Chhena tarkari/Cottage cheese ball curry

A most loved food of Odisha.

Chhena/cottage cheese is a very viatal ingredient in odia cusine. Many sweet dish of Odisha is based on chhena.If you will ever visit to Odisha you will find lots of road side shop selling chhena,chhenapoda & rabdi. In Odisha people also prepare a delicious curry from chhena/cottage.We generally prepare this delicious chhena tarkari in any festive occasion,because everybody in our family loves any bi-products of milk.When we prepare this curry in any festival we always try to make this without onion & garlic but today I am going to share with you the recipe with onion & garlic.

Preparation time: 20 min

Cooking Time: 20 min

Total time: 40~45 min

Ingredients

For making chhena ball/cottage cheese ball

• Full fat milk- 1 ltr

• Vinegar- 2~3 tbsp

• Salt to taste

• Corriender powder-1/2 tsp

• All purpose flour- 1 tbsp

• Raisin/kismis-12

For making curry

• Boiled potato- 2 small to medium

• Tomato -1 medium to large

• Onion-1 medium

• Garlic- 3~4 large clove

• Ginger- 1 inch

• Black pepper-8~10

• Clove- 4~5

• Bay leaf-2

• Cumin seed- 1/2 tsp

• Sugar- 1/4 tsp

• Corriender powder -1tsp

• Cumin powder- 1/2 tsp

• Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp

• Red chilli powder to taste

• Cinnamon powder- 1/2 tsp

• Chopped corriender-2 tbsp

• Salt to taste

• Oil for cooking

Procedure

Step 1

Boil milk in a pan. When it comes to rolling boil switched off the flame .

Step 2

Add vinegar gradualy and stir continiously. within 1~2 minute milk solid & whey water will separate.

Step 3

Strain it with the help of a strainer,& rinse it on running water to remove the vinegar taste.

Step 4

Now press it with the help of your hand & remove all excess water. No need to make it complitely dry.

Step 5

Now transfer the chhena to a clean place.Add all purpose flour,salt & corriender powder. Mix well.

Step 6

With the heels of your palm mash the chhena and knead .

Rool it & devide them in equal portion.

Step 7

By pressing with your palm & roatating it make smooth ball.

Flatten them slightly and add some raisins in it.this step is optional. You can make this without adding raisins.

Close it & again make a smooth ball

In this way prepare all balls & gently press it to make it slightly flat.

Step 8

Now heat some oil in a kadai & fry the potato on medium flame. no need to fry too much.Frying potato is also optional,you can simply add boiled potato.

Keep the fried potato aside.

Step 9

Now fry the chhena balls on low to medium flame till golden brown.

Step 10

Now prepare the masala paste by grinding onion,ginger,garlic,clove & black pepper

Step 11

For making gravy,remove oil from the kadai & keep only 1 ~1.5 tbsp of oil. Add sugar,bay leaf.When sugar start becoming golden add cumin seed

Step 12

Add masala paste,& all powder masala excluding cinnamon powder.

Cook it on low to medium flame till oil separates & raw smell of masala go away.

Step 13

Add chopped tomato & some salt and cook till tomato become mushy.

Step 14

Add water and let it boil.

Add potato and cook for a minute.

Add chhena balls and mix well. Cook for two more minute. You can adjust the consistancy according to your choice.

Step 15

Add chopped corriender leave & cinnamon powder .mix well & cover it for few minute. You can use garam masala powder if cinnamon powder is not available.But cinnamon powder give a nice aroma to the entire dish.

Now chhena tarkari is ready to be served

Enjoy !

If you like the recipe, please share with family & friends .