Vegan lovers: Give this traditional dessert a strawberry makeover
What's the story
The world of desserts is a place where tradition meets innovation, creating some truly magical treats. One such modern delight is the sparkling strawberry sandesh, a vegan spin on the beloved Bengali sweet. This article shares five fun and creative ways to use strawberries in this dairy-free sandesh, making it not only delicious but also a beautiful dessert for celebrations, parties, and special occasions.
Freshness
Incorporating fresh strawberries
The secret to unlocking that bright, summery flavor and color is simple: use fresh strawberries! Just puree three to four large strawberries and stir it into the vegan paneer base before setting it. The ripe berries lend their natural sweetness and juiciness, elevating both the texture and taste of the sandesh.
Compote layer
Adding strawberry compote layer
For a delicious twist, try adding a layer of strawberry compote between two layers of sandesh mixture before setting it in molds. To create the compote, simply simmer chopped strawberries with a tablespoon of sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice until thickened. This layer adds a pleasant contrast in texture and makes each bite even more luxurious.
Garnish
Decorating with dried strawberries
Dried strawberries make for a fancy garnish that brings a pop of texture and concentrated flavor. Simply slice strawberries thinly, arrange them on a baking sheet, and dry them out in the oven at low temp until crisp. Sprinkle these over your finished sandesh for a pretty touch that also delivers big on taste.
Syrup infusion
Infusing strawberry flavor into syrup
Don't just serve your sparkling strawberry sandesh plain! Make a light strawberry-infused syrup to drizzle over it just before serving. Simply simmer chopped strawberries in water with a bit of sugar until it gets syrupy. Strain out the chunks, let it cool, and then pour it over your sandesh. It adds a nice touch of moisture and extra sweetness.
Powder magic
Utilizing freeze-dried strawberry powder
The freeze-dried strawberry powder provides a powerful flavor punch and beautiful color without introducing unwanted moisture to your dessert. You can blend this powder into your vegan paneer base, or dust it on top before pressing your sandesh into molds. It's a great way to enhance color and flavor throughout your dessert without changing its texture.