Chhena Tarkari is a delicious Oriya recipe which is consumed in other Indian states also. The basic ingredients of this recipe are milk, flour, onion, and ginger to name a few. It is easy to make and can be prepared at home.

Ingredients of Chhena Tarkari:

•1 litre milk
•1 table spoon lemon juice
•2 potatoes
•1 big onion
•3 cloves of garlic
•1 tomato
•1/2 inch ginger
•1 teaspoon cumin seed
•1 teaspoon coriander seed
•2 bay leaves
•1/2 inch cinnamon
•2 cardamoms
•3 cloves
•1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
•1 and 1/4th tablespoon gram flour
•200 ml refined cooking oil
•Coriander leaves
•Chilli powder
•Salt to taste

Method of Preparing Chhena Tarkari

•Boil the milk.
•Add the lemon juice or vinegar and remove it from the gas oven.
•Allow the milk to curdle for 10 to15 minutes.
•Keep the curdled milk in a muslin cloth to drain away the water.
•Take the chhena or paneer, add besan and knead.
•Make small balls and flatten them.
•Deep fry the baras in oil and keep aside.
•Grind cinnamon, cardamom and cloves, onion, garlic and ginger to a smooth paste.
•Cut the potatoes into cube shapes.
•Fry the potato cubes.
•Heat oil in a kadai separately.
•Add the ground masala, bay leaves, turmeric and chilli powder.
•When the oil separates from the mixture add tomatoes.
•Reduce heat and stir till the tomato becomes tender.
•Add the potato cubes and salt.
•After sauting for 1 minute add water and cook the potatoes well.
•Add the paneer baras and cook.
•Before serving garnish with coriander leaves.

Another method of preparing Chhena Tarkari with little change in the ingredients and preparation method:

Ingredients of Chhena Tarkari:

•200gm paneer
•2 tsp maida
•2 bay leaves
•3-4 cloves
•2 stick of cinnamon
•2 cardamom
•2 medium size chopped onion
•Onion paste
•2 tsp ginger and garlic paste
•1 tsp turmeric powder
•1 tsp chilly powder
•1 tsp cumin powder
•1 tsp coriander powder
•2 medium size tomatoes chopped
•1 tsp kasuri methi
•1 tsp garam masala
•Salt to taste
•Oil for deep frying

Method of Preparing Chhena Tarkari:

•Add paneer, maida and salt in a bowl. Mix it properly and make small balls.
•Heat oil in a kadai and deep fry the balls till they turn golden brown in colour from all sides. Keep them aside on a plate.
•Heat oil in another kadai. Add cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and bay leaves.
•Add chopped onions and saut till they become golden brown.
•Then add ginger and garlic paste, onion paste, turmeric powder, chilli powder, cumin powder and coriander powder and saut for 3-4 minutes.
•When the oil separates from masala, add tomatoes. Reduce heat and stir till the tomato becomes tender.
•Now add kasuri methi and mix it well.
•Next add 2 cup of warm water and bring it to a boil for 2-3 minutes.
•Now add the balls and simmer for a minute. Then add garam masala and switch off the flame.
•Serve hot.

This mouth-watering dish is healthy as it is loaded with nutrition and protein. The dish can be relished with roti or rice as per choice.