Chenna Poda, often called the 'Pride of Odisha,' is believed to be Lord Jagannath's favorite sweet. This rustic cheesecake is baked until caramelized, giving it its iconic smoky flavor.
I love cottage cheese. Call it chenna or paneer or ricotta. This is one yummy ingredient. First of all, it is one of the most versatile ingredients to cook with. You might have heard of Paneer tikka, bhurji and Paneer butter masala. However, it is also used to make exquisite and delicate Odia sweets like Chhena poda, chhena jhili, chhena gaja.
Chenna pudo or Chenna poda recipe is basically Indian baked cheese cake. It looks quite exotic but it is very easy to make chhena poda recipe at home. Very delicious and full of nutrition. It has a beautiful crust outside and a delicate soft texture inside.
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Ingredients
- Fresh cottage cheese chenna / paneer , freshly prepared.
- sooji or semolina
- grated jaggery or palm sugar/ sugar, adjust sugar as per your taste
- baking powder
- ghee or clarified butter
- cardamom powder
- 4 tbsp. whey or paneer water/ chenna pani
- raisins
- cashews chopped
refer to recipe card for details.
How to make chenna pudo? (Video recipe)
How to make Chhena Pudo recipe? (step-by-step)
Make the fresh paneer by adding lemon juice to hot boiling milk. It will coagulate and separate. Use a muslin cloth to separate it from water
Traditionally baked in wood-fired ovens, chenna poda can now be made effortlessly in an air fryer at home with minimal oil and perfect caramelization.
- Add fresh chhena (cottage cheese) to a food processor. Blend until smooth.
- Add sugar (or jaggery) along with semolina, cardamom, and baking powder. Mix well into a smooth batter.
3. Fold in raisins and chopped cashews into the batter.
4. Line a baking tin with parchment paper, grease lightly with ghee, and pour the mixture in. Place tin inside the air fryer basket.
To cook in Air fryer
5. Air fry the batter at 160°C (320°F) for 30-35 minutes. Midway, brush/spray a little ghee on top for an even golden crust.
6. Continue baking until the top turns deep golden-brown with slight caramelization.
To cook in oven
Cook @ at 170°C (340°F) for 30-35 minutes. Midway, brush/spray a little ghee on top for an even golden crust.
Related links
Chhena poda recipe | Indian cheesecake recipe
Equipment
- oven
- Sieve
- saucepan
- stand mixer for kneading optionally
Ingredients
- 500 gm fresh cottage cheese chenna / paneer , freshly prepared.
Remaining ingredients for chenna pudo
- 4 tbsp. sooji or semolina
- ¾ cup raw sugar or jaggery,adjust sugar as per your taste
- ⅓ tsp. baking powder
- 1-½ tsp. ghee or clarified butter
- ½ tsp. Cardamom powder
- ¼ cup Raisins
- 2 tablespoon Cashews chopped
- 4 tbsp. whey or paneer water/ chenna pani
Instructions
Preparation (Common Steps)
- Mash the fresh chhena/paneer on a plate for 4-5 minutes until smooth.You can also use a food processor
- Add semolina, sugar/jaggery, cardamom powder, baking powder, raisins, cashews, and chhena water (paneer whey). Mix well with a spoon.
- Note: If using sugar, the mixture may become watery - semolina helps absorb the excess.
- Line a baking tin with parchment paper at the bottom and sides.
Oven Method
- Preheat the oven at 170°C (340°F) for 10 minutes.
- Bake at 170°C (340°F) for 30-35 minutes until the top is golden brown and caramelized.
- Allow the chhena poda to cool before removing from the tin. Overturn onto a plate and let it rest for another 15-20 minutes to firm up.
Air Fryer Method
- Preheat the air fryer at 160°C (320°F) for 5 minutes.
- Place the baking tin inside the basket and air fry at 160°C (320°F) for 30-35 minutes until the top is evenly browned.
- Brush/spray a little ghee on top midway for an even caramelized crust.
- Let it cool slightly before removing from the tin. Overturn onto a plate and rest for 15-20 minutes to set fully.
Video
Notes
You can buy also use paneer from dairy.
You can also replace 1-¼ cup jaggery with 1 cup sugar +¼ jaggery.I like the jaggery version as it is healthier.
FAQ
Chhena is fresh paneer which has more moisture. Once pressure is applied, paneer cubes are created.
Chenna poda involves cooking of chhena/paneer i.e. fresh cheese with sugar/jaggery in an oven. We add a bit of sooji/semolina to it to that helps to absorb that extra water from the paneer/sugar.
Once cooked it can be eaten warm or store in the refrigerator for few days. The extra caramelization of the paneer makes it black but enhances the taste.
Most of us end up eating cottage cheese or 'paneer' in curries or starters. However, many households in villages and small towns in Orissa and Bengal, use channa to make sweets. They may use only sugar or add it along with a base of jaggery. I have had a pleasure to eat the varied cuisine.Khaja,Rassogullas, chhena Jhili,rajbhog and chhena poda sweet at various local sweet shops. Most noteworthy, this pit-stop may brighten up any driver. Usually they drive for long hours. It is a sight you may never forget for the rest of your life.
Travel trivia: Orissa or Odisha has great locales and beaches. This land is famous for its mines, monasteries, temples.It is also home to great cuisine. Both vegetarian and non vegetarian.I had some fantastic trips to Bhubaneshwar-Konark-Puri temple and the villages along this triangle. Other places to visit are Chilika lake and Rourkela.
Conclusion: Baked Indian cheesecake Chhena Pudo is something you will cherish making even if you haven't had the chance to visit Odisha yet. You will be surprised how good it tastes.
DAMAN says
Hi
i tried it ,, it was so yum
However, it looked bit dry from outside had dry crust , not sure wat i did wrong
Any advise for next tym .
bhavana bhatia says
Thank you Daman for your feedback. Glad you liked the recipe. Try using a baking sheet instead of greasing the cake pan, it might help.