Mediterranean Diet Foods – Beyaz Peynir

May 5, 2011

Beyaz Peynir is a white cheese which originated from Turkey and it is a basic component of the Mediterranean diet. Beyaz Peynir literally means ‘’white cheese’’ in Turkish and despite of the fact that it originated from Turkey, over time it  has spread throughout the Mediterranean Sea and subsequently gained fame and acknowledgement throughout the world, because of the fact that it is a basic component of the Mediterranean diet.


Originally this white cheese, Beyaz Peynir, was invented by herdsmen who wanted to preserve their milk in a form that could be consumed at a later stage. Traditionally the ingredient of Beyaz Peynir is unpasteurized sheep milk. It is a semi-soft salty white cheese similar to the Greek feta cheese and over the years when refrigeration was nonexistent it was preserved in brine. It is part of the basic, ‘’frequent’’ category of the Mediterranean diet, type of food that can be eaten daily.

Beyaz Peynir is produced and salt in various shapes and at different maturity levels. The most common form is the square fresh and soft white cheese form, which enables the consumer to cut it in slices and consumer it right away as part of his/her breakfast since it has a fresh taste, in a salad for Lunch or in a cooked form as a snack. The shape and nutrition facts of Beyaz Peynir are shown below.

Since Beyaz Peynir is part of the Mediterranean diet, it is most certainly part of a typical Turkish breakfast which consists, apart from the Beyaz Peynir, of olives, tomatoes, cucumbers and the traditional pide bread, which is a white crusty loaf.

Beyaz Peynir it is usually sold in supermarkets in solid blocks packed in plastic sealed bags with a small amount of brine. It is preserved in its own brine and this is why it has a typical salty-sour taste and for this reason it has to be rinsed with water when removed from the container for consumption. Like all cheeses it should be refrigerated in order to be preserved and has a shelf life of about 3-4 weeks once opened.

As stated earlier Beyaz Peynir is used in salads, eaten raw as part of the breakfast but it is also used in various Turkish sweets and desserts. It is also used in a well known traditional Turkish pastry, the Borek, as a filling.

Beyaz Peynir during the summer time can also be enjoyed in combination with melon or watermelon and it combines well with a soft and fruity white wine.

Beyaz Peynir is another great and widely used white cheese component of the great Mediterranean diet which plays an important role in the healthy living of the Turkish people.


Andrea Aurelio
About the author

Andrea Aurelio adopted the Mediterranean diet and the Mediterranean way of living after evaluating a series of diets and realizing that the Mediterranean diet is a proven diet and the best way to adopt a healthy lifestyle. You can connect with him on Google+, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

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