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Chenna Poda
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4.48 from 19 votes

Chhena poda recipe | Indian cheesecake recipe

Chenna poda or Chenna Pudo is decadent and delicious way of having fresh cottage cheese. Learn to make this Oriya cheese cake here
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: chana cake, chana podo, chanapora sweet, chena poda, chenna pudo, chennapoda, chhenapoda, chhenna podo
Servings: 8
Author: bhavana bhatia

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

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.