Domiati Cheese
Domiati cheese is a soft, white, salty cheese from Egypt, usually made from water buffalo milk, cow's milk or both. Its taste and texture are close to feta, and it tastes more pickled and acidic after aging in brine.
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Key Facts
| Country of Origin | Egypt |
| Specific Origin | Damietta |
| Milk Type | Water buffalo's milk, sometimes with cow's or goat's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized |
| Moisture Content | High |
| Rind | None |
| Texture | Soft |
| Flavor | Salty |
| Colors | White |
| Forms | Rectangular pieces |
| Age | Fresh or 3-4 months pickled |
| Also Known As | white cheese |
What is Domiati Cheese?
Domiati takes its name from Damietta, the Egyptian seaport city. It is made mostly in Egypt, where it is the most common cheese, and also in Sudan and other Middle Eastern countries. Many people simply call it white cheese.
Buffalo milk, cow milk or a blend of the two is typical, though sheep, goat and camel milk are also used. The milk is pasteurized briefly, then part of it is salted before any rennet goes in. That order is the opposite of feta and other white cheeses, and it is what gives Domiati its particular salt-driven character. No starter culture is normally added. The bacteria already living in the milk handle the fermentation.
The result is a soft white cheese with high moisture and plenty of salt. Texture and taste land close to feta. Break a piece and it snaps rather than stretches, brittle instead of elastic.
Domiati is eaten fresh, straight from the batch. It can also sit in brine for a few months, which deepens the pickled flavor. The longer it ages, the more acidic it gets.
What Does Domiati Cheese Taste Like?
Domiati cheese tastes salty, and its flavor is close to feta.
You can eat it fresh or after it has been kept in brine for three to four months. Time in brine makes the pickled flavor stronger, and the cheese tastes more acidic the longer it ages.
What Is the Texture of Domiati Cheese?
Domiati is soft and moist, with a chewy bite, much like feta. It is sold in rectangular pieces.
The cheese is brittle rather than stretchy. When you break a piece, it snaps apart instead of stretching.
Substitutes for Domiati Cheese
If you can't find Domiati, try one of these cheeses.
- Feta cheese is a soft sheep's milk cheese from Greece. Domiati's taste and texture are close to feta, so it is the nearest match.
- Baladi cheese is a fresh goat's milk cheese from the Middle East. Like Domiati it tastes salty, but it is also buttery, mild and sweet.
- Queso fresco is a fresh cow's milk cheese from Mexico. It is crumbly, so it breaks into pieces, and its taste is mild and tangy.
Does Domiati Cheese Have a Rind?
No. Domiati comes as white pieces with no rind, so there is nothing to cut off before you eat it.
Where to Buy Domiati Cheese
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Egyptian white cheese salty?
Yes. Domiati, the most common cheese in Egypt, is a soft white cheese with high moisture and a salty taste. You can eat it fresh. If it is kept in brine for three to four months, the pickled flavor grows stronger and it becomes more acidic.
What is Egyptian white cheese?
Egyptian white cheese is another name for Domiati, a soft, white, salty cheese and the most common cheese in Egypt. It is named after Damietta, a seaport city in Egypt. It is also made in Sudan and other Middle Eastern countries.
What milk is Domiati cheese made from?
Domiati is usually made from water buffalo milk, cow's milk, or a mix of the two. Some cheesemakers also use sheep, goat or camel milk. When buffalo milk is used, cow's or goat's milk is sometimes added to it.
What is the difference between Domiati cheese and feta?
Domiati and feta have a similar texture and taste, but they are made differently. Domiati makers add salt to part of the milk before the rennet, and feta is not salted this way. Feta is made from sheep's milk, while Domiati is usually made from buffalo milk, cow's milk or both.
How Does Domiati Cheese Compare?
The most relevant cheeses to compare Domiati against.
