Kalakand is an Indian sweet that is very popular, made with chhena (Indian cheese) and condensed milk. However, I have given a little twist to the traditional recipe by adding coarsely ground pistachios. Pistachio gives a beautiful color and delicious nutty flavor to this Kalakand With Pistachios. Jump to:What is Kalakand?About Pistachio KalakandWhy Will You Love This SweetIngredientsStep by Step DirectionsServing and Storing SuggestionsHelpful TipsMore Easy Indian SweetsRecipe Card
What is Kalakand?
Kalakand is a popular Indian sweet, and traditionally it is made by reducing milk and sugar. As a result, it is very moist and juicy, with a grainy texture. This melt-in-the-mouth sweet is famous in every Indian household, but particularly in the North and East of India.
About Pistachio Kalakand
This recipe is straightforward to make, and delicious Pistachio Kalakand will be ready in 30 minutes. The beauty of this sweet is that we can eat Kalakand right after making it without letting it set. Instead, take a spoon and dig into it just like Halwa (Halwa is an Indian sweet with semi-solid consistency). However, if we want to cut it into pieces, Kalakand needs to be set into the refrigerator for at least a couple of hours. But in a hurry, we can also freeze it for half an hour. Once it is set, it is easy to cut it into pieces. So in either way, this one tastes delicious. Pistachio Kalakand is perfect for any occasion or even when we crave sweets. It is full of protein and has the goodness of pistachios. Making sweets or desserts at home brings satisfaction, comfort, and joy. Also, homemade desserts have a freshness that is way better than store-bought sweets.
Ingredients
For Chhena
I like to use freshly made chhena for the soft and moist Kalakand. But, if you want, you can use Paneer instead. However, the Paneer should be fresh and soft for the best results.
For Pistachio Kalakand
Step by Step Directions
Making Chhena
Bring 2 liters of milk to boil in a thick pan, stirring frequently to prevent milk from sticking to the bottom.
Once it starts boiling, turn off the heat. Add white vinegar or lime or lemon juice. If you are using lime or lemon juice, make sure to strain the juice to remove fibers. And then use in the recipe.
The milk will be curdled, and greenish whey will be separated.
Pour this curdled milk into a pan lined with cotton or muslin cloth. Also, we can strain through a strainer with tiny pores.
Now pour some cold water onto this chhena so that we can wash out the taste of vinegar. Do not pour too much water.
Gently and lightly squeeze out the water. Do not squeeze too much, as the chhena should be moist.
Let the chhena rest for a while until the chhena is cool enough to handle.
Making Pistachio Kalakand
Grease a baking pan or glass container with butter or ghee and line with parchment paper. Keep the parchment paper edges bigger than the pan, so it is easy to pull Kalakand out of the container. Set aside.
Before starting to make Kalakand, crumble the chhena. In a non-stick pan or thick base pan, take crumbled chhena. If you use a store-bought paneer, grate it and use it instead of chhena.
Add condensed milk, ground pistachios, milk, and saffron strands.
Mix well and cook on low to medium heat, stirring continuously. Once the mixture starts thickening, taste it, and add more condensed milk at this stage if you prefer it sweeter.
Continue cooking and stirring until the mixture becomes thick like a big lump and stops sticking to the pan. Depending on your stovetop’s heat, it will take approximately 10-15 minutes or a little more or less time.
Do not overcook; the mixture should be moist and a little sticky. Once it becomes a thick mass and stops sticking on the sides of the pan, turn off the heat.
Now add rose water and cardamom powder, mix well.
Pour this mixture into the prepared pan or container. Spread it evenly and smooth the top. Then sprinkle chopped pistachios.
Refrigerate Kalakand for a few hours or at least for 2 hours. Once it is set, pull it out from the pan. Cut the Kalakand into the desired shape and size.
Serving and Storing Suggestions
Serve chilled Kalakand immediately or keep it in an air-tight container and store it in the fridge until the time of serving. Kalakand will not stay at room temperature as it is a milk-based sweet. So keep the leftovers tightly covered in the fridge. We can keep it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Helpful Tips
Milk: Use whole milk or full-fat milk to make chhena for this recipe. However, if you only have low-fat milk, you can replace one cup of milk with one cup of heavy cream to make chhena. Chhena: Do not squeeze chhena too much, as chhena should be well moistened to make Kalakand. Moist chhena will make juicy and soft Kalakand. Serving: Instead of chilling and shaping Pistachio Kalakand, you can also serve it loose and warm in a serving bowl. Sweetness: Adjust the amount of condensed milk according to your preference for sweetness. Start by adding a little less condensed milk. After mixing everything, taste and then add more as needed. Vinegar: Instead of white vinegar, you can also use lime or lemon juice. But strain the juice before adding it to the milk. Scaling: This recipe can easily be halved or doubled.
