Microwave Almond Milk Peda (Fudge)

While I was making this, a couple of friends stopped by (well...it's my birthday). With no time to cool and roll it out into pedas, I had to serve it to them as semi-solid halwa, but they liked the taste of it. After they left, I put it in the refrigerator, cooled it for a few hours and then shaped into pedas. This is so easy to prepare, and later became one of my personal favorites!

Ingredients:

almond powder - 1/2 cup
milk-mava powder - 1/2 cup
ricotta cheese - 15 oz
sugar - 3/4 cup
butter / ghee - 1 tbsp
milk - 1 tsp
sliced almonds - a few
saffron strands - a few

Method:

Soak saffron strands in a teaspoon of milk and keep aside. Mix almond powder, milk mava powder and cheese in a bowl.  Microwave for 3 minutes. Add sugar, mix well and microwave for another 3 minutes. Add ghee, stir a couple of times and heat for another 3 minutes. Add the saffron, stir a few times and return to the microwave for another 3 minutes. Remove from the microwave and mix in the sliced almonds. Allow to cool and refrigerate for at least a couple of hours. Take a lemon-sized portion, roll it between the palms and flatten out into a round patty. Repeat for the remaining fudge. 

Notes:
1. To make just milk peda, almond powder can be substituted with more milk mava powder.
2. If ricotta cheese is not available, unsweetened khoa can be used instead.