Basket Cheese

Basket cheese is an Arabic-style semi-soft cheese made from vegetable rennet and pasteurised cow milk. Molded in elegant wicker-textured baskets, this cheese comes in circular forms weighing 12-18 oz each. It is one of the top three Middle Eastern kinds of cheese sold in the United States. Since basket molds are individually crafted, it is difficult to mass-produce the cheese.

Compared to a fresh basket cheese, a dry basket cheese has a slightly salty taste. It tastes awesome with tomatoes, basil, pita bread and water wheel crackers. Some people prefer to relish the taste by eating it along with jam or honey at breakfast. Since the cheese doesn’t melt away easily, many Indian cuisines use it as a replacement for paneer. The old-fashioned fruit and cheese platter also works wonders with Basket cheese. But remember to use it within six months of refrigerated life.