Chenna Jhili : Odia Desert

One who has visited Odisha must have tasted different kinds of deserts and most them being prepared from fresh cottage cheese. Chenna Jhili is also a very famous odia desert made from fresh cottage cheese balls fried and soaked in light sugar syrup.
In Odisha ther is a place Nimapara which is famous for its chena jhili and one of my first demand whenever my father used to visit that place.Although you can get it all over the state somehow I crave for the taste of Nimapara Chena Jhili.

Ingredients:
Whole Milk - 1 Litre
Sour Curd - 2-3 Tbsp
Powdered Sugar - 2 Tsp
Maida / All Purpose Flour - 1 Tsp
Sugar -2 Cups
Water - 2 Cups
Cardamom Pods - 2
Oil / Ghee For Deep Frying or Shallow Frying(In this recipe I have shallow fried the cheese balls,but authentic recipe calls for deep frying)

To prepare Chena :
Boil milk and add the sour curd to the boiling milk and till all the milk solids separate from the whey.
You can add more curd if you dont get a clear coloured whey. let it boil for a minute or two.
Strain the chena using a muslin cloth and squeeze out excess water.

To prepare Sugar Syrup:
Boil 2 cups of water and 2 cups of sugar together. Add crushed Cardamom and let it boil for 10 minutes.

In a mixing bowl take chena , maida, powdered sugar and knead to get soft dough. It will take about 5 minutes. Make small balls out of the dough and shallow fry till golden brown on both sides.
Once the balls are fried , put them into sugar syrup.

Rajma Tikki

If you have read my previous posts you must have known how much I love the cutlets. This one is my all time favourite as its really easy to prepare.

Ingredients:
1 Can Rajma/Kidney beans
2 medium Size Potatoes (boiled)
1 small onion chopped
1 green chillies chopped
1 Tbsp Roasted nuts coarsely  powdered(optional)
2 Tbsp Bread crumbs
Salt to taste
Oil for shallow frying

Mix everything except oil and make pattie shapes. Shallow fry both sides till golden brown.

Enjoy with tomato ketchup.

Aloo Matar Paneer Paratha

Aloo Matar Paneer is a popular curry  for vegetarians but how about Aloo Matar Paneer Paratha...I Came up with making a paratha as my Little one is now more interested to have dried stuffs than gravies. So thought of making a stuffed paratha . Addition of Kasoori Methi enhances the taste.
It is a delicious Paratha and will be in my menu more often.

Ingredients:

1 medium Onion chopped
1 Big boiled Potato
1/2 cup Green Peas Frozen or fresh
1 Cup Grated Paneer
1 Tsp Kasoori Methi
1 Green Chillies Chopped
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp Turmeric
1 Tsp Curry Powder
1 Tbsp oil
Butter

For Dough:
2 cups of Whole Wheat Flour
Salt
Water

Mix everything for dough and make a pliable dough. cover and keep aside.

In a pan heat oil , add onion to it fry till translucent . Now add green chillies, peas, Kasoori methi to it.
Now add turmeric and curry powder. Add grated paneer , mashed potato and salt to it and cook for 5 minutes.

Now the stuffing is ready.
Make small ball out of prepared dough and stuff the stuffing mixture and make parathas and  cook both sides on tawa. Apply butter to both sides.