Cheese of the week: Shankleesh

Name: Shankleesh

Brand: Ziyad

Place of Purchase: Pammel Grocery in Ames, Iowa

Country/Region of Origin: Lebanon (via Cicero, IL)

Price in Iowa: $2.59/pound

Milk: cow

Processing: skimmed cow milk yogurt (Laban) is mixed with acid, strained, rolled into balls, dried and allowed to age.   The balls are coated in thyme and pepper and stored in olive oil.

Texture: Semi-soft

Color: Green with red specks, pale white on the inside.

Rind: Natural coated with Thyme, pepper and salt.

Aroma: Very mild dairy

Taste: Tart, salty, tart.

Mouth feel: Crumbly and moist pate.
 
Notes: Shankleesh is typically served with a Middle Eastern breakfast called a meze.  This SOUR cheese is mixed with tomatoes and cucumbers, probably to cut the salty and sour taste.  I think that this cheese would work great in a salad, maybe in a pita with a LOT of veggies.  It might even go well mixed with eggs.  But I just popped one in my mouth and between the acid and the salt, I drank about 2-liters of water.

It's yummy.  It's strong.  Be careful.