Sandesh is a popular Bengali sweet made from fresh paneer (Indian cottage cheese) and flavored with cardamom or saffron. It's a relatively simple sweet to prepare. Here's a basic recipe for making Sandesh:

Ingredients:

For Paneer (Chhena):

1 liter of full-fat milk

2 tablespoons lemon juice or vinegar

For Sandesh:

Prepared paneer (chhena)

1/2 cup powdered sugar (adjust to taste)

A pinch of cardamom powder or a few saffron strands (for flavor)

A few slivered pistachios or almonds (for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Making Paneer (Chhena):

a. Pour the milk into a heavy-bottomed pan and bring it to a boil over medium heat.

b. Once the milk comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low and add the lemon juice or vinegar. Stir continuously.

c. As soon as the milk curdles and the whey separates (you will see greenish water), turn off the heat.

d. Strain the curdled milk through a muslin cloth or a fine sieve to separate the whey from the paneer (chhena).

e. Rinse the paneer under cold water to remove any residual lemon juice or vinegar.

f. Squeeze out excess water and hang the paneer in the muslin cloth for about 30 minutes to drain excess water. This will give you a firm and crumbly paneer.

2. Preparing Sandesh:

a. Take the prepared paneer (chhena) in a mixing bowl and knead it well for about 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and soft. This step is essential for the right texture of Sandesh.

b. Add the powdered sugar to the kneaded paneer and continue to knead for another 3-5 minutes until the mixture is smooth and the sugar is well incorporated.

c. Optionally, add a pinch of cardamom powder or a few saffron strands for flavor. Mix well.

3. Shaping and Garnishing:

a. Divide the paneer mixture into small portions and shape them into small round or oval discs, or you can shape them into small balls and flatten them slightly.

b. Garnish each Sandesh with slivered pistachios or almonds, pressing them gently into the Sandesh to stick.

4. Serving:

a. Refrigerate the Sandesh for at least 2 hours before serving to allow it to firm up and develop its flavour.

b. Serve chilled and enjoy your homemade Sandesh!

Sandesh is a delightful Bengali sweet that's not too heavy on the palate. You can adjust the sweetness and flavour according to your preference. Some people also like to use a touch of rose water or kewra water for a different flavour twist.