Sirene facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sirene
Sirene cubes
Other names	White cheese
Country of origin	Balkan Region
Region, town	N/A
Source of milk	Milk of goats, sheep, cows
Pasteurised	Depends on variety
Texture	Depends on variety
Aging time	min. 3 months

Sirene is a type of brined cheese that is very popular in the Balkans. The Balkans is a region in Southeast Europe. This cheese is also known as "white brine sirene."

It is a favorite food in countries like Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, and Albania. You can also find it in Israel and Lebanon. Sirene is made from the milk of goats, sheep, or cows. Sometimes, it's made from a mix of these milks.

Sirene is a bit crumbly and comes in blocks. It has a slightly grainy feel. People enjoy it as a snack, in salads, and in many baked dishes.

Delicious Ways to Enjoy Sirene

Sirene is a very important food in the Balkan countries. It's often eaten with yogurt. There are many traditional dishes that use this tasty cheese.

Soups

You can find sirene in different soups. For example, some people add it to potato or vegetable soup. This gives the soup a rich, salty flavor.

Salads

Products for making a Bulgarian Shopska salad, including Sirene.

One very famous salad is Shopska salad. It's made with fresh tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, and onions. Then, lots of sirene is crumbled on top. Another popular salad is Ovcharska salad, or "shepherd's salad." It has the same vegetables plus cheese, ham, boiled eggs, and olives. A simple summer salad is just tomatoes with sirene.

Eggs

Sirene is often added to fried eggs and omelets. There's also a special dish called "eggs à la Panagyurishte." This dish has boiled eggs served over mashed sirene. It comes with a sauce made from yogurt, garlic, parsley, and walnuts.

Pasta and Cornmeal

For breakfast, some people enjoy macaroni or flat noodles with sirene and sugar. Kachamak is a local type of cornmeal, similar to polenta. It is almost always eaten with sirene.

Pastry

Many traditional pastries use sirene as a filling. The famous banitsa pastry is often made with sirene.

You can also find Stuffed peppers filled with sirene and eggs. And of course, sirene is a great appetizer all by itself!

Cheeses Like Sirene Around the World

Many cheeses in the Balkan region and other places are similar to sirene. However, they are not exactly the same. People who live in these countries usually know the differences.

The differences come from a few things. The types of sheep and goats in each area are not the same. Also, what the animals eat can change the taste and texture of the cheese.

Here are some cheeses that are similar to sirene:

• Albania: djathë i bardhë (meaning 'white cheese')
• Czech Republic: Balkánský sýr (meaning 'Balkan cheese')
• Greece: Feta
• Iran: Tabrizi paneer (meaning 'Cheese of Tabriz')
• Israel: Bulgarit (meaning 'Bulgarian cheese')
• Lebanon: Bulghari (meaning 'Bulgarian cheese')
• Mexico: Cotija cheese
• Romania: Telemea
• Russia: Bryndza
• Turkey: Beyaz peynir (meaning 'white cheese')
• Ukraine: Bryndza

See also

In Spanish: Sirene para niños