Chhena poda facts for kids
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| Course | Dessert |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | India |
| Region or state | Odisha, India |
| Main ingredients | Chhena cheese, sugar, cashew nuts and raisins |
Chhena poda (which means Baked Cheese in the Odia language) is a yummy cheese dessert from the Indian state of Odisha. It's a bit like a cheesecake, but with its own special twist!
This delicious treat is made from fresh, homemade cheese called chhena. This cheese is kneaded well, then mixed with sugar and a little bit of semolina. The mixture is then baked for several hours until it turns a lovely golden brown. What makes Chhena poda so special is its amazing flavor, which comes mostly from the sugar caramelizing as it bakes. This gives it a unique, slightly burnt and sweet taste that people love.
How Did Chhena Poda Begin?
Chhena poda was first made in a village called Dasapalla in Odisha, way back in the early 1900s. The story goes that a sweet shop owner named Sudarsan Sahu had some leftover cottage cheese one night. Instead of throwing it away, he decided to mix it with sugar and some spices.
He then left this mixture in his traditional Indian oven, called a Chulha, which was still warm from earlier cooking. The next morning, he was super surprised! He found that his experiment had turned into a wonderfully tasty dessert. And just like that, Chhena poda was born!
To celebrate Sudarsan Sahu and his amazing creation, people in Odisha now celebrate Chhenapoda Dibasa every year on April 11th, which is his birthday. This special day started in 2022.
Making and Enjoying Chhena Poda
Chhena poda is often made at home during big festivals in Odisha, like Durga Puja. It's a traditional sweet that families enjoy together.
Since the mid-1980s, this dessert has become very popular. You can now find it on the menus of many restaurants across Odisha. The Odisha Milk Federation, a big dairy company, is also working hard to make and sell more Chhena poda. They want to make sure everyone, everywhere, gets a chance to taste this special treat!
