6 Amazing Indian Desserts from Different Corners of the Country

Indian Desserts

Desserts and sweets are as much in Indian culture as numerous festivals, clothes, and religions. Just as there are different festivals celebrated by different religions and regions, the sweets and desserts too are so varied that you may not try all in a lifetime even if you tried.

Many of the desserts and sweets also have an interesting history. Some developed in India, some came with ancient traders, and some have ingredients inspired by other cultures.

Here we present some amazing desserts and sweets that you must have on your bucket list. We have picked them from different regions of India, such that it would be difficult for most Indians to have tried all.

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Chhenna Poda (Odisha)

Chhena Poda is a popular paneer (cottage cheese) or chenna based Indian Dessert from the traditional Oriya cuisine. Oriya means from the state of Odisha, in the East of India.

The name of this dish literally means roasted cheese in the Oriya language. The texture and appearance looks very similar to any baked sponge cake recipe, but has a unique burnt taste with goodness of sugary paneer. It is made of well-kneaded homemade cottage cheese (or chhena), sugar, cashew nuts, and raisins, and is baked for several hours until it browns.

Legend has it that a sweet maker accidentally discovered the amazing taste of slightly burnt chhena when he left a block in a warm over overnight. The next day he found the chhena was no longer usable as it had become brown and had a different taste. However, that different taste was so amazing that he experimented with it a bit, adding more ingredients and sugar, eventually creating this amazing dessert.

The video here shows the authentic way of making and serving Chhena Poda in Odisha. The audio is not in English but you really don't need any.

Sheer Khurma (all over India)

Sheer khurma is a vermicelli pudding made with milk, dates, nuts and sugar. It is a traditional Indian Dessert prepared by Muslims on Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia. The name means “milk and dates” in Persian.

The origin of sheer khurma can be traced back to the era before the British invaded the subcontinent. The Silk Road that linked the Subcontinent and Persia was a major route for the exchange of goods and cultures. Sheer khurma is originally Persian, but it gained popularity in other parts of the region along the Silk Road. It is a symbol of celebration and festivity for Muslims.

Bebinca (Goa)

https://youtu.be/OWVsE3U4xD0 Bebinca is a layered cake of Indo-Portuguese cuisine in Goa, India. It is made with flour, eggs, coconut milk, sugar and ghee. It has between 7 and 16 layers, each baked separately before being stacked together. It is a popular dessert during Christmas, but also enjoyed throughout the year.

The origins of bebinca are linked to the Portuguese colonial era in Goa. It is believed to be a variation of the Portuguese dessert called belem, which is also a custard-based cake. Some say that bebinca was invented by a nun named Bebiana at the Royal Monastery of Santa Monica in Old Goa. Others say that it was introduced by the Portuguese settlers who adapted their recipes to the local ingredients. Bebinca certainly deserves a place in this list of unique Indian Desserts.

Dodha Barfi (Punjab, Haryana)

Dodha (or Doda) Barfi is a fudgy and sticky Indian dessert made with germinated wheat, milk, cream, sugar, nuts and ghee. It is shaped into rectangular cubes and garnished with almonds or pistachios. It is a popular sweet in Punjab and Haryana, but also enjoyed across India.

The origin of Doda Barfi is attributed to a Punjabi wrestler named Harbans Vig, who lived in the early 20th century in Sargodha (now in Pakistan). He invented the dessert by experimenting with different ingredients in his kitchen and named it Dodha after his nickname. The sweet became popular among wrestlers and other people who visited his house. After the partition of India, his family moved to Kot Kapura in Punjab and continued to sell Dodha barfi through their shop. We hear that their old shop in Sargodha also sells Dodha.

The video is in Punjabi, with English subtitles.

Pal Payasam (Tamil Nadu, Kerala)

Pal Payasam is a creamy and delicious Indian dessert made with rice, milk, sugar and cardamom. It is a traditional dish in South India, especially in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is served on festivals and special occasions, such as Onam, Pongal, Vishu and weddings.

The origin of Pal Payasam is not clear (it's certainly ancient), but there are many legends and stories associated with it. One of them is the legend of the chessboard, which says that Lord Krishna challenged the king of Ambalapuzha to a game of chess and asked for a grain of rice for each square on the board as his reward. The king agreed, but soon realized that he had to give more rice than he had in his kingdom. To save him from his plight, Krishna accepted a bowl of Pal Payasam instead. Another story says that Pal Payasam was first made in the temple town of Puri in Odisha, about 2000 years ago, and was related to the construction of the Konark temple.

Madhurjan Thongba (Manipur)

Madhurjan Thongba is a sweet and creamy Indian dessert from Manipur, a state in North East India. It is made with black gram dal, milk, sugar, cardamom and coconut. It is also known as Chana Dal Payasam or split chickpea pudding in other parts of India.

Madhurjan Thongba is a traditional dish that is served on festivals and special occasions in Manipur. It is usually prepared in large quantities and distributed among family, friends and neighbors as a gesture of love and goodwill. It is also offered to the Gods and Goddesses as a part of the ritual worship. Madhurjan Thongba is a rich and satisfying dessert that can be enjoyed hot or cold.

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