Saturday, April 14, 2012

Chenna Poda/Paneer Cake & Awards

This time for Valli's Indian Cooking Challenge, we were given a sweet dish from Orissa..This was super new to me! Little did i know there existed a Paneer cake & chenna is another name for Paneer :)...I am a big fan of Paneer and i knew i had to make this!




Chenna Poda means Burnt Cheese in the literal sense !! But the taste is no where similar to anything burnt :)).. Valli did share a short history to this dish and here i am sharing the same with you..We all know about Rasgulla and all of us invariably associate this dish with Bengal right??! But i believe this dish is originally from Orissa...Having lost it to Bengal, Oriya Milk Federation actually did a massive campaign to retain this 'Chenna Poda' identity to their State :).. Coming to the present, here's the recipe.. I reduced the recipe proportion and made a very small cake! I choose the recipe from Shibani..

Ingredients
1. Milk - 4 cups
2. Juice of one lemon
3. Powdered Sugar - 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp
4. Cardamom - 1/2 tsp
5. Raisins - a fistful
6. Cashewnuts - a fistful
7. Semolina/ Rava - 1 tbsp
8. Ghee - 1 tbsp


Preparation Time!!
This recipe calls for fresh Paneer or Chenna.. So, here's how we make fresh Paneer and proceed

1. Take milk in a pan and bring to boil. Stir intermittently so that no cream layer is formed on top. When it comes to boil, switch off flame and pour the lemon juice ( Ensure you remove the lemon seeds)

2.Turn the gas on to low now & slowly keep stirring, till milk curdles and green water comes on top. Remove off flame & keep covered for 15 minutes


3. Then stain this liquid through a music cloth and squeeze water completely & place a heavy object on the curdled mixture for an hour.. Paneer is ready & crumble it.. I got a around 3/4th cup of Pnaeer


4. To the crumbled paneer, add powdered sugar,semolina and then raisins & broken cashew nuts. Use hand and make a dough


5. In a pan, add ghee and as it melts add sugar and allow it melt.. As sugar melts, it turns amber/light brown color.. remove and pour in the pan where you are going to bake the cake and turn well so that it coats the base & sides! This is called caramelizing.. sugar melted should not turn dark brown..then it becomes bitter


6. You need to be quick here & can add a drop of lemon juice, as that would prevent crystallization of sugar! As you do this pre-heat over to 350 F

7. Add this caramelized sugar to mug.. then add the paneer mixture on top. Cover with a foil & make holes using knife


8. Bake the paneer for almost 30-40 minutes or till done. Use a toothpick & insert it in the cake. If it comes clean, you know its done!

9. Remove of oven, cool it for 1-2 hrs & then remove of the mug.. I used a small oven safe mug! Chenna Poda is ready..





Pointers
* The main trick is the caramelizing! Since i took a minute longer as i clicked snaps, sugar started to crystalize and stick to the bowl.. so when i removed it, a part of the top crust did stick to the bowl.. u can see that in the pic
** its a very tasty desert.. reminded me of kalakand!




Sending this to Vardhini's Bake fest hosted by Sumee, Raven's Cook.Eat.Delicious - Picnic Deserts hosted by Geetha and Radhika's I love Baking#3


Its been a long due & here i finally thank the people who made its all worth while by showering me with awards :).. I feel honored & touched that you remembered me & shared your awards with me.. Thanks ppl :) you guys made me very happy!
Hema.. Surabhi.. Farah.. Shreez...Preethi.. Sriya..Sobha,Vandana a big big shout out to you all for sharing with me Versatile blogger, happy blogger, liebester award & Good Food's Fav food.. Your awards adorn my space :)

27 comments:

  1. Well done, seriously i enjoyed this challenge, ur chenna poda looks irresistible and prefect..

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  2. They are looking so good and you have prepared it so well.

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  3. what a lovely unique dessert thi sis, never heard of it though... sounds kinda like an indianized paneer caramel custad na, cant wait to try this one out

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  4. They really look good ! This is new to me. Worth a try.

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  5. oh super!!! never heard abt this! but im loving it!!looks awesome!

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  6. Cake looks so good and delicious.. Nice step by step pics

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  7. never heard abt this but looks yummy.... worth a try.. congrats on all the awards :)

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  8. New recipe...literally mouthwatering...

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  9. That's good..I realize now why it got stuck, I was busy clicking pictures too..heheh...and you didn't mix the sugar to the paneer?..so what the cake sweet all over or the place where the sugar was?..nice pictures and next time I must remember to use my small cup..:)

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  10. Very nice Rasi...looks amazing. Love the presentation.

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  11. wonderful pics Rasi... love the caramalisation on top..

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  12. Your cake has a nice brown color.. Looks delicious!

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  13. very delicious and mouthwatering


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  14. It looks so delicious, never tasted this, on my list..

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  15. I love the caramalisation that you have achieved on the cheena poda. Delicious !

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  16. Never heard of this dessert but it looks and sounds so delicious! Getting tempted big time :D


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  17. This paneer dessert looks simply yummy and mouthwatering..reading and seeing the step by step pictures have tempted me too much..have to try it soon

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  18. Never heard of this dessert.awesome and mouthwatering..tempting one

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  19. wonderful recipe..never heard about this before..love to try this soon..

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  20. wow...super yummy cake...different 1 tooo...awesome..

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  21. wow...super yummy paneer cake...aweseum cliks tooo...loved it..
    maha

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  22. That looks fabulous! And congrats on your awards dear :)

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  23. Oh this cake looks so delish, never heard of Paneer cake...u have a awsum collection of recipes..happy to be a follower of ur space. do visit me when u get time @
    http://varietyisthespiceofyourlife.blogspot.com/

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Really look forward to your opinions, comments & suggestions :)...Glad you took time to say something on my dish..Its a yay! moment for me :)