Making cheese at home using fresh goat’s milk is actually an easy process. It’s also quite affordable. With the right ingredients and instructions, you can make your own fresh and delicious goat milk cheese. Let’s take a look at how you can make fresh goat milk cheese
Health Benefits of Goat Milk and Goat Milk Cheese
Getting the correct amounts of calcium and amino acid everyday is important to healthy living. Goat’s milk contains a lot of nutrients that are rich in Calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin B2, Potassium and more. Some people who are lactose intolerant and can’t drink cow’s milk, find goat’s milk to be a good substitute. Goat’s milk is a very good source of calcium, which helps to strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis. Goat’s milk gives a daily supply of 32.6% of calcium, in just one cup. It also provides 27% of a daily supply of phosphorus.
Ingredients and Preparation
Depending on the area where you live, goat’s milk can be easy to come by. If you live in a rural area, it may be as close as your own backyard. More and more health food stores are now stocking fresh goat’s milk in the dairy section. It can even be found in many specialty grocery stores. Fresh goat’s milk is the main ingredient to make your own goat cheese. Here are step-by-step instructions to making your own goat’s cheese:
Step 1
Obtain the fresh goats milk on the morning you plan to make your own cheese. Pour the fresh milk into a stainless steel pot or kettle. Place it on the fire over medium heat. Let the milk simmer for about 15-20 minutes until it is just about to boil.
Step 2
Leave the goat milk on the stove top, but turn off the heat. Let it cool until it’s about room temperature. This is important in order for it to curd properly, and prevent you from burning yourself. Once cooled, gently add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, stirring until the curds start to separate from the liquid. Continue to add more lemon juice, a little at a time, if the milk does not start to curd.
Step 3
Once the milk looks like cottage cheese, remove it from the stove top. Pour it into a large colander and sit the colander on a piece of cheesecloth, allowing any excess water to drain out. Allow the curds to drain for out two hours. Discard any remaining liquid. Gently squeeze the cheesecloth to release any lingering milk. Place the curds into a container, something to shape the cheese. Press curds together to form.
Step 4
Place the container in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours, to ensure proper texture. Press the curds together to form the block of goat cheese. Store it in an airtight food storage container.
Tips: Season the goat cheese with dry seasonings to taste, such as Italian Seasoning. Or, in place of lemon juice you can use apple cider vinegar or juice from a jar of jalapenos. Goat cheese is great when used on salad as a cow cheese alternative and a great way to save money and eat healthy.
Agnes lives in Cebu City, and balances everything she writes with a wonderfully refreshing global perspective. She covers everything at Empress of Drac, including food! Check out this post about great food apps!
