Sirene ( ; /sir; ; ), also known as "white brine sirene" (), is a type of brined cheese originating from Bulgaria. It is made of the Goat milk, sheep, Dairy cattle, buffalo or a mixture thereof., " Characteristics of major traditional regional cheese varieties of East-Mediterranean countries: a review", Efstathios Alichanidis & Anna Polychroniadou, Dairy Sciеnce & Technology, Volume 88, Number 4–5, July–October 2008 It is slightly crumbly, with at least 46–48% of dry matter containing 44–48% of fat. It is commonly produced in blocks, and has a slightly grainy texture. It is used as a table cheese, in salads, and in baking.
In 2023, the name "Bulgarsko byalo salamureno sirene" was registered as a protected designation of origin in the European Union.
Soups: potato or vegetable soup with sirene (сиренява чорба).
Salads: shopska salad with tomatoes, , , onions and sirene. Ovcharska salad ('shepherd's salad') with the above-mentioned vegetables, cheese, ham, boiled eggs and olives. Tomatoes with sirene is a traditional light salad during the summer.
Eggs: fried eggs and omelettes with sirene. There is also a popular kind of boiled eggs over mashed sirene with a sauce of yogurt, garlic, parsley and walnuts (яйца по панагюрски; eggs à la Panagyurishte).
Pasta and cornmeal: for breakfast, macaroni or flat noodles (Bulgarian: юфка; yufka) with sirene and sugar are popular. Kachamak (the local variant of cornmeal, polenta or the Romanian mămăligă) is always eaten with sirene.
Pastry: the traditional banitsa and other kinds of pastry are also made with sirene.
Stuffed peppers are more often stuffed with rice, but are also made with sirene-and-eggs filling.
It is also consumed as an appetiser.
|
|