Microwave Ricotta Cheese Sandesh / Sondesh

I am sure you all are busy preparing Diwali special sweets and snacks for your loved ones. This festive season, I tried a new Bengali sweet - Kesar Sandesh also known as Sondesh. Generally, Sandesh is made of fresh Paneer.  As you know me, I look for ways to cut down cooking time. So, here is my easy microwave recipe of Bengali Sondesh using store bought Ricotta Cheese.

Ingredients:
Ricotta Cheese - 15 oz (425 gm)
Sugar - 3 tbsp
Green Cardamom / Elaichi - 3 pods
Saffron / Kesar - few strands
Milk - 1 tbsp
Ghee / Clarified Butter - 1 tsp
Pistachios or any other nuts - 5

How to cook Easy Ricotta Cheese Kesar Sandesh in a microwave:

• Crush cardamom seeds in a mortar pestle to a fine powder. Finely chop nuts of your choice.
• Microwave milk in a small bowl for 20 seconds. Add saffron to the warm milk and set it aside for 5 minutes.
• Grease a dry microwave safe bowl with ghee. Add ricotta cheese and saffron milk to the bowl. Mix it well. 
• Microwave the cheese for 5 minutes. Stop the microwave after every minute and stir the cheese. Cooking time may vary depending on the microwave.
• Now add sugar and cardamom powder to the bowl. Start with 2 tbsp sugar and add more later to suit your taste. Microwave again for 3 minutes.  Stop the microwave after every minute and stir. Microwave for another minute or so, until the cheese loses moisture and turns granular. 
• If the cheese turns too dry, add little milk. Taste for sweetness and add more sugar if required. After cooling, divide the sweetened cheese into 15 parts.  Grease your palms with ghee and shape each one into round balls. Flatten them and dab chopped nuts in the center. Keep them refrigerated. 

Enjoy Kesar Sondesh! Serve in cupcake liners.