Civil Cheese

What Is Civil Cheese?

Civil cheese is a string cheese made from skimmed (fat-free) milk, primarily in Erzurum and its surroundings. It is very similar to chechil cheese and is often mentioned alongside it in the region.

Because it is made from skimmed milk, it is low in fat and high in protein. In addition to the fresh braided form, a regional variety called “göğermiş civil” (mold-ripened Civil), aged and allowed to mold in clay crocks, is also valued.

Civil Cheese Nutrition Facts

Because Civil cheese is made from skimmed milk, it is high in protein and low in fat; 100 grams provides about 250 kcal of energy and a notable amount of calcium. Since verified data specific to this cheese is limited, these values are approximate and based on the profile of low-fat string cheese.

What Are the Benefits of Civil Cheese?

With its high protein, low fat, and calcium content, Civil cheese is a relatively light cheese that can be part of a balanced diet; however, moderation is recommended because of its salt content.

This is general information; Civil cheese is a food and is not a substitute for medical treatment.

How to Choose Civil Cheese

Quality Civil cheese should be white, neatly braided, and stringy; cheese with a sour smell or excessive salt and yellowing has lost its freshness. In mold-ripened varieties, the mold should be evenly distributed.

• The cheese should be white, neatly braided, and stringy.
• A sour smell and yellowing indicate that it is no longer fresh.
• In the göğermiş (mold-ripened) variety, the mold should be even and smell pleasant.

How to Store Civil Cheese

Fresh Civil cheese can be stored for weeks in its own brine in the refrigerator; if it is too salty, soak it in water to reduce the salt. Mold-ripened Civil keeps longer in its crock or a sealed container in a cool place.

Using Civil Cheese in the Kitchen

Civil cheese is most often eaten plain at breakfast, pulled into strings; it is also used regionally in eggs with Civil cheese (menemen or kavurma) and herb-based recipes.

How to Make Eggs with Civil Cheese

Lightly melt stringy Civil cheese in butter, crack eggs over it, and prepare a breakfast dish popular in the region.

What Is Göğermiş (Mold-Ripened) Civil?

It is a regional variety with a sharper aroma, made by aging Civil cheese in clay crocks until mold-ripened; it is also known as “küp peyniri” (crock cheese).

What Recipes Use Civil Cheese?

Breakfast platters, eggs or kavurma with Civil cheese, herb cheese dishes, and appetizer platters are among the best-known uses for Civil cheese.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Civil cheese and chechil the same?

They are very similar and are often used interchangeably; both are string cheeses made from skimmed milk, though regional naming and production details may differ.

Why is Civil cheese low-fat?

It is made from the skimmed milk left after the cream (fat) is removed, so it is low in fat and high in protein.

How do you pull apart Civil cheese?

Pull it apart by hand along the fibers of its braided structure to separate it into strings; serve it this way at breakfast or as an appetizer.

Is Civil cheese salty?

It may be salty because it is stored in brine; if it tastes too salty, soak it in water to reduce the salt.

Where is Civil cheese produced?

It is produced primarily in Erzurum and neighboring provinces of Eastern Anatolia; it is one of the region’s traditional cheeses.