DS11 · Desserts · Rajasthan
Quick Paneer Kalakand
Alwar's grainy, milky kalakand made the quick way — crumbled paneer cooked with milk and milk powder until it sets — with far less sugar than the halwai version.
- Region
- Rajasthan (Alwar)
- Diet
- Strictly vegetarian, egg-free
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Time, as written
- Prep 5 min · Cook 15 min · Set 2 h
- Serves
- 6 (1 piece, about 60 g, each)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Status
- Adaptation — paneer and milk powder replace slow-reduced milk; sugar reduced by about half
- Good for
- Festivals (Diwali), gifting
Nutrition
Good source| Per serving | kcal | Protein | Carbs | Fat | Sat fat | Fibre | Sugars | Added sugar | Protein per 100 kcal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 piece | 165 | 10 g | 16 g | 7 g | 4 g | <1 g | 16 g | 7 g | 6.0 g |
Tier: Good source. Shop kalakand often has 15–20 g added sugar per similar piece; this has about 7 g. Total sugars include the lactose in paneer as listed in IFCT 2017. Values checked against IFCT 2017 on 15 Oct 2026.
Values are estimates calculated from the listed ingredients and quantities (IFCT 2017 and product labels), not laboratory measurements. How the numbers were calculated.
Ingredients
Method
In a heavy non-stick pan, combine paneer, milk and milk powder. Stir until no milk-powder lumps remain.
Cook on medium-low, stirring and scraping constantly, for 10–12 minutes, until most of the liquid evaporates and the mixture thickens.
Add sugar; it will loosen the mixture. Keep cooking 3–5 minutes until it gathers into a soft mass that leaves the sides of the pan.
Stir in cardamom and saffron. Spread in a greased 12 cm square tin, 2–2.5 cm thick. Press pistachios on top.
Cool, then chill 2 hours. Cut into 6 pieces.
Protein optimisation
- Where the protein comes from
- Paneer supplies 6 g per piece, milk powder 2.5 g, milk 1 g.
- Where the protein comes from
- Low-fat paneer (check the label) saves about 25 kcal and 3 g fat per piece with similar protein.
Variations, serving and storage
- Regional
- Mango kalakand — fold in 60 g Alphonso pulp at step 3 and reduce sugar to 30 g.
- Substitution
- Fresh chhena (DS3) in place of paneer for a softer, more traditional grain.
- Storage
- 4 days refrigerated.
- Food safety
- Refrigerate once cool.
- Meal prep
- Excellent.
Allergens
Milk, tree nuts (pistachio)
Labels: Good source · Soy-free · Whey-free · Gluten-free · Meal-prep friendly