The Exotic Chenna Poda / Caramelized Cottage Cheese

If there is one sweet that is famous in orissa as a signature dessert it would be chenna poda. This exotic baked cottage cheese cake is traditionally baked in oven or earthen fire. The burnt smell is awesome and good to taste.The literal meaning of chena poda is burnt cheese; chena is cottage cheese and poda means burnt.

Without wasting a moment try out the recipe and enjoy a mouthwatering dessert.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup grated paneer
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 tbsp rava/semolina
• 3 crushed elaichi/cardamom
• 2 tbsp kishmish/dry grape
• 1/4 tsp baking powder

For caramel

• 2 tbsp sugar
• 3 tbsp water 

Preparation
Mix the paneer with semolina and knead it till becomes a soft and smooth dough. This process will take approximately 5 min. Now add the sugar, cardamom ,kishmish and baking powder and knead it for 3-4 minutes.Cover and keep it aside for 15 min




In the meantime prepare the caramel.
Heat a non stick pan low flame, add the sugar and let it melt.Shake the pan occasionally to make the sugar melt uniformly.It will become liquid and slow turn to golden brown.Keep a close watch over it otherwise it will burn.Once its caramelized to golden brown add the water and it will start bubbling and again  it will become more liquid.

Now pour the caramel into the baking bowls/tray and spread it quickly as much as possible and keep aside and let it cool.I used four ramekin bowls.

Fill the bowls with the paneer dough , press it uniformly and cover with aluminium foil.

Preheat the oven for 180 degrees, take a big bowl and fill with 1 inch deep water.Place the bowls/tray in this water and bake for 45 - 50 minutes or till it becomes light golden brown, test with a toothpick and it should come out clean.

Remove from oven and let it cool, invert the chenna poda out of the bowls in a small plate and serve warm.