​​4 must-try Indian dishes using cheese (and not cottage cheese)​

Paneer may be everywhere, but there’s a whole other cheesy side of India that doesn’t get enough love. Think street-style snacks stuffed with local cheese or mountain recipes made with aged, smoky bites. From Jammu to Sikkim, Indian cheeses are wild, flavour-packed, and perfect for comfort food with a twist. And no, we’re not talking about factory-made slices or cubes. These are rustic, regional, sometimes stretchy, sometimes crumbly, and absolutely delicious. Here's how to cook them into easy, tasty recipes you'll want to eat on repeat.

Kalari (or kaladi) is the local stretchy cheese from Jammu. It’s dense, creamy, and turns beautifully crisp when pan-fried. For the kulcha, just shallow-fry slices of kalari until golden and oozing inside. Stuff into warm kulchas with pickled onions, mint chutney, and a dash of chaat masala. Press it slightly on a hot tawa so it crisps again. The result is chewy, spicy, and totally addictive.

Chhurpi is a hard, fermented yak cheese from the Northeast, especially Sikkim and Bhutanese regions. Grate or shave the softer variety and stir-fry with mustard oil, green chillies, garlic, and seasonal greens like lai saag or spinach. It’s nutty, savoury, and makes a light, high-protein dish that’s perfect with steamed rice. You can also add boiled potato cubes for a hearty version.

This semi-hard cheese from West Bengal has a sharp bite and a lovely crumbly texture. Grate it over toasted pav or sourdough, and top with chopped tomatoes, green chillies, and a hint of mustard. Grill till the top bubbles and turns golden. It’s like an Indian-spiced Welsh rarebit that’s spicy, salty, and perfect for evening chai.

Bandel is a smoked, salty cheese from Bengal made by the Portuguese. Crumble it into a fragrant masala rice with caramelised onions, bay leaf, cloves, and peas. Because it’s strong and salty, you don’t need much. Just a few pieces lift the whole dish. It gives the pulao a smoky depth and pairs well with plain curd or cucumber raita.