Kalari cheese

Summary

Kalari or Kaladi is an Indian traditional ripened cheese product.This is a culinary dairy product invented by the nomadic tribal Gujjars centuries ago. It was crafted to address a specific need for the preservation of milk in a solid form during the sweltering summer months when these tribes venture into the hills with their livestock during bi-annual seasonal tribal migrations.[1] Gujjars use this dairy food during the summer months to meet their nutritional requirements, and they sell it in markets in both divisions of Jammu and Kashmir to support their livelihood.[2]

Kalari (Kalaadi)
Kalari cheese
Country of originIndia
RegionJammu and Kashmir - Kalari Kulcha dish is mainly found in Udhampur, Jammu
Source of milkCattle's (Cow's) milk, sometimes Goat's milk
TextureSemi-soft

It is indigenous to Ramnagar in the Udhampur District of the Jammu division, within the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India and a cherished food snack among ethnic Dogras.[3][4][5][6][7] It is a very dense cheese that is usually sautéd in its own fat and salted while serving. Kalaris are usually made from cow's or buffalo's milk, though kalaris made from goat's milk are also available, and have a whitish color.[8] Traditionally Kalaris are made from raw (uncooked) full fat milk that is separated using soured milk. The solidified part is packed in donas (small bowls made of leaves) and sun dried. The excess liquid drips down from the semi-porous donas and rest of the moisture is lost by sun drying. As the ambient temperature is low and the sun is strong in the Shivalilk mountains,[9] the Kalari becomes dry from outside yet retains moisture from inside. Some times fungus grows on this and gives it a unique flavor.

Background edit

Kalari, traditionally a Chenani, Ramnagar, Udhampur cheese,[10] is an authentic Dogra cheese and often made part of various cheese-based cuisines, such as the "Kaladi Kulcha," which is a popular snack indigenous to Jammu region.[11] Kalari Kulcha is famous street food of and can be seen in the menu list of road side vendors and big shops. To prepare a Kalari, it is dabbed in salt and sautéd in its own fat, it is covered while sautéing. Preparing Kalari requires some expertise that may be mastered in couple of trials. Some people use butter or ghee for making it more viscous and for making it properly crispy. After some time the Kalari is flipped over and covered again. After sautéing, it gets brownish crispy layer outside and soft, creamy, gooey melted cheese inside (akin to melted mozzarella cheese). That is the precise reason Kalari is often termed as "Mozzarella of Jammu" or "Mozarella of Dogras".[12]

Kalari is often served hot and salted with tomatoes, onions, bread and cabbage.[13] In recent improvisation it is made like a burger with Kalari as the patty in layers of coleslaw like salad, tomatoes, etc. filled up in a bun. Kalari is also served with a Kulcha with first kaladi being seasoned with red powdered chilli and then squished between kulcha while being shallow fried .The complete ensemble is shallow fried. Earlier Kalari was served on its own without any breads. Later Kalari sandwich came into existence that consisted of Kalari placed in two slices of bakery bread with complete sandwich shallow fried in the pan containing left over fat from frying the kalari. Some tamarind chutney with red chilli powder and salt are also added. Sometimes it is also prepared by first wetting it and covering it in a dry mixture of whole wheat flour (atta), red chilli powder and salt then sautéing over a nonstick pan. In Jammu people also make a curry with it called कलाड़ी दा सलूना/न्योड़ा or 𑠊𑠥𑠬𑠫𑠮 𑠛𑠬 𑠩𑠥𑠰𑠝𑠬/𑠝𑠹𑠣𑠵𑠫𑠬 in local Dogri language. Pakodas are also prepared with kalari. It is a popular delicacy of Duggar people, and is served particularly at weddings and other events.

Recently, a restaurant named 'The Kalari Factory' has begun serving 'Kalari' experiments and dishes at Udhampur. They have come up with more than 20 Kalari experiments, Kalari corn Momo's being the star player.[14]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "The Pastoral Cheese That is Growing a Larger Footprint".
  2. ^ "In search of Kashmir's nomadic delicacies".
  3. ^ Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu, Jammu-Kashmir (1985), Annual report, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (India), 1985, ... 'Kalari' a traditional milk-based ripened cheese product is a cherished snack food among Dogra people in J&K state ...{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Excelsior, Daily (2022-04-18). "Dogri delicacy Kalari: Foodies across J&K relish". Jammu Kashmir Latest News | Tourism | Breaking News J&K. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  5. ^ Anand, Rakesh (2021-07-12). Is God in Coma?. Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-5486-237-3.
  6. ^ Brien, Charmaine O' (2013-12-15). The Penguin Food Guide to India. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-93-5118-575-8.
  7. ^ Basu, Ipsita. "From kalari to gur chenna, Bengaluru is saying 'cheese' the Indian way". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  8. ^ Krishna Gopal Dubey (27 September 2010), The Indian Cuisine, PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd., ISBN 978-81-203-4170-8, ... Kaladi, a homemade cheese made from goat's or cow's raw milk forms the delicacy of the Kashmiris ...
  9. ^ "Dogri delicacy Kalari: Foodies across J&K relish - The News Now". www.thenewsnow.co.in. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  10. ^ Jatinder Handoo, Sustainable Livelihood for Hills-Policy and Institutional Arrangements for Kalari Cheese in the Hills of Jammu and Kashmir, Center for Civil Society, ... Kaladi cheese, a local delicacy in the hills (Ramnagar, Udhampur) of Jammu and Kashmir ...
  11. ^ Excelsior, Daily (2021-04-03). "KULCHA, the culinary pride of Dogras". Jammu Kashmir Latest News | Tourism | Breaking News J&K. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  12. ^ Best places to eat in Jammu defines how the Kalari is fried and eaten.
  13. ^ Yogita Yadav (Jan 1, 2011), "हर मौसम में गुलज़ार रघुनाथ बाज़ार / Har mausam mein gulzaar, Raghunath Bazaar (A garden in every season: Raghunath Bazaar)", Dainik Jagran, ... जम्मू आएं हैं तो जम्मू का एथनिक फूड भी ट्राई कर ... जम्मू के स्ट्रीट फूड में खास है कुलचा ... कलाड़ी वाला कुलचा ... (If you have come to Jammu, you must try the ethnic foods of Jammu ... Kulchas are the street food specialty of Jammu ... Kalari wala Kulcha) ...
  14. ^ "Gedi Route Jammu". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-10-22.