 2 tbsp Lemon, juice, to curdle the milk
- 100 g 0.5 cup Sugar
- 3 pc 3 pc Cardamom, ground (Optional)
Steps
Timers run only while this tab is open. The Degchi app keeps them running on a locked phone.
- Curdle the boiling milk with lemon juice added gradually until it fully separates.⏱ Curdling the milk · 10 min
- Strain, rinse under cool water, and hang to drain for 20 minutes, slightly less than for roshogolla so some moisture remains.⏱ Draining the curd · 20 min
- Knead the curd briefly until smooth, about 5 minutes.⏱ Kneading the curd · 5 min
- Cook the curd with the sugar in a non-stick pan over low heat, stirring constantly, for 5-6 minutes until it just starts to leave the sides of the pan — do not overcook.⏱ Cooking the sandesh mixture · 6 min
- While still warm, shape into small discs or press into moulds.
- Cool completely to room temperature before serving or storing.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does Sandesh take?
35 minutes in total: about 20 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking.
Is Sandesh hard to make?
Degchi rates it medium. The method has 6 steps, and 4 of them have a timer you can start on this page.
How many people does Sandesh serve?
This recipe serves 10. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.
Is Sandesh halal, vegetarian or eggless?
It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.
What will I probably need to buy for Sandesh?
Fresh items you will probably need to buy: milk, lemon. Lentils, grains and other dry goods: sugar.
Any tips for making Sandesh?
Sandesh is meant to taste of milk first, sugar second — undercook rather than overcook, and keep the sugar modest.
Notes and questions
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