Chhena Jhili Recipe
Chhena Jhili is a popular sweet dish from the Indian state of Odisha. It is made from chhena (fresh cottage cheese) and soaked in sugar syrup, resulting in a soft and juicy texture.

Here’s a recipe to make Chhena Jhili:
Ingredients For Chhena Jhili Recipe:
For Chhena Jhili:
- 1-liter full-fat milk
- 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice or vinegar
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup semolina (sooji)
- Ghee or oil for deep frying
For Sugar Syrup:
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups water
- A few strands of saffron (optional)
- Cardamom powder (optional)
Chhena Jhili Preparation:
- Start by making the chhena (cottage cheese). Heat the milk in a heavy-bottomed pan and bring it to a gentle boil.
- Once the milk starts boiling, reduce the heat and add lemon juice or vinegar. Stir well. The acid will curdle the milk and separate the whey from the curds.
- Turn off the heat and let it sit for a few minutes. The milk will curdle completely, and the whey will separate.
- Line a colander or strainer with a muslin cloth or cheesecloth. Pour the curdled milk into the colander to separate the whey. Rinse the chhena under cold running water to remove any traces of lemon juice or vinegar.
- Gather the cloth with chhena and squeeze gently to remove excess water. Hang the cloth for about 30 minutes to drain any remaining whey.
- After 30 minutes, take out the chhena from the cloth and transfer it to a plate or bowl. Knead the chhena well with your palms until it becomes smooth and soft. This step is crucial to get a good texture for Chhena Jhili.
- Once the chhena is smooth, divide it into small portions and shape them into oval or cylindrical patties.
- In a deep pan, heat ghee or oil for frying. Once the oil is hot, gently slide the chhena patties into the oil. Fry them on medium heat until they turn golden brown and crispy on the outside. Flip them occasionally for even frying. Remove the fried chhena jhilis and set them aside.
- In a separate pan, prepare the sugar syrup. Add sugar and water to the pan and bring it to a boil. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Add a few strands of saffron and a pinch of cardamom powder to the syrup for additional flavor (optional).
- Carefully drop the fried chhena jhilis into the sugar syrup. Let them soak in the syrup for at least 2 hours to absorb the sweetness and become soft and juicy.
- Once the chhena jhilis have soaked well, they are ready to be served. You can serve them warm or chilled, as per your preference.
Nutritional Value Of Chhena Jhili
Chhena Jhili is a sweet dish made primarily from chhena (cottage cheese) and sugar syrup. While the exact nutritional value may vary based on the specific quantities and brands of ingredients used, here’s a general overview of the nutritional composition of Chhena Jhili:
Please note that the following values are approximate and can vary:
- Calories: Approximately 150-200 calories per serving (2-3 pieces)
- Carbohydrates: Around 20-25 grams per serving
- Protein: Approximately 5-8 grams per serving (due to the presence of chhena)
- Fat: This varies depending on the amount of oil or ghee used for frying and the fat content of the chhena.
- Sugar: The sugar syrup used for soaking adds a significant amount of sugar to the dish.