Introduction:
Chum chum, also known as cham cham, is a popular Indian sweet made with chenna, or cottage cheese. It is a soft and spongy sweet that is often soaked in a sweet syrup. Chum chum is a popular sweet in Bengal and is often served at festivals and celebrations.
Ingredients:
For the chenna:
- 1-liter whole milk
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- For the syrup:
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 cups water
For the stuffing:
- 1/2 cup Mawa (khoya)
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
For the coating:
- 1 cup desiccated coconut
Instructions:
- To make the chenna, bring the milk to a boil in a heavy-bottomed pan.
- Once the milk has boiled, add the lemon juice and stir constantly until the milk curdles.
- Strain the curdled milk through a cheesecloth-lined colander.
- Rinse the chenna under cold water to remove any excess lemon juice.
- Knead the chenna for a few minutes until it is smooth and pliable.
- Divide the chenna into equal-sized balls.
- To make the syrup, combine the sugar and water in a large saucepan.
- Bring the syrup to a boil over medium heat.
- Once the syrup has boiled, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add the chenna balls to the syrup and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the chenna balls are cooked through.
- Remove the chenna balls from the syrup and let them cool completely.
- To make the stuffing, combine the mawa, powdered sugar, and cardamom powder in a bowl.
- Mix well until well combined.
- To assemble the chum chum, make a slit in the center of each chenna ball.
- Fill the slit with the mawa stuffing.
- Roll the chenna balls in the desiccated coconut to coat.
- Serve the chum chum immediately or refrigerate for later.
Tips:
- For a richer flavor, use homemade chenna.
- To make the chenna balls more uniform in size, weigh them before shaping them.
- If the syrup is too thick, add a little more water.
- If the syrup is too thin, add a little more sugar.
- Be careful not to overcrowd the pan when cooking the chenna balls in the syrup.
- If you are refrigerating the chum chum, be sure to store them in an airtight container.
Variations:
- For a flavored chum chum, you can add a few drops of rose water or kewra water to the syrup.
- You can also add chopped nuts or dried fruit to the syrup.
- To make a chocolate chum chum, add a few tablespoons of cocoa powder to the syrup.
- To make a mango chum chum, add a few tablespoons of mango puree to the syrup.
Conclusion:
Chum chum is a delicious and easy-to-make Indian sweet. It is a perfect treat for any occasion.