Chhena Poda Recipe with Ricotta Cheese

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This Chhena poda recipe is a baked fresh paneer/cheese/chhena dessert from the Indian state of Odisha. Instead of homemade chhena, use ricotta to keep the simple recipe even simpler. The combination of ricotta and caramelization sugar will make your chhena poda undeniably rich, delicious and pillowy soft.

So, What is Chhena Poda?

As Wiki truly states, Chhenapoda originated in a village in Odisha in the first half of the twentieth century. The owner of a confectionery, accidentally discovered this world famous dessert when he decided to add sugar to the leftover chhena one night, and left it in the Indian Chulha (clay oven) that was still warm from earlier use. The next day, he was pleasantly surprised to find out what a scrumptious dessert he had created.

Chenna poda is nothing but Roasted Cheese. It is as simple as it sounds. You mix the ricotta cheese with sugar, add some cardamom powder and bake for an hour. That’s about it really.

Though you can make this dessert with homemade ricotta or chhena which is very easy but I have substituted fresh chhena with full fat unsalted ricotta making this chhena poda recipe with ricotta cheese easily adaptable for everyone to try.

Many of my friends are curious about this world famous dessert from Odisha. So keeping all of you guys on mind, I came up with this Chhena poda recipe with ricotta and condensed milk so that you can easily try it at home without compromising traditional and authentic flavors and taste.

Other Desserts from Odisha

• Rasgulla
• Tarana
• Kanika
• Kheersagar/KheerPuli/Kheer Gaintha
• Gajja
• Chhena Jalebi
• Chhena Jhili
• Rasabali
• Khajja
• Chhena Gajja
• Malpua
• Kakara Pitha

Why you will love this Ricotta Chhena Poda recipe?

This is such an Easy Recipe. And it brings back so many memories from home. You really dont have to go through the troubles of making fresh chhena at home and can always opt for store bought ricotta cheese which gives the exact same result and taste.

One Bowl Recipe. True that. Its as easy as mixing everything in your baking pan and bake it till you see the top brown.

Easily available pantry ingredients. All you need is ricotta, cardamom powder, condensed milk and little bit of ghee.

A very forgiving recipe. Seriously, you cant really go wrong with this ricotta chhena poda recipe. As long as you have ricotta and sweetened condensed milk – you are good to go. As far as the flavorings or toppings go.., use whatever and how much ever you feel like. In this recipe, I have used cardamom powder and some raisins. You can use rose water, saffron or other nuts. Even a touch of nutmeg will work wonders too. Like I said, this roasted cheese recipe is very forgiving.

Unique flavor: Chhena poda has a distinct flavor that comes from the caramelization of the chhena and sugar during the baking process. The combination of the sweet and slightly caramelized taste makes it a unique and delicious dessert.

Traditional Odia dessert: Chhena poda is a traditional dessert from the state of Odisha in India. It holds cultural significance and is often prepared during festivals and special occasions in Odisha. Its popularity has spread beyond the state and gained recognition across India and even internationally.

Simple ingredients: Chhena poda is made using simple ingredients like chhena (cottage cheese), sugar, ghee, and cardamom powder. These ingredients are easily available and affordable, making it accessible to a wide range of people.

Easy to make: While chhena poda requires some time for baking, the preparation process is relatively simple. It does not involve complex techniques or elaborate steps, making it a popular choice for home cooks and those looking to try their hand at Indian desserts.

Texture and presentation: Chhena poda has a soft and slightly crumbly texture that melts in the mouth. It is often cut into square or diamond-shaped pieces, which adds to its visual appeal. The golden brown color achieved during baking also makes it visually enticing.

Ingredients used in this Chhena Poda Recipe?

Full Fat Ricotta – I have used unsalted full fat ricotta in this recipe. You can replace the ricotta with homemade fresh panner or chhena

Condensed Milk – I have used condensed milk to get that amazing rich texture

Cardamom Powder – fresh cardamom powder imparts a warm fragrant flavor

Semolina – unroasted semolina. Coarse or fine doesn’t really matter.

How to make Chhena Poda?

Step 1. Grease your cake tin. I have used a 6 inch cake tin here

Step 2. In a bowl mix ricotta, one tin of sweetened condensed milk

Step 3. Add in semolina, cardamom powder and cashews.

Step 4. Pour the mixture into the cake tin and loosely cover with a foil.

Step 5. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degree F for an hour

Step 6. Take the foil out and let the chhena poda bake for another 15 minutes or till the top turn golden brown.

Tips and Tricks to make this Chhena Poda Recipe perfect

Mix ricotta, semolina and condensed milk well. Sprinkle some ghee on top to get a caramelized effect on the top.

The baking time differs slightly with different ovens, and the timing depends on factors like the cake pan color, materials, etc. So keep an eye on the cheesecake after 45 minutes. Again this is roasted cheesecake, so an extra 5 to 10 minutes of baking will not ruin the cake and taste.

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