Qalaqand

Ingredients:-

2 ltr. Fresh Milk and one lemon juice - to prepare Paneer
2 ltr. Fresh Milk - to prepare Khoya (concentrated milk)
2 to 2½ cups sugar
1 cup pistachios - crushed

To Garnish:-

Silver Paper to decorate the Qalaqand

Method:-

1: Place the 2 pans on stove and add 2 ltr. milk to each pan to prepare Paneer and khoya simultaneously.

Paneer:

In one pan, when the milk starts to boil, reduce the heat. Add the lemon juice and stir. Within minutes, you will see the water is separated like white curds floating on top. Wait till they get bigger. This process takes few minutes, so wait at least five minutes. Switch off the heat and let it stand for few more minutes. Then pour the whole thing immediately into a clean muslin cloth in a colander, over a sink. Gather the curds and discard the whey. The fresh paneer is ready.


Khoya:

In another pan, when the milk starts to boil and lower to heat and simmer, until the milk gets thick and is reduced to about one fourth of the original quantity. (While thickening, stir now and then, and care should be taken that milk may not be burnt.)


2: At this stage, to the khoya, add the freshly prepared Paneer and sugar. On low heat, simmer continuously mixing, until the khoya-paneer mixture thickens to a waterless-firm lump. This process takes about 45 minutes to one hour.

3: Pour the firm mixture onto a plate. Level it evenly and allow it to cool completely. Then cut to squares or the shape that you like and garnish with silver paper and pistachios.