Chenna Poda ( Cheese cakeFrom Orissa)Happy Mother's Day

Hi Friends,
        Today,I've a sweet for my mom and for the wonderful moms in the world.The sweet
I've is "Chenna Poda",which is my mom's favourite.

             A popular and wonderfully tasty cheese sweet from Orissa,chenna poda literally means burnt cheese.
Oriya sweets.It's made by baking homemade paneer (ricotta) cheese till it browns.The end objective of this dish is to bake a chenna in a way in which it absorbs the sugar,cashew nuts,raisins,ghee and suji are add for extra flavour  and makes a soft cake like dish with a layer of caramelization all around.The caramelization is what imparts this dish its character and distinct flavour..This dish is sold in stalls and eateries all over the state,and has now made its way into restaurant menus in the cities too.

Its is so simple,easy and absolutely delicious.Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:-

Paneer/Chenna/Ricotta Cheese- 3 cups (i am using homemade paneer)
Sooji/Semolina-3 tbsp
Sugar-7 8tbsp (Sweeten per your liking)
Ghee-4 tsp
Milk-3 tbsp
Raisins-1 few (optional)
Cashew pieces-5 small pieces (optional)
Cardamom powder-1 tsp (optional)

Method:-

In a big bowl,add mash little paneer thoroughly.Add sugar mix nicely.

Now add semolina,ghee,and milk it well using your hands.

Now fry the dry fruits in 1 tsp of ghee.Mix in the dry fruits if you want them at this point.Now add milk and cardamom powder mix well.

To get a caramelized effect on the top,apply a tablespoon of ghee or butter to the bottom of the baking dish,sprinkle with sugar and then hold it slightly above a gas stove for a few minutes to melt the sugar.Spread the melted sugar evenly.

 

Pour into a oven safe dish the paneer mixture over the sugar.Bake in a p  heated oven of 350 f for 45 to 50 minutes till the top turns to light brown.Insert a toothpick,it's done when the toothpick comes out clean.

Cool for 20 minutes,then turn it upside down.It should stay fresh for a week in the fridge.

 

Cut into pieces like cutting a cake.

 

 This sweet u can it hot or cool.