By Sakshi Arora

Copyright timesnownews

TasteAtlas is becoming one of the most recognised food ranking platforms in the world. With explorations and diverse lists, foods and food connoisseurs learn a lot from the dishes mentioned in their updated lists. While it sometimes draws attention for the wrong reasons when people start questioning and objecting to their ranking criteria, their recent list seems to be on a less controversial front. In a recent list, released by the online food ranking platform, of ‘The top 10 Best Cheese Desserts,’ India didn’t make the cut. Odisha’s famous Chhena Poda was recognised as one of the top 39 Cheese desserts in the world in the extended list released on their official website. The top positions were dominated by Cheese desserts from Poland, Egypt, Spain, Greece, the US, Japan, Norway, Germany and more. Chhena poda from India’s Odisha grabbed the 12th spot globally. What is Chhena Poda? For those unfamiliar with this cheesy delight, chhena poda is a traditional cheese dessert originating from Odisha. This dish is prepared with a rich blend of chhena cheese, rice flour, sugar, cardamom and nuts, including raisins, cashews and almonds. In Odisha, chhena poda means burnt cheese, and this rich dessert is usually prepared in a baking pan, which is greased with ghee and later lined with banana leaves for an aromatic and flavourful essence. Once the leaves are lined, the chhena poda mixture is poured into the pan. The dessert is baked to perfection until the sugar is caramelised and the top crust offers a golden-brown appearance. Once the chhena poda is cooled, it is sliced and served as a dessert after a wholesome meal. The dish is offered to Lord Jagannath Puri and is also a part of the chappan bhog. This traditional Odia sweet is totally prepared with fresh cheese, and the smoky flavour is something which sets it apart from other cheesy delights. This healthy dessert has a signature appearance with a spongy texture. Among the top 15 were some of the worldwide favourites that have managed to win hearts for their texture and flavour. Here’s a quick look at the top 15 cheese desserts that topped the list. Sernic, PolandKunāfah, EgyptBasque Cheesecake, SpainMilopita, GreeceNew York Style Cheesecake, USJapanese Cheesecake, JapanKohupiimakreem, EstoniaMel i mató, SpainMøsbrømlefse, NorwaySfakianopita, GreeceMa’moul bil jibn, SyriaBaked cheese (Chhena poda), IndiaKäsekuchen, GermanyMíša řezy, Czech RepublicKalitsounia, Greece Although chhena poda couldn’t make it to the top 10, its presence in the list of the top 39 best cheese desserts stands as an acceptance of the growing influence of Indian dishes on the international food scene.