Recipe for Making Delicious Cham Cham
Cham Cham is a delightful Indian sweet made from fresh chhena (cottage cheese) and soaked in sugar syrup. Here’s a detailed recipe to make soft and delicious Cham Cham at home.
Ingredients:
- Milk (full cream) – 1 liter
- Lemon juice – 2 tablespoons (for curdling milk)
- Water – 4 cups
- Sugar – 1.5 cups
- Cardamom powder – a pinch (optional)
- Grated coconut or khoya – for garnishing (optional)
- Pista or almond slices – for garnishing (optional)
Method:
1. Preparing Chhena (Cottage Cheese)
- Boil the milk in a large pot. Once it starts boiling, turn off the heat.
- Add lemon juice slowly while stirring continuously. The milk will curdle, forming chhena.
- Once the chhena separates from the whey, strain it using a muslin cloth. Rinse with cold water to remove any acidity from the lemon juice.
- Squeeze out excess water and hang the chhena in the cloth for about 30 minutes to drain completely.
2. Kneading the Chhena
- After draining, place the chhena on a clean surface and knead it for 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and soft.
- Divide the dough into small portions and shape them into oval or cylindrical pieces. Make sure there are no cracks on the surface.
3. Preparing Sugar Syrup
- In a large pan, add water and sugar, and bring it to a boil. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Allow the syrup to boil for 5-10 minutes. It should be slightly thin but not too watery.
4. Cooking the Cham Cham
- Gently add the chhena pieces into the boiling sugar syrup.
- Cover the pan and cook on medium heat for about 15-20 minutes. The pieces will expand as they cook.
- After cooking, turn off the heat and let the Cham Cham cool in the syrup for a few hours.
5. Serving and Garnishing
- Once cooled, remove the Cham Cham from the syrup and place them on a serving plate.
- If desired, roll them in grated coconut or khoya for an extra layer of flavor.
- Garnish with pistachio or almond slices for a beautiful presentation.
6. Storing
- Store Cham Cham in an airtight container submerged in syrup. They will stay fresh for up to a week in the refrigerator.
Enjoy your homemade, soft, and delicious Cham Cham, perfect for any festive occasion!