Israeli feta cheese or (), also known as Israeli-style feta cheese or simply Israeli cheese, is a type of white cheese made from sheep's milk, cow's milk, or a combination of both. It is similar to

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

feta cheese Feta ( ; ) is a Greek brined white cheese made from sheep milk or from a mixture of sheep and goat milk. It is soft, with small or no holes, and no skin. Crumbly with a slightly grainy texture, it is formed into large blocks and aged in b ...

, but has a milder flavor and a creamier texture.

History

Israeli feta cheese has a relatively short history, dating back only to the late 19th century when Jewish immigrants from Greece and the Balkans made

aliyah ''Aliyah'' (, ; ''ʿălīyyā'', ) is the immigration of Jews from Jewish diaspora, the diaspora to, historically, the geographical Land of Israel or the Palestine (region), Palestine region, which is today chiefly represented by the Israel ...

and brought their cheese-making traditions to Israel. They adapted their recipes to suit local ingredients and tastes, giving rise to the Israeli-style feta cheese produced today. Feta cheese itself can be traced back to Ancient Greece. Israeli feta became popular among local Jewish and Arab communities. Israeli feta cheese became a staple food in Israel, where it is commonly used in salads, sandwiches, and pastries. Its mild, creamy flavor and crumbly texture make it a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes.

Production

Today, Israeli feta cheese is produced by Israeli dairy companies including

Tnuva Tnuva, or Tenuvah, (, ''fruit'' or ''produce'') is an Israeli food creation and marketing company. The company holds in Israel a significant market share in the field of drinking milk production, dairy products and its marketing. It was for its ...

Strauss Strauss, Strauß, or Straus is a common Germanic surname. Outside Germany and Austria ''Strauß'' is usually spelled ''Strauss'' (the letter " ß" is not used in the German-speaking part of Switzerland). In classical music, "Strauss" most com ...

, and Shamir Salads. The production process typically involves pasteurizing the milk, adding

rennet Rennet () is a complex set of enzymes produced in the stomachs of ruminant mammals. Chymosin, its key component, is a protease, protease enzyme that curdling, curdles the casein in milk. In addition to chymosin, rennet contains other enzymes, su ...

and starter cultures, and letting the mixture curdle for several hours. The curds are then cut into small pieces and drained, forming the base of the cheese. The cheese is then salted and stored in a brine solution for several days or weeks to mature. Israeli feta cheese can be made from 100% sheep's milk or a combination of sheep's and cow's milk, depending on the producer. Some Israeli feta cheeses are also made with goat's milk, which gives the cheese a slightly tangy flavor.

Uses

Israeli feta cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. It is commonly used in Israeli cuisine, where it is often crumbled over salads, mixed with vegetables, or used as a filling for pastries such as

bourekas Bourekas or burekas (),() are a popular Baking, baked pastry in Sephardic Jewish cuisine and Israeli cuisine. A variation of the Börek, burek, a popular pastry throughout southern Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East, Israeli bourekas are ...

, ziva or

börek ''Börek'' or burek or byrek is a family of pastries or pies made in the Middle East and the Balkans. The pastry is made of a thin flaky dough such as filo with a variety of fillings, such as meat, cheese, spinach, or potatoes. A borek may be ...

. Israeli feta cheese is also used in various international dishes, including pizza, sandwiches, and pasta. It can be melted or grilled and used as a topping for burgers, or sliced and added to sandwiches and wraps. In addition, Israeli feta cheese can be used in desserts. It is often paired with sweet ingredients such as honey, fruit, or chocolate, and used in dishes such as cheesecake, tarts, or ice cream.

Varieties

There are several varieties of Israeli feta cheese, each with its own unique flavor and texture. Some of the most popular varieties include: *Soft Israeli feta cheese: This type of feta cheese has a creamy texture and mild, slightly tangy flavor. It is often used as a spread for bread or crackers. *Aged Israeli feta cheese: This feta cheese is matured for several months in a brine solution, which gives it a stronger, more tangy flavor. It is often used in salads or as a topping for pizza. *Israeli sheep's milk feta cheese: This type of feta cheese is made exclusively from sheep's milk, giving it a slightly sweeter and more intense flavor than other varieties. *Israeli cow's milk feta cheese: This feta cheese is made exclusively from cow's milk, giving it a milder, creamier flavor than other varieties.

Export

It is sold at the grocery store chain

Trader Joe's Trader Joe's is an American grocery store chain headquartered in Monrovia, California, with 597 locations across the US. The first Trader Joe's store was opened in 1967 by founder Joe Coulombe in Pasadena, California. In 1979, the chain was s ...

in the United States.

References