Pineapple Sandesh is a light, attractive mithai (dessert) from the state of Bengal in India. It is by far one of the easiest Indian dessert recipes, I have come across. It is literally made with 2 ingredients Pineapple and Chenna (unripened cheese made from milk), which is very similar to the Indian cottage cheese also known as Paneer. It is not only appealing to the eyes but it's a lot more healthier than most Indian desserts. Imagine biting into a layer of cheese served on the juicy, sweet and tangy pineapples and garnished with nuts. Yum!!! Yum!!! Yum!!!
I have to admit that for me Bengali mithai's rank above all. I guess what I like about Bengali sweets is that they are made with chenna and most of the mithai's are moist and juicy. Honestly the Mithai scene here is nowhere close to back home because most of the mithai's here are made from powdered milk and not fresh milk. I think not using fresh milk compromises the taste as well as the moisture in the mithai.
So one afternoon a close friend had invited us for lunch to get to meet his family who were visiting him from India. The family was kind enough to prepare some exotic Indian food for us and my friends sister (Dida) actually made this dessert for us. At the first sight itself I knew I am going to love this and this recipe is going on the blog. So here I am sharing Dida's Pineapple Sandesh recipe. Needless to day that it sure is a crowd pleaser and everybody appreciates the fact that it's not super sweet and loaded with greasing agents like oil, butter and ghee. Next celebration, wow your guests.
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Healthy Pineapple Sandesh Mithai
Ingredients
For Chenna
- 1/2 gallon whole milk
- 2 lemons, large
- 8 [Pineapple slices
For Flavoring
- 1/4 teaspoon rose water
- 2 tablespoon sugar
For Garnishing
- 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds (if available)
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup almonds, halved
- 1/4 cup pistachios
- 5 to 6 strands of Saffron or Kesar
- 2 tablespoon water
Instructions
!For making Chenna
Bring the milk to boil. Add lemon juice to the boiling milk and continue boiling it on slow heat until the milk curdles completely.
Pour it into a cheese cloth. Rinse it thoroughly under cold water to get rid of the lemon juice.
Hold the cloth tighlty and squeeze out all the excess water.
Add powdered sugar and essence for flavoring
Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes until it's soft and smooth. Chenna is ready.
!For Garnishing
Soak saffron strands in water for a couple minutes.
Spread a layer of Chenna on the pineapple slices.
Garnish with dried fruits or nuts of your choices. You could use pomegranate seeds, almonds, raisins, cranberries, pistachios. Drizzle some Saffron water onto the pineapple slices.
Cut them into halves or quarters and refrigerate for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Products Used
Ishwarya says
Can the chenna be made ahead like a day or two in advance and stored in the refrigerator and thawed before serving it?
Soniya Saluja says
Ishwarya,
Yes ofcourse you can make the chena ahead in time. I just refregerated it I didn not have to freeze it.
kathy kenny ngo says
Wow! Thank you for the recipe and the tips. This is very yummy food.
Claudia Krusch says
IT looks so yummy and healthy! I can't wait to try it! Hubby loves pineapple!
Enricoh Alfonzo says
I am a MASSIVE pineapple fan! I have so many recipes for them and I have em almost every week in the morning for breakfast, This is such an epic recipe to add for me to try out. i cant wait.
Kathy says
Those look really good. Pineapple is one of my favorites! I can't wait to try these out.
Jessica Harlow says
I love pineapple and this looks like such a unique dessert/appetizer! I'm going to try it and serve it up and our next get together for something a little different!
Sandy A La Mode says
Pineapple is one of my favorite fruits! This is a cute desert/snack idea.
xo,
Sandy
Sandy a la Mode
Caroline Barnes says
Love this recipe. Simple, healthy and delicious ingredients. Looks amazing!
Katarzyna says
This looks so pretty! It must be a perfect dessert for the hot days - fresh and juicy!
Kendall says
This sounds incredibly delicious! What else can you put the Chenna on?
Rosey says
Oh boy, this is right up my alley. I haven't heard of these, but I'd definitley try them this way.
victoria says
This is the first time that I heard this and it looks great.
Echo says
This looks delicious! I am a huge fan of pineapple!
Ashley says
I've never had this dessert before but it looks great. I like trying new foods from around the world.
Elizabeth O. says
This looks like my kind of dessert. Easy to make and packed with a lot of health benefits! This is really worth a try, my daughters will love this too.
LIz Mays says
How beautifully arranged these are. I love how you chose to garnish them!
Ana De- Jesus says
I like anything with pineapple in and this Indian inspired recipe looks lush. Its nice that you got to share it with close friends.
Melanie Smith says
This looks so delicious! I love pineapple, I will try it for sure!
TheBellyRulesTheMind says
Sure thing Melanie. Let us know your take on it when you do.
Karlyn Cruz says
They look like donuts! My son will surely love this treat, will make for him.
TheBellyRulesTheMind says
Karyln,
Although they look like donuts, they are a much healthier version. Would love to know your son;s take on them when you try it.
Olivia Douglass says
This recipe has some of my favorite ingredients. Thanks- I'm going to try it!
TheBellyRulesTheMind says
Olivia,
Glad to hear that. Let us know if you land up trying it.Would love to hear your thoughts on it.
Amy Jones says
I love pineapple, these treats look so cute and tasty!!
Stacey Loring says
this looks totally delicious. I'm an avid fan of anything pineapple. I'm definitly going to have to test this one out soon.
TheBellyRulesTheMind says
Sure Stacey, when you try it don't forget to tag us and let us know your take on it.
tara pittman says
This is a great way to get more fruit into my boys. Looks so yummy.
TheBellyRulesTheMind says
Not only fo the kids Tara for us too
Kari says
Very cute! These look yummy. Nothing like I've seen before.
Adaleta Avdic says
Ooooh my goodness, this looks absolutely incredible. Yum! xx Adaleta Avdic
Kristen Kavan says
this looks so good!! I want to try curdling the milk and making this! Thanks for the recipe!
Bella says
Ohh my this looks so good. I love anything with pineapple. Its my favourite summer time fruit.
http://xoxobella.com
Lauren says
These are so pretty and sound really good!!!
Shilpa says
Hello,
Great Recipe....just one qn....did u use fresh or canned pineapple...thx
TheBellyRulesTheMind says
Hi Shilpa,
I used canned pineapple slices. However you could use fresh pineapple slices too, that is if you pineapple turns out to be extremely sweet.
Anvita.