Kesar Kalakand / Cottage Cheese Bars infused with Saffron & Cardamom - Diwali Special Recipes

As promised I am posting a series of diwali recipes through out this week, My second recipe for this diwali is a yummy milk desert kalakand. I have been planning to try this out for so many months.  But somehow couldn't get my hands on it. But yesterday I made it happen, the kalakand cameout so good.

You can make kalakand with lots of flavour in it. You can add some cocoa powder and make chocolate kalakand, or add mango puree and make mango kalakand. But I had some lovely saffron which hubby bought from his recent trip to kashmir. I used that and added some cardamom powder to make a flavourful kalakand.

I hope you will love this and let me know if you try it someday.

Preparation Time : 15 mins

Resting Time : 2 hours for setting  paneer + 2 hours for cooling kalakand

Cooking Time - 20 mins

Makes  - 9 big pieces

Ingredients:

Paneer / Cottage Cheese - 200 gms crumbled

Unsweetened Khoya - 1/2 cup

Milk - 1/2 cup

Sugar - 3/4 cup

Cardamom Powder / Yelakai - 1/2 tsp

Saffron - a pinch

Nuts - 1/4 cup ( I used Almonds & Cashews )

For Making Paneer :

Milk - 2 liter

Lemon Juice - 2 tblspn or as needed

Method:

Start by making paneer. Heat milk in a heavy bottom pan.

Once it comes to a boil, add in lemon juice and mix well.

 It will start to curdle. Once it is completely curdled. Switch off the flame.

Line a colander with cheese cloth( I used a clean towel). Drain this mixture over it.

Wash the paneer with lots of cold water to get rid of all the sourness from the lemon juice.

Squeeze the paneer with your hands and leave them to drain for 2 hours, Squeeze often whenever you pass across them.

After that, crumble them with your hands and set aside.

Now lets make the kalakand. Take a non stick pan. Add in paneer, khoya and milk. Mix well and bring this to a boil.

It will get thick and creamy. Now add in sugar and mix well.

Boil this for 10-12 mins. Keep stiring often. Now they will get thick and leave the sides of the pan.

Now add in cardamom powder, saffron and mix well.

Grease a pan with some ghee. Transfer this mixture in that. Sprinkle some nuts on top and press them.

Leave it set for 2 hours. I left them in the fridge.

Now cut them into bars and serve.

Pictorial:

Heat milk in a sauce pan

add in lemon juice

and let it curdle

Line a cloth in a colander

when it is completely curdled

drain it

rinse it in lot of cold water

squeeze the excess water and let them drain

crumble them..you have paneer ready...

Lets make the Kalakand..Take all your ingredients

Take paneer in a nonstick pan

add milk to it

add in khoya

and mix well

add in sugar

and mix well

Bring it to a boil and cook till it leaves the sides

add cardamom powder

and saffron

and mix well

Grease a pan with some ghee

and trasfer the mixture to it

sprinkle some nuts and let it sit for a while

Slice and Serve