making homemade cheese

apple_mint · 2 May 2005 at 6:45AM

My late mum was a frugal cook out of necessity - having four kids and one low income. We had a couple of goats and I have memories of mum having cheese in muslin cloths hung up in the pantry which slowly dripped whey(?) into a bowl.

Does anyone make their own cheese? Anyone know the technique and have any recipes to share?

Mum used the excess goats milk for her cheese but I'm assuming that I can use supermarket cows milk too?

Sarahsaver · 2 May 2005 at 7:50AM

I have made paneer very successfully, you only need milk and lemon juice. Boil the milk then leave it to cool to 'hand hot', add the lemon juice (i think a couple of tablespoons) and it will curdle. Strain it into a muslin cloth then hang it up overnight - on a kitchen tap is ideal!
Then you have a very basic, but nice tasting cheese. Have you tried the river cottage website? I got the paneer recipe from an old Madhur Jaffrey book.

apple_mint · 2 May 2005 at 8:14AM

Thanks SaverSarah, I'll try this. I'll also go to River Cottage ...

I'll have to buy some new muslin nappies as this seems to be the best way to get some good muslin squares.

apple_mint · 2 May 2005 at 8:16AM

Sarahsaver wrote:

I have made paneer very successfully, you only need milk and lemon juice. Boil the milk then leave it to cool to 'hand hot', add the lemon juice (i think a couple of tablespoons) and it will curdle. Strain it into a muslin cloth then hang it up overnight - on a kitchen tap is ideal!
Then you have a very basic, but nice tasting cheese. Have you tried the river cottage website? I got the paneer recipe from an old Madhur Jaffrey book.

Can you remember how much milk you used Sarahsaver?

Sarahsaver · 2 May 2005 at 7:36PM

a quart (2 pints) and 2 and a half tbs lemon juice. Sorry for being vague in the first place! I made it for a large cheese party and won first prize for most interesting cheese, as i made the cheese then put it in some oil with achari masala (indian pickle spices)

apple_mint · 2 May 2005 at 8:17PM

Thank you SarahSaver, I'm going to try this. I saw a demonstration today by a cheese maker and it has inspired me. I don't think it will be money saving but I do think it will be interesting to see what home made cheese tastes like and like you I'd like to try and experiment.

Sarahsaver · 2 May 2005 at 8:55PM

it is moneysaving cos you are able to make something which you are 100% sure of the origin of the ingredients;)

hilary1 · 31 March 2006 at 9:22PM

What is the difference between cream cheese and soft cheese?

I want to make the stuff that goes on the top of a cheesecake but all recipes I've found say blah, blah and cream (or soft?) cheese but dont tell you how to make it.

Can you make it in a yoghurt maker?

Nutty_Nora_2 · 1 April 2006 at 12:37PM

I had exactly the same thing recently. I used soft cheese, Tesco's own (like philly) and it turned out fine.

apprentice_tycoon · 1 April 2006 at 12:45PM

You can make a very passable copy of Philly with home made yogurt that was made with full cream milk, you strain it through muslin overnight in the fridge. It comes out as a spreadable slightly sweet creamy cheese. Costs next to nothing

hilary1 · 1 April 2006 at 6:38PM

Thanks both of you.

i've just been to Lakeland and bought a yoghurt maker so will be trying it out tomorrow.

I gues I will have to practice with some differnt flavourings and different milks.:beer:

PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

making homemade cheese

Comments

Categories

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free