Beyaz Peynir

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Beyaz peynir is a Turkish white cheese made from unpasteurized sheep, cow or goat milk and cured in brine for about six months. It turns up plain at breakfast, in salads, and in cooked dishes such as menemen, börek and pide.

Key Facts

Country of Origin Turkey
Specific Origin Turkey
Milk Type Cow's, goat's or sheep's milk
Milk Treatment Unpasteurized
Texture Semi-soft, brined
Flavor Strong when matured
Colors Pale white
Forms Blocks
Age About 6 months in brine
Rennet Type Vegetable
Also Known As white cheese

What is Beyaz Peynir Cheese?

Beyaz peynir means white cheese in Turkish. It belongs to the same group as lighvan, feta, sirene and the other white cheeses of the Balkans.

The milk comes from sheep, cows or goats and is used unpasteurized. Vegetable rennet clots the sheep's milk. Once the curds set, they are pressed, chopped and strained, then cut into blocks, salted and left in a brine solution for roughly six months.

The cheese has a slightly grainy look. Styles vary a lot, from young curds that have not matured at all to an aged version with a good deal of strength to it.

It is eaten plain as part of a traditional Turkish breakfast, added to salads, and cooked into dishes like menemen, börek, gözleme and pide.