Cuisine : Chanar Kalia (Cottage Cheese Curry)- Steps to prepare this tasty Indian dish

 


Chanar Kalia is a luxurious Bengali dish made with chhana (fresh cottage cheese), slow-cooked in a rich, aromatic gravy. The soft cottage cheese pieces are lightly spiced, fried until golden, and then simmered in a flavorful sauce made with cashews, raisins, coconut, and a blend of warm spices. With its mildly sweet and spicy taste, Chanar Kalia is often served at festive occasions and pairs wonderfully with basmati rice or pulao.

Ingredients:

  • Cottage cheese (Chhana) – 200g
  • All-purpose flour – 2 tsp
  • Cumin powder – 2 tsp
  • Coriander powder – ½ tsp
  • Red chili powder – 1 tsp
  • Garam masala powder – 1 tsp
  • Kashmiri red chili powder – 1 tsp
  • Grated coconut – ½ cup
  • Cinnamon – 1 inch
  • Ginger – 1 inch piece
  • Cashews and raisins – 2 tbsp
  • Cloves – 2
  • Green cardamom – 2
  • Black pepper – 4
  • Oil – as needed
  • Salt – as needed
  • Sugar – as needed

Method:

  1. Mash the cottage cheese well with all the powdered spices, salt, sugar, and all-purpose flour. Shape into a log and cut into pieces.
  2. Blend ginger, 3 green chilies, 1 tbsp cashews, 10-12 raisins, 2 small cardamoms, 1-inch cinnamon, 2 cloves, and 4 black peppers with a little water to make a smooth paste.
  3. Heat enough oil in a pan and deep-fry the cottage cheese pieces until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
  4. Reduce the oil and in the same pan, add whole cumin seeds, 1 small cardamom, 2 cloves, and 2 bay leaves for tempering.
  5. Add the prepared spice paste and grated coconut. Sauté well until the oil separates.
  6. Mix in Kashmiri red chili powder, salt, and sugar. Stir well and add water as needed.
  7. Once the gravy starts boiling, add the fried cottage cheese pieces and simmer for 5 minutes.
  8. Finish with garam masala powder and remove from heat. Serve hot.

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