Malaka or Tiromalama is a fresh Greek curd cheese originating from Crete. It is made from sheep’s milk (or a combination of sheep’s and goat’s milk) during the first shaping of Graviera cheese. The cheese is soft and moist in texture, with a typical milky flavor.
It is often compared to mozzarella regarding both the texture and the flavors. Malaka is always consumed after it has been cooked. Due to its sweet, milky flavor and a soft, malleable texture, it is often used as a filling for kalitsounia pies. Interestingly, the word
malakono means
to soften, referring to the texture of this delicate cheese.