The name chenna poda translates from the Odia language as “roasted cheese,” and that is exactly what this Oriya dessert is made of, hitting all the marks for those with a sweet tooth who also have a weakness for cheese (I am currently pointing at myself). In essence, this is a sweetened cake made from cheese. Paneer, which is a fresh farmhouse-style cheese popular throughout all of India, can be made from scratch, but it is also available at Indian markets. Unsalted ricotta could be substituted. I sometimes equate this dessert to the Indian version of Mexican flan because of its caramelized topping. It always delivers the wow factor when I serve it to guests who can’t ever quite decide if they want cheese or something sweet for their dessert course.
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