The whiff of nolen gur or liquid date jaggery from almost every Bengali household in winter is an integral part of the season. The smell renders to the experience of savouring it too. Flavourful and used as a natural sweetener, nolen gur is not only a staple at most Bengali households for preparing flavoured winter sweet delicacies but also is the most popular dessert flavour during these winter months at sweet shops, cafes and restaurants. Before the season bids us adieu, The Telegraph draws up a list of places to try some interesting nolen gur-flavoured desserts, starting from the traditional to fusion.
Nolen Gur Mille-feuille at Hammer:
This fusion dessert recipe brings together nolen gur and goat cheese cream layered between a crispy puff pastry. It is topped with jaggery gel on top as a garnish and tastes subtle-sweet combined with a sharp and tart taste from the chevre.
Nolen Gur and Roasted Nuts Cheesecake at Potboiler:
This layered dessert made with a crispy base of crushed biscuits and layered on top with soft and thick cheese and egg, is sweetened with nolen gur. A garnishing of almonds and pistachios is a wholesome addition, elevating the flavours on the plate.
Nolen Gur Sandesh Tart at Lord of the Drinks
The good old nolen gur sandesh is presented with a western twist in a pastry crust. Prepared with chhenna or cheese curd, nolen gur and cream are beaten together to make the smooth and creamy sandesh placed within a crispy and sweetened pastry shell.
Patishapta Roll at Grace, Kolkata Centre For Creativity
This winter special traditional dessert of Bengal is prepared using a mix of semolina, jaggery and coconut. The thin semolina and flour crepe is fried light-brown in ghee and rolled with a healthy filling of jaggery and coconut. It is served hot or cold with reduced milk, nolen gur, nolen gur almond candy, nolen gur crumble and rice cracker on the plate. Mildly sweet, with the crispness of rice crackers and taste of nolen gur caramelised almonds, the plate surprises the palate with a riot of flavours infused with the distinct flavours of nolen gur.
Nolen Gur Crepe at Cloud Social Rooftop Lounge
This eggless sweet and healthy dessert is prepared using a flour batter mixed with nolen gur to form a thin pancake. The soft and caramel-sweet flavoured crepe with an earthy taste note is served warm garnished with nolen gur syrup.
Nolen Gurer Panna Cotta at Canteen Pub and Grub
This Italian dessert flavoured with the richness and sweetness of nolen gur is prepared with heavy cream and milk, rendering a creamy and melt-in-the-mouth texture to the dessert. It is plated appealingly with caramel cracker, pomegranate and cream.
Cutie Pie at Traffic Gastropub
This bread-like, fluffy dessert is prepared with a mix of flour, nolen gur, yeast and jaggery essence. Sweet and uniquely flavoured with the earthy notes of nolen gur, it is garnished with jaggery chunks and a cherry on the top.
Pictures: Courtesy of restaurants