Chhena or Oriya

Oriya language

Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...

: ଛେନା tʃʰena) or Chhana (Bengali

Bengali language

Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...

: ছানা tʃʰana) is fresh, unripened curd

Curd

Curds are a dairy product obtained by curdling milk with rennet or an edible acidic substance such as lemon juice or vinegar, and then draining off the liquid portion. The increased acidity causes the milk proteins to tangle into solid masses, or curds. The remaining liquid, which contains only...

 cheese

Cheese

Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....

 widely used in India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

 and Bangladesh

Bangladesh

Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...

. A crumbly and moist form of farmers cheese or paneer

Paneer

Paneer is a fresh cheese common in South Asian cuisine. It is of Indian origin. In eastern parts of India, it is generally called Chhena...

, it is used to make desserts such as rasgulla. It is created in a similar process to paneer except it is not pressed for as long. It is most popular in Orissa

Orissa

Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...

 and Bengal

Bengal

Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...

 and is made from water buffalo milk

Milk

Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...

. The earliest reference of cheese in India dates back to 1400 BCE.

In Orissa, the typical process is like that of ricotta

Ricotta

Ricotta is an Italian dairy product made from sheep milk whey left over from the production of cheese. Although typically referred to as ricotta cheese, ricotta is not properly a cheese because it is not produced by coagulation of casein...

: the milk is boiled and then curdled with a small amount of whey

Whey

Whey or Milk Serum is the liquid remaining after milk has been curdled and strained. It is a by-product of the manufacture of cheese or casein and has several commercial uses. Sweet whey is manufactured during the making of rennet types of hard cheese like cheddar or Swiss cheese...

, and the resulting coagulated component is collected and wrapped in cheesecloth

Cheesecloth

Cheesecloth is a loosewoven gauze-like cotton cloth used primarily in cheese making and cooking.Cheesecloth is available in at least seven different grades, from open to extra-fine weave. Grades are distinguished by the number of threads per inch in each direction.- Uses :The primary use of...

, strained and beaten thoroughly, until it becomes quite firm. This mixture is kneaded well before use, so that it acquires a very soft and smooth consistency. Orissa is famous for desserts made of chhena, rasagolla, rasaballi, chhena kheeri

Chhena Kheeri

Chhena Kheeri is a sweet dish originally from coastal Orissa in eastern India, a state known for desserts made of chhena. The popularity of this dish is spreading to other parts of Orissa, as well as neighboring states.-Preparation:...

 and chhena poda being among the most popular. Chhena is consumed by lactose intolerant people.

See also

• Sandesh
• Rasagolla
• Chhena Gaja
  Chhena Gaja
  Chhena Gaja is a sweet dish from Orissa, India. Unlike some other popular chhena-based Oriya desserts, such as Rasagolla, which have spread throughout India, the Chhena Gaja remains largely popular within the state itself....
  
  
• Kheersagar
  Kheersagar
  Kheersagar is a popular Oriya sweet dish that literally translates to Oceans of Milk in the Oriya language. The dish is very popular in coastal Orissa.-Preparation:...
  
  
• Chhena Kheeri
  Chhena Kheeri
  Chhena Kheeri is a sweet dish originally from coastal Orissa in eastern India, a state known for desserts made of chhena. The popularity of this dish is spreading to other parts of Orissa, as well as neighboring states.-Preparation:...
  
  
• Chhena Jalebi
  Chhena jalebi
  Chhena jalebi is a sweet dish originally from coastal Orissa in eastern India, a state known for desserts made of chhena. Its popularity has spread beyond coastal Orissa.-Preparation:...
  
  
• Chhena Poda
• Pantua
  Pantua
  Pantua is a local confection of eastern India and Bangladesh. It is a traditional Indian sweet made of deep-fried balls of semolina, chhana, milk, ghee and sugar syrup. Pantuas range in colour from pale brown to nearly black depending on how long they are fried...