| Basket cheese | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country of origin | Turkey |
| Source of milk | Cows |
| Pasteurised | Yes |
| Texture | Semi-soft, rubbery, creamy[1] |
| Aging time | None |
Basket cheese is a kind of cheese originating from Mediterranean regions. As its name suggests, the cheese is traditionally formed inside a basket, which leaves a woven imprint on its surface. Fresh basket cheese has no salt taste, while dry basket cheese is mildly salty.
Turkish basket cheese, or sepet peyniri, is a fresh-curd cheese that originates from the Aegean Region. Traditionally, it is made from goat milk, but sheep's and cow's milk are often used. The cheese is most associated with seaside towns, particularly Karaburun, Çeşme, and Ayvalık, where it is generally made from sheep's milk and known as kelle cheese. It is traditionally made using baskets of reed called gova, but commercial sepet peyneri is often shaped in plastic containers.[2]
In Italy, basket cheese is an ingredient in several savory pies traditionally served during Easter.[3]
- ^ Alex, Hanson (16 September 2023). "The Ultimate Guide to Basket Cheese: An Easter Delight". Cheese Origin. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ Keskin, Emrah; Dağ, Tuğba (20 August 2020). "Identity of cheese: a research on the cheeses of the Aegean Region in Turkey" (PDF). Journal of Ethnic Foods. 7. doi:10.1186/s42779-020-00062-4. S2CID 221199036. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ Suss, Joyce Venezia (6 April 2022). "The Easter Pies of Italy". Casa Belvedere. Retrieved 23 September 2022.