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Home » Indian Sweets

Chanar Payesh | Cottage Cheese Pudding

Published: Aug 20, 2020 · Modified: Mar 14, 2023 by Motions and Emotions

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Chanar payesh is a traditional Bengali Sweet Dish in which chana (soft cottage cheese or paneer) is cooked in thick milk with sugar or condensed milk. It is also known as Bengali Style Cottage Cheese Pudding or Paneer Kheer.

Chanar payesh served in two dessert bowls

My mother often used to prepare this payesh. Memories of those childhood days are still fresh. Maa (we call mom in Bengali) used to make it often either during festive seasons or just like that sometimes. Chaler Payesh or rice pudding was the most popular sweet then. However, I used to prefer chanar payesh than chaler payesh.

Whenever Maa used to plan for payesh, she would inform the milkman in advance (milk packets were rare affair then) for extra milk. As you need more milk to prepare milk-based sweet dishes.

What is Chana?

Chana or Chena is the crumbled version of the curdled milk. Chena is more moist than paneer. Milk is boiled and curdling agents are added to get chena at home. The process of making chena is similar to the process of making paneer.

Top view of Chanar payesh in two dessert bowls

However, after adding the curdling agent milk curdles and accumulates together which is then separated from the whey and called chena. Chena is further solidified by putting pressure to make paneer. Click here and learn how to make chana or paneer.

How to make Bengali Chanar Payesh?

Bengali style Chanar Payesh is an easy sweet dish which you would love to relish as your after meal dessert. For making this payesh, milk is boiled in a heavy bottom pan until it is reduced almost half of its quantity. Once the milk reduced, it becomes thick and creamy.

Sugar or Condensed milk is added to the milk for sweetness. Finally, chena is added to the thick milk and boiled for few minutes before switching of the flame.

Many people add crumbled chena in the thick creamy milk while I prefer to add homemade paneer pieces to make chanar payesh. Therefore, you can prepare chanar payesh either way. Why I said homemade paneer, because homemade paneer is soft in nature which gives better outcome.

Can I make Chanar Payesh in advance?

Of course! you can make chanar payesh in advance. If you are planning to prepare chanar payesh for your home-based party, then you can prepare it in a day or two advance. After preparing chanar payesh, allow to cool it and later store it in refrigerator. It is best served chilled.

Chanar payesh served in two dessert bowl

Can I make THIS Payesh from scratch?

Definitely you can make this payesh from scratch. For that, you have to prepare chana from milk. Read the detailed post how to make chena or paneer from milk.

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chanar payesh served in glass bowls along with chana blocks scattered around
Print

Chanar Payesh | Cottage Cheese Pudding

Chanar payesh is a traditional Bengali sweet dish in which chana (soft cottage cheese or paneer) is cooked in thick milk with sugar or condensed milk.
Prep Time10 mins
Active Time40 mins
Chilling Time30 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: Bengali Recipes, Indian Sweet Recipes, Paneer Recipes
Yield: 4 people

Equipment

  • Heavy Bottom Pan

Materials

  • 200 gms Paneer or Chana or Chenna
  • 1.5 litre Milk
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1 no Bay Leaf
  • ½ teaspoon Cardamom Powder
  • 2 tablespoon Pista or Cashew Crushed

Instructions

  • Cut paneer or chana into small cubes. Alternatively, you can mash the paneer or make small balls using mashed paneer or chana and keep aside.
  • Boil milk in a heavy bottom pan adding a bay leaf and reduce it to almost half.
  • While reducing the milk, keep scraping the cream from sides and add into boiling milk.
  • Once the milk is reduced add sugar and stir until sugar dissolves.
  • Next add chana into milk and boil for 2-3 minutes.
  • Switch off the gas and sprinkle cardamom powder.
  • Add crushed nuts and allow it to cool. Later refrigerate it for half an hour and serve chilled.

Notes

  • Do not add chana before adding sugar, milk might curdle. 
  • You can adjust the amount of sugar according to your taste bud.
  • You can also use condensed milk instead of sugar.
  • If you love cardamom, you can add whole cardamom while reducing the milk. 
  • You can also add raisins or nuts according to your choice. 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Preethicuisine

    August 26, 2020 at 12:23 pm

    5 stars
    This payesh looks irresistible. I made it a few days back and it was lived by my family. Adding fresh home made paneer enhances the taste . Beautifully explained.

    Reply
  2. Jayashree T.Rao

    August 26, 2020 at 10:32 am

    5 stars
    Well, I often make Chaler Payesh, never made this. It looks so delicious, must try it sometime.

    Reply
  3. Hem lata srivastava

    August 26, 2020 at 9:54 am

    Chenar payash looks really amazing so creamy ,delicious dessert love the presentation

    Reply
  4. Jolly

    August 25, 2020 at 7:31 pm

    5 stars
    WoW I love this interesting, rich and creamy chena pudding. Addition of bay leaf into sounds really delicious. I usually add a pinch of salt in desserts especially the milk one for enhancing the flavors. Will try this idea too. This kheer looks so delicious!

    Reply
  5. Mayuri Patel

    August 25, 2020 at 6:01 pm

    5 stars
    I've yet to try making paneer kheer but it does look like a very flavorful and delicious dessert. Love the click, its simply beautiful. Definitely going to try out the recipe soon.

    Reply
  6. Superduper kitchen

    August 25, 2020 at 2:57 pm

    5 stars
    Chanar payesh looks absolutely delicious. Adding bay leaf sounds interesting. Also the interesting part is we can make it in well advance.

    Reply
  7. Purnima roy

    August 22, 2020 at 2:33 pm

    4 stars
    Easy preparation but delicious ??

    Reply
    • motionsandemotions

      August 24, 2020 at 5:09 am

      Thank you 🙂

      Reply
  8. angiesrecipes

    August 20, 2020 at 1:53 pm

    This looks like a really great dessert! And I love its easy preparation too.

    Reply
    • motionsandemotions

      August 21, 2020 at 7:00 am

      Thank you Angie

      Reply
  9. Hema

    January 27, 2016 at 4:33 pm

    Love this, looks so delicious..

    Reply
  10. Unknown

    January 24, 2016 at 3:13 pm

    Wow!! This looks delicious. This is a must try for me. Love it 🙂

    Reply
    • Swati

      August 25, 2020 at 6:47 am

      5 stars
      That’s one good way to use fresh paneer.. I liked the use of bay leaf here.. I make it for my kids as they like it.. and add crumbled chena..your version sounds also sounds so delicious and yumm

      Reply
  11. Nava K

    January 24, 2016 at 2:47 am

    I love the cheese and this dessert, interesting for the scent of bay leaves as well.

    Reply
  12. Nalini Somayaji

    January 23, 2016 at 6:46 pm

    delicious and simple chena r payesh ......looks cool and innovative...nice to know...

    Reply
  13. Gloria Fernandes

    December 27, 2013 at 8:08 pm

    I love bengali sweets n this one looks so yumm

    Reply
  14. Sanoli Ghosh

    December 27, 2013 at 4:07 pm

    Fantastic chanar payesh. Jive jol ese galo....:)

    Reply

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