All cheeses from Bulgaria

Sirene (Bulgarian: сирене, pronounced [ˈsirene]; Macedonian: сирење; Serbian/Croatian: сир, sir), officially called the "white brine sirene" (Bulgarian: бяло саламурено сирене, [biˈalo salaˈmureno ˈsirene]; Macedonian: бело сирење во саламура) is a type of brine cheese made in South-Eastern Europe, especially popular in Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia and other Balkan countries. It was originally made of goat's milk, but the predominant variation today is made of the cheaper cow's milk, sheep milk or a combination of milks. It is slightly crumbly with a fat content of about 40-45%. It is commonly produced in blocks, and has a slightly grainy texture. It is used as a table cheese, as well as in salads and in baking.

Sirene, together with yoghurt, is a national food of all the countries in Balkans. Many Bulgarians, Serbs, Croats, Macedonians and Greeks regularly eat some sirene or yoghourt in some form.



Pasta and cornmeal: Spaghetti with sirene and tomato sauce or ketchup. For breakfast, makaroni or flat noodles (Bulgarian: "юфка", Macedonian: "јуфки" or "кори") with sirene and sugar are popular. Kachamak (the local variant of cornmeal, polenta or the Romanian mămăligă) is always eaten with sirene.



Also it is consumed as an appetizer.