Goat Cheese
Goat cheese, also known as chevre, comes in a variety of forms, from hard-aged types to semi-firm. Made with goat's milk, the most common type is a soft, easily spread, lightly aged cheese. Goat cheese is highly sought after for its distinctive flavor and because the goat's milk used to produce the cheese is leaner than cow's milk, being lower in fat and higher in vitamin A and potassium. The common soft version of goat's milk cheese is easy to prepare and can be made in your own kitchen using a handful of ingredients.
Ingredients
There aren't many ingredients necessary to make your own homemade goat cheese. You'll need goat's milk, two gallons worth and two tablespoons of white vinegar. For seasoning you'll need a pinch of salt, chives, green onions, parsley and toasted sesame seeds to taste.
Preparation
Heat the goat's milk in a large cooking pot on your stovetop, slowly bringing the temperature up until right below the boiling point, stopping when it reaches about 180 degrees. If you raise the temperature of the milk too quickly you may scorch it, giving the prepared cheese a burnt taste.
Remove from heat and add vinegar. Stir continuously as the curds separate from the whey. Whey will appear much like yellow tinted water and the curds like lumps of cottage cheese. Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes and then begin the straining process.
Strain the contents of the pot through a colander lined with cheesecloth. Tie the cheesecloth into a ball and then allow the curds to cool. When they've cooled enough to touch, squeeze the remaining moisture out of them. Place the curds in a large bowl, adding the salt and the remaining ingredients for seasoning. Seasoning is to taste and can be altered however you wish, or left out entirely for a straight cheese taste.
Remove from bowl and form into a roll, placing the cheese into a piece of saran wrap and moving to the refrigerator. Allow the cheese to sit for two days to set.
Alternatives
This is just one method for you to make goat cheese. There are countless alternatives, some mixing buttermilk with the goat's milk for flavor, others adding rennet to help separate the curds and whey instead of vinegar. The most common variations you'll find in homemade goat cheese recipes are in the ingredients used for seasoning, including cocoa, mint, basil, oregano, onion and dill. Experimentation in seasonings will make the cheese you prepare truly your own.
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