Fresh Cheese, the Easy Way

Creating your own fresh cheese at home is a rewarding and delicious experience. With just a few ingredients and some patience, you can make different types of fresh cheese, including cream cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta, and even goat cheese. The recipe provides a basic method for making fresh cheese and offers various flavoring options to customize the taste. You can choose to make a traditional cottage cheese, creamy ricotta, or tangy goat cheese—all with their unique textures and flavors. Additionally, the recipe includes suggestions on how to enjoy and serve the fresh cheese in simple and delightful ways.

MAKES: 6 to 8 servings

TIME: 2 hours, largely unattended

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 gallon milk
• 1 quart buttermilk
• Salt (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat the milk over medium-high heat until it begins to bubble up the sides of the pot, approximately 10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent scorching.
2. Line a strainer with a triple layer of cheesecloth or a piece of undyed cotton muslin. Prepare a long piece of twine for later use.
3. Add the buttermilk to the boiling milk and stir constantly. Within a minute, the mixture will separate into curds and whey, resembling cooked egg whites suspended in a slightly thick yellowish liquid. If desired, add a large pinch of salt and stir it in.
4. Carefully pour the mixture through the cheesecloth-lined strainer. The curds will collect in the bottom while the whey drains off. Gather the corners of the cloth and twist the top to shape the curds into a ball. Rinse the bundle under cold water until it’s easy to handle.
5. Continue twisting and squeezing the bundle to remove excess whey until the curds feel firm and dry. Don’t worry about handling the curds roughly; they can withstand it.
6. Tie a string tightly around the top of the bundle to secure it, then tie the other end of the string around the handle of a long spoon or a stick. This will suspend the cheese over the pot to allow further draining. Let the cheese rest undisturbed until it cools and sets, which usually takes around 90 minutes.
7. Remove the cheesecloth and serve the fresh cheese immediately or wrap it in plastic and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Alternatively, you can freeze the cheese for up to 3 months.

VARIATIONS:

• Fresh Cottage Cheese: Follow the recipe through Step 3. After pouring the curds and whey through the cheesecloth, leave the curds loose in the strainer for 30 to 60 minutes to drain the desired amount of moisture. Then store the cottage cheese in the refrigerator.

• Fresh Ricotta: Reduce the amount of buttermilk to 1 pint (2 cups) and follow the recipe through Step 3. After pouring the mixture through the cheesecloth, leave the ricotta in the strainer for 30 to 60 minutes until it reaches your preferred texture. Store the ricotta in the refrigerator.

• Fresh Cream Cheese: Replace the milk with 1 quart of heavy cream and reduce the buttermilk to 1 pint. Follow the recipe as instructed.

WAYS TO FLAVOR FRESH CHEESE:

After pouring the curds and whey into the cheesecloth-lined strainer, you can stir in various ingredients to add flavor to the fresh cheese. Here are six ideas:

• Finely chopped nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts (up to 1/4 cup)
• Coarsely ground black or green peppercorns (up to 1 tablespoon)
• Traditional Pesto or any herb purées (up to 1/4 cup)
• Curry powder, chaat masala, or garam masala (up to 2 tablespoons)
• Chile Paste(up to 1/4 cup)
• Finely chopped roasted red peppers, pimientos, piquillos, or olives (up to 1/4 cup)

WAYS TO ENJOY FRESH CHEESE:

Here are five simple and delicious ways to enjoy fresh cheese:

• Crumble the cheese as a garnish on tacos, green salads, sandwiches, or pizza.
• Toss crumbled fresh cheese, such as cottage cheese or ricotta, on hot pasta just before serving. It can be enjoyed alone or combined with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a “pink” pasta.
• Use cottage cheese or ricotta as a base for dips, spreads, or sauces by blending a cup or so in a food processor with milk, cream, or yogurt until you achieve the desired consistency.
• Drizzle a few slices of fresh cheese with honey and sprinkle them with toasted nuts.
• Drizzle a few slices of fresh cheese with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle them with chopped fresh herbs, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.

Enjoy the homemade fresh cheese in these simple yet satisfying ways, and let your taste buds savor the creamy, tangy, and versatile flavors!