Chhenna Poda
Encyclopedia
Chhena poda is the quintessential cheese
dessert from the state of Orissa
in eastern India
. Chhena poda literally means burnt cheese in Oriya
. It is made of well-kneaded homemade cottage cheese
or chhena
, sugar, cashew nuts
and raisin
s, and is baked for several hours until it browns. Chhena poda is the only well known Indian dessert whose flavor is predominantly derived from the caramelization of sugar.
in the first half of the twentieth century. The owner of a confectionery, a certain Bidyadhar Sahoo decided to add sugar and seasonings to leftover cottage cheese
one night, and leave it in an 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. Chhena poda soon became popular throughout Orissa. Today, it is also made in West Bengal
and elsewhere in India.
. It is also served in small traditional roadside stalls and confectioneries throughout the state along with other delicacies such as rasagolla. Since the mid-eighties, it has gradually found its place in restaurant menus across Orissa. After losing out to another traditional Oriya
sweet, rasagolla to West Bengal, the Orissa Milk Federation is investing heavily in mass producing and popularizing this delicacy, determined not to let this happen again.
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
dessert from the state of Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
in eastern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Chhena poda literally means burnt cheese in Oriya
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
. It is made of well-kneaded homemade cottage cheese
Cottage cheese
Cottage cheese is a cheese curd product with a mild flavor. It is drained, but not pressed, so some whey remains and the individual curds remain loose. The curd is usually washed to remove acidity, giving sweet curd cheese. It is not aged or colored. Different styles of cottage cheese are made from...
or chhena
Chhena
Chhena or Oriya: ଛେନା ) or Chhana is fresh, unripened curd cheese widely used in India and Bangladesh. A crumbly and moist form of farmers cheese or paneer, it is used to make desserts such as rasgulla. It is created in a similar process to paneer except it is not pressed for as long...
, sugar, cashew nuts
Cashew
The cashew is a tree in the family Anacardiaceae. Its English name derives from the Portuguese name for the fruit of the cashew tree, caju, which in turn derives from the indigenous Tupi name, acajú. It is now widely grown in tropical climates for its cashew nuts and cashew apples.-Etymology:The...
and raisin
Raisin
Raisins are dried grapes. They are produced in many regions of the world. Raisins may be eaten raw or used in cooking, baking and brewing...
s, and is baked for several hours until it browns. Chhena poda is the only well known Indian dessert whose flavor is predominantly derived from the caramelization of sugar.
History
It is said that Chhenapoda originated in the Orissan town of NayagarhNayagarh
Nayagarh is a town and a notified area committee in Nayagarh district in the Indian state of Orissa. It is the headquarters of Nayagarh district.-Geography:Nayagarh is located at...
in the first half of the twentieth century. The owner of a confectionery, a certain Bidyadhar Sahoo decided to add sugar and seasonings to leftover cottage cheese
Cottage cheese
Cottage cheese is a cheese curd product with a mild flavor. It is drained, but not pressed, so some whey remains and the individual curds remain loose. The curd is usually washed to remove acidity, giving sweet curd cheese. It is not aged or colored. Different styles of cottage cheese are made from...
one night, and leave it in an 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. Chhena poda soon became popular throughout Orissa. Today, it is also made in West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
and elsewhere in India.
Popularity
Chhena poda is usually made at home during traditional festivals in Orissa, such as Durga PujaDurga Puja
Durga puja ; দুর্গা পূজা,ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava ; , is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and...
. It is also served in small traditional roadside stalls and confectioneries throughout the state along with other delicacies such as rasagolla. Since the mid-eighties, it has gradually found its place in restaurant menus across Orissa. After losing out to another traditional Oriya
Oriya people
The Oriya, known classically by various names , are an ethnic group of eastern India and of eastern Indo-Aryan stock...
sweet, rasagolla to West Bengal, the Orissa Milk Federation is investing heavily in mass producing and popularizing this delicacy, determined not to let this happen again.
Recipe
Ingredients- 2 lbs part-skim Ricotta cheese
- 3 tbsp soojiSemolinaSemolina is the coarse, purified wheat middlings of durum wheat used in making pasta, and also used for breakfast cereals and puddings. Semolina is also used to designate coarse middlings from other varieties of wheat, and from other grains such as rice and corn.-Name:The term semolina derives from...
- 15 tbsp of sugar
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup cashew nuts (preferably raw)
- CardamomCardamomCardamom refers to several plants of the genera Elettaria and Amomum in the ginger family Zingiberaceae. Both genera are native to India and Bhutan; they are recognised by their small seed pod, triangular in cross-section and spindle-shaped, with a thin papery outer shell and small black seeds...
s - 1 cup water
See also
- RasabaliRasabaliRasaabali Oriya:ରସାବଳି is a sweet dish from Orissa, India. Unlike some other popular Oriya desserts, such as rasagolla which have spread throughout India through Bengal, the popularity of rasabali remains largely confined within Orissa...
- Rasagolla
- Chhena GajaChhena GajaChhena Gaja is a sweet dish from Orissa, India. Unlike some other popular chhena-based Oriya desserts, such as Rasagolla, which have spread throughout India, the Chhena Gaja remains largely popular within the state itself....
- KheersagarKheersagarKheersagar is a popular Oriya sweet dish that literally translates to Oceans of Milk in the Oriya language. The dish is very popular in coastal Orissa.-Preparation:...
- Chhena KheeriChhena KheeriChhena Kheeri is a sweet dish originally from coastal Orissa in eastern India, a state known for desserts made of chhena. The popularity of this dish is spreading to other parts of Orissa, as well as neighboring states.-Preparation:...
- Chhena jalebiChhena jalebiChhena jalebi is a sweet dish originally from coastal Orissa in eastern India, a state known for desserts made of chhena. Its popularity has spread beyond coastal Orissa.-Preparation:...
- List of Indian sweets and desserts
- Oriya cuisineOriya cuisineOriya cuisine refers to the cooking of the eastern Indian state of Orissa. Foods from this area are rich and varied, while relying heavily on local ingredients. The flavors are usually subtle and delicately spiced, quite unlike the fiery curries typically associated with Indian cuisine. Fish and...