Milk cakes from the Bengali Five Spice Chronicles

This recipe for milk cake or kalakand is from the book Bengali Five Spice Chronicles.  My family enjoyed the flavour of this delicious dessert, which as the author mentions is a cross between cheesecake and milk fudge.  

1 can (14oz) evaporated milk

1 1/2 cup ricotta cheese

3/4 cup milk powder

3/4 cup sugar

2 tbsp ghee or clarified butter + 1/2 tbsp for greasing the dish

1/2 tsp cardamom powder

3 tbsp coarsely chopped pistachios

Put the evaporated milk, ricotta cheese in a pan and bring to a simmer.  Continue cooking the mixture on low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring it frequently until the mixture thickens considerably.

Add the milk powder, sugar and continue cooking until the mixture has a soft fudge-like consistency for about 20 to 30 minutes.

Mix in the 2 tbsp ghee and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.

Grease an 8" or 9" dish and pour the cheese mixture.  Sprinkle the cardamom powder and pistachios over the mixture and let it cool.  I left it in the fridge to solidify before cutting the cake into 2" squares, we can also cut into any desired shape before serving it cool.

This book Bengali Five Spice Chronicles is written by Rinku Bhattacharya.  The book explores the cuisine of Eastern India and has over 180 recipes that are seperated into 13 parts such as rice & breads, lentil, vegetarian, egg dishes, fish, poultry, chutneys, drinks, snacks, sweets etc.  The book is full of delicious recipes and there are a few pictures of the dishes in the middle of the book. 

I like the explanations given by the author about different spices/seeds.  I also liked reading about the author and her influences that led to write this book.  

I find it interesting to read about other cultures and traditions, so I enjoyed reading the history of Bengali cuisine in the beginning of the book.  I thought it was interesting that Bengalis eat rice with different vegetables and then eat non-vegetarian food such as fish in the end, because we tend to eat it together or in the opposite way by eating non-veg first then with rice and vegetables :) 

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If you are in Canada or US and would like to win a copy of this book Bengali Five Spice Chronicles please enter through the rafflecopter below before December 15th.

Update: The winner is Tina

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