March 20, 2024
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      wellhealthorganic.com
Chhena Poda

wellhealthorganic.com Chhena Poda: Chenna Poda, a beloved sweet originating from Odisha, is crafted using chenna, also known as fresh paneer. This delectable treat is baked to perfection and often referred to as a paneer cake.

Chhena Poda

  • Preparation Time: 10 minutes
  • Cooking Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Cuisine: Odisha
  • Course: Desserts, Sweets
  • Diet: Vegetarian
  • Difficulty Level: Moderate

Ingredients:

  1. 250 grams of paneer or chenna
  2. ½ cup of sugar or 125 grams of sugar or ½ cup of jaggery powder
  3. ½ teaspoon of cardamom powder
  4. ½ tablespoon of rice flour
  5. Cashews and raisins (optional)
  6. 1 to 2 teaspoons of ghee or as needed for greasing the tray/pan

Also Read: Schezwan Noodles

Instructions:

Preparation:

  1. Begin by lining a baking pan with chopped banana leaves, greasing them with ghee.
  2. Alternatively, you can use butter paper or parchment paper instead of banana leaves, or simply grease the pan with ghee on all sides.
  3. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes.

Making Chhena Poda Mixture:

  1. Crumble 250 grams of fresh paneer or chenna thoroughly.
  2. Add ½ cup of sugar (or jaggery powder) to the crumbled paneer and mix well using clean hands.
  3. Mash and knead the paneer until it reaches a loose, light consistency similar to cake batter.
  4. If the mixture appears dry, add a few tablespoons of milk or water. Some fat will be released while mashing the chenna, which is normal.
  5. Once the desired consistency is achieved, add ½ teaspoon of cardamom powder and ½ tablespoon of rice flour to the paneer mixture. Optionally, a pinch of baking soda can be added, although it doesn’t significantly affect the outcome. Alternatively, fine rava (sooji) can be used instead of rice flour. Chopped dry fruits like cashews, almonds, and raisins can also be added at this stage.

Baking Chhena Poda:

  1. Pour the chhena poda mixture into the prepared pan, shaking it gently to ensure an even spread. Use a spatula to level the top.
  2. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake the chhena poda for 30 to 45 minutes. If using an OTG, use the toast mode and position the pan in the center. Bake until the top crust achieves a dark golden color. Oven times may vary, so monitor closely. In some ovens, the paneer cake may require less time.
  3. Once baked, insert a bamboo skewer or toothpick into the center to ensure it comes out clean, without any sticky batter.
  4. Allow the paneer cake to cool completely in the pan before removing it.
  5. Once cooled, slice and serve the chenna poda. Leftovers can be refrigerated for 2 to 3 days.
  6. Serve chhena poda as a delightful dessert after meals or as a sweet snack.

Also Read: Paneer Pakoda

Notes:

  • The recipe can be easily halved, doubled, or tripled to suit your needs.