Chhena poda (Odia: ଛେନାପୋଡ଼) is a cheese dessert from the state of Odisha in eastern India. It is said that chhenapoda originated in the Odia town of Nayagarh in the first half of the twentieth century. The owner of a confectionery, a certain Sudarshana Sahoo decided to add sugar and seasonings to leftover cottage cheese one night, and left 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. Today, it is also made and is popular in many states of India. Also it is a very famous and popular desert in coastal Odisha, India.
I have twisted it little using Orange Zest and Nutmeg powder, those are not generally not used for making ChhenaPoda
- 250 gm. Cottage cheese or chhena (its crumble homemade cheese)
- 1 1/2 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1/2 tbsp semolina or suji or rawa
- 1/2 tsp green cardamom powder (elachi powder)
- 1/2 tsp Nutmeg powder
- 10-15 raisins
- 1/2 tbsp Orange Zest
- Few chopped Cashews / Pistachio / Almonds(optional)
- Ghee or butter for greasing
- 1/2 tbsp baking powder
In a bowl add Cottage Cheese, Semolina, Sugar Powder, some chhena water mix it well and add baking powder, ghee, cardamom powder, raisins, Pistachio, cashew nuts,Nutmeg powder mix it well.
Take baking tray grease it with ghee and pour the mixture into the mold, put it into the oven to 165 degree centigrade for 35 minutes.
Let it cool down, take it out on a plate, cut into slices and serve.
