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Chhena

Chhena is a fresh curd cheese used in Indian sweets and some savory preparations.

Chhena — illustrative ingredient image

About Chhena

Fresh chhena is a soft Indian curd cheese made by acidifying heated milk and separating the resulting curds from the whey. It is shaped or kneaded for sweets such as rasgulla and sandesh, and is also used in dumplings, stuffed foods, curries, and other savoury preparations.

It is generally moist, white to off-white, and pliable, with a delicate milky flavour and slight acidity. Unlike aged cheese, it is used soon after preparation. Its texture depends on how finely the curds are worked and how much whey is drained.

Fresh chhena may appear as loose curds, a compact mass, or a smooth kneaded dough. Kneading makes it more cohesive for shaping, while draining changes its moisture and firmness. The product is distinct from paneer, which is usually pressed into a firmer block.

Ingredient type
derived ingredient

Forms & related ingredients

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Where chhena appears

3 linked foods

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Desserts

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for chhena

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

chhena

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Chhena nutrition & diet

Chhena nutritional value

Representative benchmark: Cheese, not further specified

Representative nutrition benchmarkOfficial table values for a comparable food category, not a laboratory measurement of this exact ingredient.

Per 100 g of 100 g edible portion in the named official reference form.

Calories
313kcal
Protein
18.4g
Carbs
0.9g
Fat
26.2g

Representative benchmark from a comparable official food-composition category; it is not a laboratory measurement of this exact ingredient. The displayed reference form must be considered, and species, cultivar, recipe, brand, processing and preparation can change values.

Portions & preparation

Use references for fresh chhena as a soft, moist curd cheese and establish its milk source, draining, pressing, salt, and freshness. Sweets and dumplings may add sugar, flour, semolina, syrup, or frying fat, so the plain curd and finished recipe require separate consideration.

Compare the right form: Match references to fresh, unaged chhena with the specified milk source and moisture, distinguishing plain curd from sweets, dumplings, or fried preparations.

Diet considerations

Chhena is a dairy curd and therefore animal-derived when made from milk. Compatibility changes with the recipe: sweets may add sugar or cereal ingredients, while dumplings and fried versions may include flour, coatings, or fats. The plain curd should not represent a composite dish.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically incompatible
  • Vegetarian
    Depends on the version
  • Pescatarian
    Depends on the version
  • Keto
    Depends on the version
  • Paleo
    Typically incompatible
  • Low-carb
    Depends on the version
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically incompatible
The ingredient profile identifies an animal-derived food or derivative.
Vegetarian · Depends on the version
Check the coagulant or rennet source: animal rennet and vegetarian alternatives are both relevant to this category.
Pescatarian · Depends on the version
Check the coagulant or rennet source: animal rennet and vegetarian alternatives are both relevant to this category.
Keto · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Paleo · Typically incompatible
This profile falls outside the conventional paleo pattern used here (grains and pseudograins, legumes, dairy or refined sugar).
Low-carb · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: Pacific Nutrient Database 2020 — 01.1.4.5.0_99 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .