Step 1

Take milk in a pan and keep it to boil on a low to medium flame.

Step 2

I used organic cow milk which does not have much fat. If you use buffalo milk, it has too much of fat and makes a thick layer of malai/cream floating on top. You have to remove the thick layer of malai, before you proceed with the making of chenna.

Step 3

So when the milk is heating up, line a strainer or bowl with a cheese cloth or muslin.

Step 4

Keep on stirring the milk at intervals so that the froth is not formed on top and the base does not get browned or the milk solids get stuck to the bottom.

Step 5

When the milk comes to a boil, then reduce the flame to its lowest. Add 1 to 3 tbsp lemon juice. First add 1 tbsp lemon juice and stir. If the milk has not curdled completely, then add 1 tbsp more. Keep the lemon juice handy with you.

Step 6

Depending on the quality of milk, you may need to add 1 to 3 tbsp of lemon juice. Stir after adding the lemon juice. Sometimes I have added 1 tbsp lemon juice and the milk has curdled and sometimes I needed to add 3 tbsp too. Vinegar also can be added instead of lemon juice.

Step 7

Another option is curd/yogurt. Add 4 to 5 tbsp of yogurt or more if required. With yogurt you don't need to rinse the chenna in water later.

Step 8

As soon as the milk curdles, switch off the flame. The milk should curdle completely with the green watery whey. If the milk does not curdle, then add ½ to 1 tbsp of lemon juice more.

Step 9

Now pour the curdled milk in the cheese cloth/muslin lined strainer or bowl.

Step 10

Gather the muslin from the sides and rinse the chenna or coagulated milk very well in running water. This brings down the temperature of chenna as well as removes the lemony flavor and tangy taste from the chenna.

Step 11

Now squeeze the muslin with your hands very well, so that excess water is drained from the chenna. Remember there should not be excess water or moisture in the chenna as then the rasgulla will break when cooking.

Step 12

Place a heavy weight on the chenna for 7 to 8 minutes. You can also hang the chenna for about 30 minutes.

Step 13

After 7 to 8 minutes, remove the cheesecloth from the chenna. Note that the chenna should not have too much moisture nor be too dry.

Step 14

Add 1 tsp sooji or rava or semolina. You can also add all purpose flour (maida). Adding either of them helps to bind the mixture. For a gluten free option, add corn starch instead of semolina or all purpose flour.

Step 15

First mix the sooji with chenna and then begin to knead.

Step 16

With the heels of your palms mash the chenna and knead. Keep on collecting the chenna from the sides and continue to mash and knead.

Step 17

This kneading process is very important and also decides the texture of chenna. When you feel your palms becoming a bit greasy, its time to stop. Just a bit of greasiness is required.

Step 18

Avoid kneading to an extent where the whole chenna becomes greasy. I kneaded for about 10 minutes as I have very light hands. So depending on the quality of chenna and the pressure you apply while kneading, you can take more or less time. Note that the chenna should just begin to get greasy.

Step 19

Knead to a smooth ball of chenna.

Step 20

Now pinch small portions from the chenna and roll them between your palms to a smooth round ball.

Step 21

Prepare all small balls this way. Cover all the chenna balls with a moist muslin or kitchen towel and keep aside.

Step 22

In a large pan, take 2 cups sugar and 4 cups water.

Step 23

You have to use a large pot or pan so that there is enough space for the rasgulla to cook and increase in size. You can also use a pressure cooker. I used a pan measuring 8.5 inches in diameter and 4.5 in height. A 3.4 litre stainless steel pan.

Step 24

Keep this pan on stove top and heat the sugar solution. Stir so that the sugar dissolves. I cooked kneaded the chenna and cooked the sugar syrup simultaneously. You can also do this way.

Step 25

Add 1 tbsp milk and stir. Adding milk helps in removing impurities. If there are no impurities then you don't need to add milk and directly proceed to step 6

Step 26

Once the sugar solution becomes hot, the impurities begin to float on the top. You can either remove it with a spoon. Or strain the impurities in a cheese cloth/muslin lined strainer.

Step 27

Now from the purified sugar solution, reserve ½ cup in a cup or mug. This ½ cup of sugar solution we will be adding to the cooking rasgulla.

Step 28

Reserve another 1 cup of the sugar solution in a serving bowl.

Step 29

The rest of the 2.5 cups of sugar solution you add it back to the large pan and bring it to a boil on a medium high flame.

Step 30

Slid the rasgulla gently into the sugar solution.

Step 31

Once all the rasgulla have been added to the sugar solution, shake the pan. Don't stir the rasgulla with a spoon. Just gently shake the pan.

Step 32

Cover immediately with a lid and let them cook. Keep the flame to a medium or medium high.

Step 33

After 4 minutes, open the lid and add ¼ cup of the reserved sugar solution. Shake the pan. Adding this reserved sugar solution ensures that the temperature & consistency of the sugar solution is maintained and the sugar does not cook to its thread consistencies.

Step 34

Cover again and continue to cook.

Step 35

After 4 minutes, again add ¼ cup of the reserved sugar solution. Cover and again cook for 2 minutes. I cooked for 10 minutes. The timing will vary depending on the thickness & quality of pan, the depth of the pan and flame intensity.

Step 36

There are two ways. First place the rasgulla in a bowl or cup of water. If the rasgulla sinks to the bottom its cooked.

Step 37

Second method is to press a small portion of the rasgulla with your finger. If the pressed portion bounces back to its original shape, its cooked

Step 38

Once they are cooked, switch off the flame and keep the pan down.

Step 39

Now take each rasgulla with a spoon and place it in the bowl containing the 1 cup of sugar solution. Cover and keep aside.

Step 40

Let the sugar solution in which the rasgulla were cooked, become warm. Then add this to the serving bowl containing the rasgulla.

Step 41

Once the whole mixture has cooled down, add 1 to 2 tbsp rose water.

Step 42

If you don't have rose water you can also kewra water (pandanus extract) or ½ tsp cardamom powder. Stir gently and allow them to be soaked in the sugar syrup for 30 minutes.

Step 43

You can serve the rasgulla now or refrigerate them and serve later.