दह्या चा बनवलेला चक्का - HOME MADE CHAKKA/STRAINED YOGURT

Chakka is nothing but yogurt or curd but completely strained.This is used to make an authentic Maharashtrian sweet dish called 'Shrikhand' and 'Aamrakhand'.This has got a process by which water from the yogurt is completely taken out and what we get is thick yogurt which has similar texture like cheese.Chakkaa is not Cheese.It is yogurt without any amount of water in it.Let us learn the process to make this Chakaa :)

In the picture you can see is chakkaa of about one 1 kg.I took 2.25 Kg of Yogurt and kept to strain and got around 750 Kg of Chakkaa.This amount serves around 4 to 6 people,when shrikhand or Amrakhand is made out of it.Make sure that you keep yogurt to strain on the previous night to get the Chakkaa on the next day morning.It has to be strained for minimum 12 hours.More than 24 hours gives better results.

Ingredients : Curd or Yogurt

Steps :

• Take a clean cotton cloth of around 1 meter square.(You can use new or unused khaadi or cottoon towel for this)
• On a large plate,spread this cloth and pour the yogurt.
• Now tie this towel such that yougurt is covered tightly and hang this yogurt as per your convinience with a plate or bowl under to collect the dripping water from yogurt.
• Keep it hanging 24 hours to get the perfect Chakka.If not possible, 12 hours ateast.But keeping for a day gives better results.

Tips :

You can keep this chakkaa refrigerated and use as and when required.