Dil cheese, one of our most beloved regional cheeses, is a staple of breakfasts and appetizers. So, what is dil cheese? What makes this cheese so special? What’s behind its popularity? Let’s discover these things together.
What Is Dil Cheese?
Dil cheese is a stringy variety of cheese native to the Erzurum and Kars regions. Made primarily from cow’s and goat’s milk, though it can also be produced from the milk of various other animals, this cheese stands out for its low-salt content and mild flavor. Milks such as buffalo and sheep milk are also frequently used in the production of dil cheese.
Although it is a full-fat cheese, its fat content is not excessive. It resembles kaşar cheese because it melts quickly, but it is softer. This cheese is also frequently used in cheese-based desserts such as künefe and kadayıf.
Dil cheese, which is mostly eaten for breakfast, can also be served as an appetizer from time to time. Because it is a light and soft cheese, it can also be included in cheese platters.
How Is Dil Cheese Eaten?
Dil cheese, which you can enjoy either fried or melted, is one of our unique regional delicacies. From cheese platters to breakfast tables, dil cheese is a versatile cheese that can be enjoyed anywhere. Of course, if you want to fully savor the taste and flavor of dil cheese, you need to know how to eat it.
Fried Cheese Sticks
Classic dil cheese can be served fried, especially for breakfast. In addition, dil cheese is a great alternative to halloumi at barbecues or picnics. Since dil cheese develops a unique texture and aroma when fried, it’s essential to fry it correctly. Of course, at Bahçıvan Peynir, we’re here to help with this as well; here’s a step-by-step guide to frying dil cheese:
- First, choose a high-quality cheese,
- Cut the cheese into pieces of any size you like,
- Mix the beaten eggs and breadcrumbs,
- Dip your cheese into this mixture,
- Fry your cheese, topped with an egg and a cracker, in hot oil for a few minutes,
- Serve it for breakfast or as an appetizer.
Mixing Dil Cheese with Other Cheeses and Eating It
Dil cheese is a type of cheese you can use with confidence when making toast or sandwiches. Because it melts easily and has a mild flavor, you can use this cheese to add variety to your meals. Although there are many ways to enjoy sliced cheese, one of the most common is to mix it with other cheeses. Kashar, Cheddar, and toasted cheese are among the main types of cheese you can use with sliced cheese.
You can use dil cheese in different ways alongside other cheeses. For example, the simplest way is to add dil cheese to your toast along with other cheeses. In addition, grating the dil cheese and sprinkling it into the toast along with kashar or cheddar cheese is another great option. If you’re making cheese soup or börek, you can also add crumbled dil cheese to the dish along with other cheeses.
Dishes That Pair Best with Dil Cheese
Dil cheese, one of our most popular regional cheeses, pairs wonderfully with a variety of dishes. Often used in dishes like toast or pizza, dil cheese melts quickly when exposed to heat, making it ready to use. Compared to Kashar cheese, its faster melting rate and milder, less salty flavor make it an excellent choice for dishes where you don’t want the cheese flavor to overpower the dish.
Because it is one of the easiest cheeses to melt and is low in salt, you can use dil cheese in all kinds of dishes, from sweet to savory. Here are some dishes in which you can easily use dil cheese:
- Foods like sandwiches or toast are the first things that come to mind,
- Because it is low in salt, dil cheese can be used in desserts such as künefe or kadayıf,
- Because it melts quickly—if cheeses like kolot or kaşar aren’t available—it can also be used to make kuymak,
- It can be included on breakfast cheese platters because of its mild flavor,
- It can be found on cheese platters served with wine,
- Dil peynirli tavuk gibi etli yemeklerde tercih edilebilir,
- It can also be used in various types of börek,
- It can be used to make corn dogs,
- It can be eaten on its own as a snack,
- It can be included in recipes for pizza with lots of cheese,
- It can be used alongside cheddar when making hamburgers.
The items listed above are just a few examples of dishes in which you can use sliced cheese. You can use sliced cheese in any recipe that calls for a cheese that melts easily.
Eating Dil Cheese for Breakfast
Breakfast dishes featuring dil cheese are the perfect way to start your day. With its rich nutritional value and unique flavor, dil cheese provides everything you need—and by pairing it with different ingredients, you can create healthy breakfast options.
Here are the most delicious breakfast recipes featuring dil cheese:
Breakfast Omelet with Sucuk and Dil Cheese: This wonderful recipe, which you can make with 2 eggs, 10 slices of sucuk, 4 slices of dil cheese, a little vegetable oil, black pepper, and salt, will add a nutritious and delicious touch to your morning meal.
Omelet on Toast Recipe: This recipe, which you can make with 2 eggs, dil cheese, and plenty of spices, isn’t actually that different from a classic omelet recipe. All you need to do is make a regular omelet, then fold it in half and place the sliced cheese inside. Heat the omelet in the pan for a short while to melt the cheese, and it’s ready to serve.
Sliced cheese: If you’re looking for a recipe to add some variety to your breakfast, this breaded dil cheese recipe might be just what you’re looking for. You can whip up this recipe—which calls for 8 slices of dil cheese, 4 tablespoons of flour, 4 tablespoons of cornmeal, 1 egg, and a pinch of salt—in just 10 minutes. First, beat the eggs in a bowl with a pinch of salt. Then, dip the cheese slices first in the all-purpose flour, then in the cornmeal. Fry them in hot oil until golden brown.
How Do You Store Dil Cheese?
One of the questions people who are buying dil cheese for the first time are most curious about is, “How do you store dil cheese?” The storage conditions for dil cheese are nearly the same as those for other soft cheeses. Since it is not salty, it is prone to spoilage and must be stored properly. If it will not be used immediately, it should be kept in its packaging as much as possible. After all, dil cheese stored in its original packaging can be kept for months without spoiling.
It is essential to store sliced cheese in a cool place after removing it from its packaging. Otherwise, the cheese will spoil quickly. Generally, the best places to store it are the refrigerator or the freezer. You can minimize air exposure by wrapping the cheese in a cotton cloth if it’s not in its original packaging. If you don’t have a cotton cloth, plastic wrap will work just as well.
How to Make Dil Cheese?
The production of Dil cheese is a traditional cheese-making process. This cheese, which has been produced for hundreds of years in various regions and localities across our country, can be made from the milk of different animals, such as cows, water buffalo, sheep, and goats.
The production of dil cheese is an extremely long and detailed process. This cheese, which has been made for centuries in various regions of our country—particularly in the provinces of Kars and Erzurum—has always been a prized product due to its labor-intensive production process. The step-by-step process for making dil cheese is as follows:
- First, bring the fresh milk to a boil,
- The boiling milk is left to stand until it reaches 32 degrees,
- When the temperature reaches 32 degrees, yeast is added to the milk,
- Let the milk sit for about 1 hour,
- During the resting period, clots form in the milk,
- Once the clots become clearly visible, incisions are made with a cutting tool,
- The cut curds are cut into small pieces again and poured into special cheese molds,
- The cheese pieces are left in the molds for a while to drain,
- The whey drains from the cheese in about 30 minutes,
- Wait for the cheese to thicken in the hot water,
- Cheese salt is added to the cheese soaking in hot water,
- Salted cheeses are placed in special molds—the amount of salt added at this stage is extremely important. Dil cheese is a type of cheese that is neither too salty nor too bland; for this reason, it is always best not to oversalt it,
- The cheeses are lightly boiled in these molds,
- Meanwhile, the cheeses, which have reached a dough-like consistency, are placed in molds and left to rest,
- The aged cheeses are now ready.
What Kind of Milk Is Used to Make Dil Cheese?
Dil cheese can be made from the milk of various animals. The most commonly used milks for making this cheese are buffalo, cow, sheep, and goat milk. Of course, since the aroma and characteristics of the milk used significantly affect the cheese’s texture, dil cheese made from different types of milk will have distinct flavors.
Cow’s and goat’s milk are generally the most commonly used in the production of dil cheese. Since buffalo milk is relatively harder to find and sheep’s milk is slightly more expensive, most producers do not opt for these types of milk. If a choice must be made between cow’s and goat’s milk, cow’s milk—which generally has a milder flavor—is recommended. This is because dil cheese is known for its mild taste.
What Are the Benefits of Dil Cheese?
A true powerhouse of nutrition, dil cheese is favored both for its rich nutritional content and its benefits for organ health. The main benefits of dil cheese can be listed as follows:
- Dil cheese is high in protein, which is why it is among the most popular cheeses for people who need to increase their protein intake.
- Rich in calcium, dil cheese contributes positively to bone development. It is an excellent food source, especially for young children and infants.
- Thanks to its calcium content, it also significantly supports tooth development.
- It is recommended for breakfast, particularly because of its high energy content; one serving of dil cheese at breakfast meets your entire daily energy requirement.
- Because of its high-fiber content, it supports healthy bowel function.
- Dil cheese, made from the milk’s own fat, is a heart-healthy food and is ideal for preventing various heart conditions.
- Thanks to its blood pressure-regulating properties, it can be consumed to help manage health conditions such as low blood pressure.
- It boosts the body's resistance and strengthens the body.
- It is particularly noted for its ability to help prevent conditions such as osteoporosis.
- Thanks to its high iron content, it prevents brittle nails and strengthens weak nails.
- It helps maintain eye health.
Nutritional Values of Dil Cheese
Dil cheese is among the healthiest types of cheese due to its high protein and calcium content. Its rich nutritional value makes this cheese an excellent solution for various health conditions. It also stands out as a food rich in iron and vitamin A. Furthermore, it has a lower fat content than most cheeses.
The nutritional values of Dil cheese can be listed as follows:
- 1,57 gram karbonhidrat
- 4,30 gram protein
- 4.92 grams of fat
- 11,25 miligram kolesterol
- 300 miligram sodyum
- 37,50 miligram potasyum
- 150 miligram kalsiyum
- 74,25 UI Vitamin A
- 0,20 demir
