Extremely low fat content - Cheese Chechil

Now we will look at a unique product, radically different from any of the previously reviewed ones. Moreover, both in appearance and in taste! Chechil is an Armenian cheese that has only 30% fat content, but we still do not recommend it for bodybuilders to include in their daily menu. Why? – read further in this article... Well, in the meantime, a little historical facts... According to traditions that have developed from time immemorial, Chechil is produced exclusively by hand. However, in appearance it is not entirely traditional. They don’t release it with the usual cheese circles and heads. In fact, Chechil cheese is cheese fibers collected in a skein. Usually this skein reaches 5-6 kilograms, and when sold, the required amount is cut off from it. This product should only be stored in a special brine.

It is very difficult to obtain long cheese strings and fibers. Not every cheese maker will even undertake such an art. What is this interesting production process?

It is prepared from any kind of milk: cow (acidity not less than 45°T), goat or sheep (acidity not less than 100°T). The milk should sour under relaxed conditions - it is heated a little and the sour milk is added. To coagulate milk, use rennet or pepsin purchased at the store. The coagulation process lasts no more than 10 minutes, and then large curd flakes are obtained by further heating. They are glued together and strips of 7 centimeters in length are obtained. They are taken out of the container and cut. Long strips are wound into balls and placed in brine. There the cheese ripens after some time. In Armenia, sometimes Chechil, when ripe, is mixed with cottage cheese and placed in clay containers.

As we already mentioned earlier, the fat content of Chechil is not high, only 30%, but the salinity is increased. It is this moment that spoils him in the eyes of modern bodybuilders, fans of fitness and athletic gymnastics. On the one hand, it seems: a huge percentage of protein, with a minimum of fat content - just right for bodybuilding. However, an excess of salt in this product, if consumed regularly, will force you to consume much more liquid, and your body will swim from it. If your goal is pronounced muscle definition and a minimum of subcutaneous fat, you need to extremely minimize the amount of water in the body. And with this cheese you are unlikely to have a chance to do this. So our verdict: it is better to refrain from including this product in your daily diet. Look for something more dietary...

This may seem strange and unusual, but this product tastes very much like dried and lightly smoked fish, which makes it ideal for beer. By the way, many gourmets around the world like to eat it this way. Try it, it's very tasty!

As for me personally, at the moment when I need a snack or just in between main meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), especially when I don’t have enough time to cook, I prefer to quickly make protein at home and eat a couple of pieces of Chechil - well, I can’t deny myself this pleasure. Which, by the way, I strongly advise you to do! Try this delicacy, it's definitely worth it!