The five day Diwali festivities are a great time for celebrations starting right from dhanteras & concluding in bhaidooj, when we immerse our heart & soul in this wonderful fiesta. Celebrations are reflected not only in lights, diyas and crackers, but also in the sweets and food in a big way. Sweets and confectioneries are especially an indispensable part of Diwali festival, and most of the households preferably celebrate the festival with their own home made sweets apart from the shop bought or packaged ones. This Dark Fantasy Shondesh is just another way of bringing into light the flavorful richness that comes from its chocolaty darkness making it a perfect candidate for this celebration of light over the darkness defining the true essence of Diwali festival. This shondesh is really a chocolaty treat for all the chocolate lovers & one should certainly try it at least for once. If you like, you too can enjoy this sweet in this festival time of deepawali. So here is the recipe for you to give it a try :

RECIPE :

Ingredients :

1. Milk – 1 litre (approximately 150 gm chhena)

2. Cocoa powder – 2 Tbs for shondesh ; 2 tsp for garnishing

3. Dark chocolate – 5-6 blocks

4. Milk chocolate – 2-3 blocks

5. Flat rice (Dry roasted and coarsely ground) – 1 tsp

6. Coffee powder – 1 tsp 6. Coffee powder – 1/2 tsp

Preparation :

1. For making chhena from milk, boil the milk in a pan by stirring in continuously.
2. Switch off the flame and add little vinegar or lemon juice to it and continue to stir slowly till the milk starts curdling. If the milk doesn’t get curdled, add some more lemon juice or vinegar to it and continue stirring. (Note :  If the milk turns cold, you may heat the milk a little to make it slightly warm and then add the vinegar).
3. When the milk curdles completely, collect it in a muslin cloth, wash it thoroughly under tap water to remove any taste of lemon or vinegar.
4. Tie a knot to make a bun containing the chhena and hang it for 3-4 hours to drain the water completely.
5. Take out the chhena in a tray or dish, add cocoa powder, mix & knead it using your palm and fingers to make a smooth dough so that no lumps or granules are left.
6. Melt sugar in a pan by adding little water. Stir the mixture over flame to make the syrup.
7. Continue stirring till the syrup thickens.
8. Add the kneaded chhena in the pan and mix nicely with the sugar syrup.
9. Stir the mixture over low flame for few minutes or till the mixture starts leaving the sides of your pan. Do not overcook otherwise the chhena will turn granular.
10. Switch off the flame and bring it down on a dish.
11. Now with the help of a spatula or knife, level  the chhena uniformly to cut out squares from it.
12. Melt dark chocolate and milk chocolate in a bowl to make a sauce.
13. Pour the chocolate sauce over the top of the levelled up chhena and spread it uniformly  with the help of a spatula or the back of a spoon.
14. In a bowl, take 2 tsp cocoa powder, 1/2 tsp coffee powder & ground flat rice and mix them together.
15. Sprinkle the powder mix over the top of the molten chocolate layer and cut out squares of shondesh.
16. Your irresistibly yummy dark fantasy chocolate shondesh is now ready to amuse your gastronomic senses straight from the world of fantasy to reality.