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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

How to Make Goat Cheese in 3 Easy Steps

Goat cheese is super healthy. Among its many benefits, calcium can assist in the burning of fat and goat cheese is high in calcium. It's high in protein and probiotics and is also suitable for those who are lactose-intollerant.
It's not difficult to a make homemade version in a few hours. And it tastes really great when used in recipes.

1. To make homemade goat cheese, fill a saucepan with organic goat's milk. Heat the milk gradually until it reaches 180F. Watch it closely. Remove milk from heat.

2. Stir in fresh lemon juice from 2 lemons. Let the milk stand until it curdles, about 20 seconds. (Don't expect curdles, like cottage cheese curdles. Add a "little bit" more lemon if needed. Line a colander with SEVERAL layers of cheesecloth. Several layers are necessary so you don't lose any of the cheese through the soggy cloth. Place colander over a large bowl to catch the whey drips.

3. Ladle milk into colander. Pull up and tie the four corners of the cheesecloth together and hang on the handle of a wooden spoon. Set over a very deep bowl. Allow the whey to drain from the milk until the milk acquires a soft, ricotta-like consistency. It takes at least 2 hours. Transfer to a bowl and use as required.

How about using your homemade goat cheese in this simple hors d'oeuvre:

BRUSCHETTA WITH GOAT CHEESE, ROASTED RED PEPPER AND FRESH BASIL
Serves 4
1 large red bell pepper 1
1 cup soft goat cheese, room temperature 250 mL
4 (3/4-inch/2 cm thick slices country bread, halved, toasted 4
16 fresh basil leaves 16

Preheat oven to 375F (190C). Char bell pepper under broiler until blackened on all sides.

Enclose in paper bag 10 minutes Peel and seed. Cut pepper into 1/2-inch-wide strips.  

Spread cheese on toasts. Top with red pepper strips. Place bruschetta on baking sheet.

Bake until warm, about 5 minutes. Top each toast with 2 basil leaf strips and serve warm.

Suggested Wine: This hors d'oeuvre requires a white wine with refreshing acidity to complement the tanginess of this cheese. A wine with fruitiness is also beneficial, as the roasted red pepper provides a fruitiness to match. Examples include, Brut Champagne, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Canadian Pinot Gris, Portuguese Vinho Verde, Italian Orvieto or Cortese di Gavi or Pinot Grigio, Spanish Viura. Pair the wine's acidity to the tanginess in goat cheese and balsamic.

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