| Chhurpi छुर्पी | |
|---|---|
 Production of Chhurpi in Nepal | |
| Other names | Durkha |
| Country of origin | Himalayan region |
| Region | Himalayan region |
| Source of milk | Yak, Cattle |
| Texture | Soft or hard |
 Related media on Commons | |
Chhurpi (Tibetan: ཆུར་བ།, THL: churwa) otherwise known as durkha and chogo/chugo is a traditional cheese consumed in Bhutan and Nepal.[1][2] The two varieties of chhurpi are a soft variety (consumed usually as a side dish with rice)[3] and a hard variety (chewed like betel).
Chhurpi is prepared in a local dairy or at home from buttermilk.[4] The buttermilk is boiled and the solid mass that is obtained is separated from the liquid and wrapped and hung in a thin cloth to drain out the water. The product is rather like the Italian ricotta, which also is made from whey. It is soft, white, and neutral in taste. However, it is often left to ferment a bit to acquire a tangy taste.
To prepare the hard variety, the soft chhurpi is wrapped in a jute bag and pressed hard to get rid of the water. After it dries, it is cut into small cuboidal pieces and hung over fire to harden it further.
Soft chhurpi is consumed in a variety of ways, including cooking with green vegetables as savoury dishes, as a filling for momo, grinding with tomatoes and chillies for senpen (chutney) and as a soup. In the mountainous regions of the Himalayas, chhurpi is consumed as a substitute for vegetables because it is an excellent source of protein.[5]
Hard chhurpi is usually consumed by keeping it in the mouth to moisten it, letting parts of it become soft, and then chewing it like a gum. In this manner, one block of chhurpi can last up to two hours.[6]