Chhena poda or baked cottage cheese cake.
Yes a cake but you don’t need flour or baking powder to make it.
Chhena poda is a dessert made of cottage cheese from Odisha. Its literally means roasted cheese in Odia language.
Its a very delicious baked dessert, made of fresh cottage cheese or chhena/paneer sugar, cardamom, cashew nuts and raisins. Flavour of cardamom and caramelised sugar made this dessert heavenly.
This week’s 122nd #Foodiemonday bloghop theme is #Odiacuisine.
My contribution is this delicious chhena poda. Adopted the recipe from my fellow blogger and a dear friend Alka Jena who blog at
Visit her blog for many amazing recipes. Thanks Alka for the suggestions.
To make this chhena poda or baked cottage cheese better use homemade fresh cottage cheese or paneer. Its very easy to make. Just blend cottage cheese, sugar, cardamom powder, little milk or whey, cashew nuts and raisins till smooth and bake with caramelised sugar syrup.
Recipe
Paneer or cottage cheese – 2 cup, crumbled
Sugar – 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoon
Cardamom powder – 1 teaspoon
Cashew nuts – 2 tablespoon
Raisins – 2 tablespoon
Milk or whey – 4 tablespoon
Ghee or butter for greasing
Sugar for caramelization
Pistachio to garnish
Method
1. Preheat the oven at 180°.
2. Fry cashew nuts and raisins lightly.
3. Blend paneer or cottage cheese, sugar and cardamom powder. Mix well.
4. Add milk or remaining whey of paneer. Blend till the mixture becomes smooth. Taste and adjust sugar if required. I like less sweet.
5. Add fried cashew nuts and raisins. Mix well.
6. Grease a baking pan with ghee or butter. Spread 1 tablespoon sugar and heat the pan till sugar caramelise.
When sugar caramelised switch off the flame.
7. Tilt the pan to spread the caramelised syrup all over the base.
8. Pour the paneer mixture over it.
Spread evenly with a spoon or spatula.
9. Bake in a preheated oven at 180° for 35 – 45 minutes.
10. To check insert a toothpick in the middle. If the toothpick comes out clean chhena poda is ready.
11. Take out the pan when hot and invert it on a plate to take out.
If it becomes cold sugar syrup at base will be hard and it will be difficult to come out intact.
12. Garnish with pistachio. Serve delicious chhena poda or baked cottage cheese hot or cold.
I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.
Please visit my facebook page and hit the like button to get the latest update.
Stay connected at
Aruna says
The Chena Poda is simply delectable. And what I liked best is that you made a generous portion, not a dainty little portion! 🙂 I am going to make this this week; even if I have to give up some sleep! 🙂
Batter Up With Sujata says
Thanks a lot Aruna. And I love this because its lightly sweet. So you can easily enjoy 2-3 pieces. Waiting for your feedback after trying 😍 😍
Megala says
Interesting recipe ! Love to try these delicious paneer loaves !
Batter Up With Sujata says
Thanks a lot Megala 😍 😍
PS says
That’s a hell of a tempting recipe!! Using cottage cheese.yum!!!
Batter Up With Sujata says
Thank you so very much 😊 😊
mistimaan says
Love to taste your yum recipe 🙂
Batter Up With Sujata says
Thank you so very much 😊 😊
poonampagar says
When I was browsing through the recipes of Odia cuisine for our theme and read about this dish , I had strong feeling that you would attempt this dish and it came out so well. Love your bakes di. This chhena poda is sure on my to do list.
Batter Up With Sujata says
Thanks a lot dear. You are right I really love to bake. And chhena poda was in my must do list. Happy to make it finally 😍😍
The Girl Next Door says
Scrumptious! Now, I have to get my hands on some of that! 🙂
Batter Up With Sujata says
Thank you so much dear 😍 😍
Vidya Narayan says
This looks super delicious and one of my fav desserts!
Batter Up With Sujata says
Thank you so much Vidya 😍😍
Gloria says
This is amazing..saving this to try later..
Batter Up With Sujata says
Thanks a lot dear. Do try and let me know how it turns out 😍 😍
mayurisjikoni says
Chenna Poda has turned out so good Sujata. I baked it twice, both times got the flavour correct. However, first time didn’t get the nice golden crust. Second time got the crust but the inside was a bit dry. However will keep on trying till I get it right. I loved this Odia sweet.
Batter Up With Sujata says
Thank you so much Mayuri. I think it taste like koda pak or dry sandesh 😊 😊
anushascuisines says
This sounds delicious!!!!
Batter Up With Sujata says
Thank you so much Anusha 😍
Saswati says
I am salivating..the texture looks perfect dee👍🏻
Batter Up With Sujata says
Thank you so much Saswati 😍 😍
jyo says
Such a beautiful dessert recipe…I would love to try it ❣
Batter Up With Sujata says
Thanks a lot. Please do try and let me know how it turns out 😍 😍
kritisinghal2403 says
delicious and flavorful 🙂
Batter Up With Sujata says
Thanks Kriti 😊 😊
Preethi Prasad says
I fell in love with chena Poda when i first tasted it. Thank you Alka for introducing me to this wonderful sweet. Fab share dee.
Batter Up With Sujata says
Thanks Preethi 😍