The Hungry Notebook

  “🧀 Move over mozzarella — India’s secret cheese is finally getting its moment.” Introduction: What is Kalari Cheese? You’ll be in for a pleasant surprise if you assume that Indian cheese is just paneer. Discover Kalari Cheese, a wonderful cheese that doesn’t get much attention but is made in the Himalayan valleys of Jammu & Kashmir. Ricotta Salata is dried in the sun, half-fermented and stands out with its hard crust and runny center after frying. When it’s raw, it squeaks, turns into a melty mozzarella texture while cooking and tastes like a bite of bland, buttery, smokey comfort. What makes this even better is that you don’t need a lot of things to make it at home. If you treasure culinary adventure, are a cheese fan or like dishes cooked at home, Kalari Cheese should have a place in your kitchen History and Culture Kalari (or Maish Krej locally) is a style from the Gujjar tribe in Jammu and Kashmir. Nomadic herders originally made it as a way to store milk during cold, h...