Areesh cheese
{{Short description|A soft and crumbly Egyptian cottage cheese}}
{{Infobox cheese
| name = Areesh {{br}} {{lang|arz|قريش}}
| image =
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| country = Egypt
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| source = Buffalo milk, cow milk
| pasteurised =
| texture = Soft and crumbly
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Areesh cheese ({{langx|arz|جبنة قريش}} {{Transliteration|arz|gebna arish}}) is a traditional Egyptian dairy product similar to cottage cheese, characterized by its soft, white, and crumbly texture. It is commonly made from skimmed buffalo or cow's milk and holds a significant place in Egyptian cuisine.{{cite web |title=Areesh |url=https://www.tasteatlas.com/areesh |website=TasteAtlas |access-date=March 16, 2025}}{{cite web |title=طريقة عمل الجبنة القريش |url=https://mawdoo3.com/%D8%B7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%82%D8%A9_%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B4 |website=موضوع |access-date=March 16, 2025}}
Name
The name Areesh may sometimes be used interchangeably with cottage cheese.{{cite web |title=أبرزها إنقاص الوزن..6 أسباب ستدفعك لتناول جبن القريش |url=https://arabic.cnn.com/science-and-health/article/2024/08/29/cottage-cheese-benefits-health |website=CNN Arabic |access-date=12 May 2025 |language=ar |date=29 August 2024}}
Preparation
The production of areesh cheese begins with fermenting milk to create laban rayeb, a fermented skimmed milk.{{cite web |title=الطريقة الأصلية لعمل الجبنة القريش |url=https://www.elwatannews.com/news/details/7609728 |website=الوطن نيوز |access-date=March 16, 2025}} This fermented milk is then gently heated, causing the curds to separate from the whey. The curds are collected and drained, resulting in the formation of areesh cheese. This method yields a cheese similar in texture and appearance to cottage cheese.{{cite web |title=صناعة منتجات الألبان |url=https://courses.minia.edu.eg/Attach/dairy414-sec4.pdf |website=Minia University |access-date=March 16, 2025}}
Use
The cheese is popular in multiple Arab countries.{{cite web |last1=Ghazal |first1=Rym |title=9 favourite regional cheeses in the UAE |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/food/9-favourite-regional-cheeses-in-the-uae-1.139377 |website=The National |access-date=12 May 2025 |language=en}}
Areesh cheese is versatile in its culinary applications. It can be consumed fresh, often enjoyed with a drizzle of honey or with chopped tomatoes mixed with herbs and spices to enhance its flavor. Additionally, areesh cheese serves as the base for producing mish, a traditional fermented cheese eaten in Egypt.{{cite web |title=Egyptian Cheese with All its Goodness |url=https://artsandculture.google.com/story/egyptian-cheese-with-all-its-goodness-nawaya/qQXhWyI4LtVBqQ?hl=en |website=Google Arts & Culture |access-date=March 16, 2025}}{{cite web |title=Ultimate Egyptian Karish Cheese Dip (جبنة قريش بالطماطم) |url=https://cheznermine.com/2022/02/11/ultimate-egyptian-karish-cheese-dip-%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A9-%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%85/ |website=Chez Nermine |access-date=March 16, 2025}}
It is also used to prepare pastries, desserts, and shanklish.
See also
{{Portal|Egypt|Food}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Cuisine of Egypt}}
Category:Water buffalo's-milk cheeses
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