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Chenna Poda

Chenna Poda

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Chenna poda on a plate
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Srishti Magan
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Srishti Magan
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Chenna Poda
Recipe: A Soft And Spongy Indian Cheesecake

75 mins
Cooking Time
Easy
Difficulty
10
Ingredients
Veg + Dairy
Diet
Try this chenna poda recipe to make the traditional, caramelised dessert from Orissa in your kitchen. Chenna poda is like an Indian cheesecake made from mixing cottage cheese with semolina, milk, ghee, and sugar. Cardamom powder is added for the aroma, while nuts like cashews and raisins are used as garnish. It’s easy to make this decadent dessert, especially with this chenna poda recipe. Start by crumbling the paneer into a bowl and mixing it with the other ingredients. Then you can bake it to achieve that soft, spongy interior and signature, caramelised (and browned) crust. Chenna poda literally translates to burnt cheese in Odia, and the state even celebrates a Chenna Poda day on April 11. The day is celebrated to honour the inventor of chenna poda, Sudarshan Sahu. Sahu, a sweet maker, accidentally created the dessert in 1947 when he left sweetened chhena in a warm oven overnight. Today, chenna poda is considered Odisha’s most iconic dessert, and the state has even demanded a GI (Geographical Identification) tag for it. Now that you know how to make chenna poda and are well-versed with its history, give this dessert a try!

Ingredients

UNITSIngredients
2 litresMilk
2 tbspLemon juice
¼ cup Sugar
2 tbspSooji
3 tbspWater
1 tspGhee
5Almonds, chopped
5Cashew, chopped
2 tbspRaisins
¼ tsp Cardamom powder

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Directions

Description - Step 1

Make the batter

Take a large mixing bowl. Crumble the paneer till there are no large lumps. Now, add sugar, sooji, cardamom powder, milk and ghee. Mix well until you get a soft, slightly loose batter. Fold in cashews and raisins.

Step 1
Make the batter
10 Minutes
Step 2
Caramelise the sugar for the base
2-3 Minutes
Step 3
Bake the chenna poda
45-50 Minutes
Step 4
Cool, slice, and serve (or store)
10-15 Minutes

FAQs

Yes, the chenna poda recipe works with store-bought paneer as well, especially if fresh chhena is unavailable. For the most authentic texture and flavour, use fresh chhena made from fresh, full-fat milk.