Dates & paneer peda, a milk sweet made with crumbled paneer, sweetened with dates paste and flavored with cardamom and cloves. A quick and easy fudge recipe without condensed milk.

Peda | Pedha | Pera | Petha

What is this peda? It is a mithai, sweet from the Indian subcontinent. It is also known by other spellings like pedha, penda and pera. The word peda, also generically means a sphere of any doughy substance such as flour or khoa.

Usually prepared in thick, semi-soft rounds, the main ingredients of Petha are khoa, sugar with traditional flavorings including cardamom seeds, pistachio nuts and saffron. The color of a peda, varies from a creamy white to a caramel color.

Pedha originated from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India. From Uttar Pradesh, the peda spread to many parts of the Indian subcontinent. Thakur Ram Ratan Singh of Lucknow who migrated to Dharwad in 1850, the present-day Karnataka, introduced pedas there. This distinct variety is now famous as the Dharwad pedha. Read this article about the famous Dharwad peda, a dessert with a GI tag from Government of India.

Another interesting article about Pakistan's Badauni Petha, a sweet delicacy that crossed borders during partition and is now a famous dessert.

Some Peda Recipes in my Kitchen

More than the rich cultural heritage, it is the simplicity and the versatility of Pedas , they are quite popular in many households.

Though the traditional process of making requires boiling the milk down to a thick fudgy consistency called khoa, we now have our condensed milk and milk powder, that makes our job very easy.

Here are some quick and easy peda recipes Kesar doodh peda, Chocolate fudge and bright colored carrot peda made without condensed milk .

If you are looking for some exotic recipes of fudge with nuts, chocolate or nutella, check the list below

Almond fudge : A parsi special, made with almonds
Dark chocolate & Peanut fudge
Nutella Fudge
Mixed Nuts Fudge : A vegan fudge

Ingredients for Paneer Dates Pedha

Main Ingredients : Paneer and dates paste are the main ingredients. you can also use dates instead of dates paste.
Add-ons : Milk powder, ghee and fresh milk are used in this delish dates peda recipe. Both milk powder and fresh milk help in binding and volume of the pedha.

Flavorings : I have used traditional cardamom and cloves as flavors in this paneer peda.
Garnish : Pistachio silvers as garnish, adds a lovely contrast to this dark colored dates peda.

Stepwise Instructions to make Paneer Peda

Please check recipe card below for exact measurements of each ingredient used and also for the detailed instructions

Measure and keep all ingredients ready on the counter.
In a heavy bottom pan, add a teaspoon of ghee, add the crumbled paneer and saute for 2 minutes.
To this now add dates paste and mash it well to mix with the crumbled paneer. Add powdered cardamom and clove powder to this and mix well.
Next add milk powder and milk to this and mix well. All the liquid will be absorbed immediately and the fudge will start coming together.
Add 1 teaspoon of ghee frequently atleast for 4 times to the fudge as it starts coming together. After 8-10 minutes in simmer flames, the fudge will start coming with the ladle without sticking to the pan.

Once the fudge doesnt stick to the bottom, remove it onto a flat plate , let it come to touchable warm. Use a melon baller and divide the fudge into 16 individual portions.
Flatten the fudge and garnish it with silvered pistachios . It will still be delicate to touch, i refrigerated it for 10 minutes, then the shape stayed.
The peda might stay good on the kitchen counter for a day or two. But i still prefer to refrigerate it as it contains paneer and milk powder.

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Dates & Paneer Peda | No White Sugar | Fudge Recipe

Dates & paneer peda, a milk sweet made with crumbled paneer, sweetened with dates paste and flavored with cardamom and cloves. A quick and easy fudge recipe with no white sugar

5 from 64 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: Dessert with dates, How to make sweet peda, Milk powder peda, No white sugar sweet, Paneer dessert, Peda recipe, Peda without condensed milk, Pedha recipe

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 25

Servings: servings

Calories: 130kcal

Ingredients

100 grams crumbled paneer
115 grams dates paste or use 10-12 soft variety of dates
2 tablespoon milk powder
4 tablespoon full fat milk
6 pods cardamom only seeds
3 cloves
5 teaspoon ghee
2 tablespoon pistachio silvers for garnish

Instructions

Measure and keep all ingredients ready. Pound cardamom and cloves together in a mortar pestle.
I have used store bought frozen paneer in this recipe. Remove the required paneer and keep it dunked in hot water for 5 minutes. Drain completely and mash it with a fork.
In a heavy bottom pan, add a teaspoon of ghee. Add the crumbled paneer to this and saute for a minute. Keep the flame simmer.
To this now add the dates paste. My date paste was in the refrigerator so it sort look like a lump, but when added to the hot paneer, it immediately loosened and mixed well with the paneer.
To the paneer date mixture add powdered cardamom and clove powder. Keep turning the mixture and make sure the flame is in simmer to avoid burning.
After 2-3 minutes of adding dates paste, add milk powder and milk to the pan. Stir well
The liquid will be absorbed almost immediately and the paste will start coming together. Now add 1 teaspoon of ghee to this and keep stirring.
Add the remaining 3 teaspoon of ghee and regular intervals until the mixture comes together without sticking to the pan and follows your ladle. This will take just 10 minutes.
Take it off the heat, remove the fudge mixture to a flat plate and let it come down to touchable warm.
Use a melon baller and divide the fudge mixture into 16 portions and arrange it on a parchment laid pan.
Flatten the portions using a greased spoon and garnish it with silvered pistachios. The fudge will still be delicate to touch. At this stage refrigerate for 10 minutes, it will harden.
Enjoy the peda as post meal dessert or a quick pick me up energy ball. This makes a good snack in the kids lunch dabba or post play snack for kids.

Storing Instructions

Though the peda will stay good on the counter for a day or two, I still prefer to refrigerate the peda as it contains milk powder and paneer and the climate here is too hot to trust and leave it outside.
The peda doesn't become like a rock while in the fridge. We are enjoying it for the past 2 days and it retains the soft, fudgy texture.

Nutrition

Disclaimer

I m not a Doctor or a Nutritionist The Nutrition information provided above comes from the plugin and is only an estimate.

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Comments

5 from 64 votes (63 ratings without comment)

Dates & Paneer Peda | Peda Without Condensed Milk

Peda | Pedha | Pera | Petha

Some Peda Recipes in my Kitchen

Ingredients for Paneer Dates Pedha

Stepwise Instructions to make Paneer Peda