Tag: unique
Making Something Different: Chaource Cheese
The name of this cheese alone is interesting, not to mention its unique flavor and form. You may never have heard of it, which makes it even more worth a try on firstly pronouncing (shah-oose) and then creating it!
Chaource is a mold-ripened cheese that originates from a small village in France called Chaource. It is usually made with both raw and pasteurized cow’s milk.
The rind of these cheese is similar to Camembert and has the same texture that just melts in your mouth. It can be aged for 2 weeks to 2 months and the flavor flourishes with time.
Down below is a big recipe for around 8 blocks of cheese, but you can easily half it if you so desire.
Recipe
What You Need
2 Gallons whole milk (can be pasteurized, but not ultra-pasteurized)
1/4 Tsp Mesophilic culture
1/8 Tsp Aroma Type B
1/4 Tsp Penicilium candidum
1/16 Tsp Geotrichum candidum
2 drops Animal rennet
Cheese salt
1/4 Tsp Calcium chloride
Equipment
8 Crottin molds
Thermometer
Butter muslin
Colander
Scoop or ladle
2 Bamboo ripening mats
Ripening box
Cheese wrap
What To Do
First things first, it is important that you sanitize every piece of equipment that will be used, including the ripening box.
Now dilute 1/4 tsp calcium chloride in 1/4 cup of non-chlorinated water and add this to the milk.
Heat the milk up slowly to 77F, checking the temperature with your thermometer.
Once the milk is warmed up, sprinkle all 4 cultures onto the milk and let it hydrate for around 3 minutes.
After 3 minutes, begin to stir the cultures for about 20 seconds into the milk.
Now cover the pot with a lid and let the milk ripen for around 8 hours, making sure the temperature stays at 77F for the entire period. If you are heating the pot with water, you might have to add hot water half way through the ripening to maintain the heat.
Add 2 drops of rennet to the milk and stir it in slowly for around 10 seconds.
Now cover the pot and allow it to sit for a further 8 hours, once again keeping the heat at 77F.
After the 8 hours is up, gently put the curds into a colander with a ladle, ensuring the colander is lined with butter muslin. Make sure you do not cut the curds. If you really wanted, you could skip this step and just ladle the curds directly into the molds but it can be quite difficult to get them all in.
Once in the colander, now ladle them into the 8 molds. Keep replenishing them as the whey drains from the molds.
If you would like to speed up the process of draining the whey from the molds, you can run a knife along the inside of the molds.
When the whey is getting to the bottom of the molds, empty the box. This step is important because the environment needs to be kept as dry as possible.
Let drain for around 48 hours. If the cheese seems firm enough, turn them around and put them back into the molds for 24 hours.
48 hours later, it is time to remove the cheeses from the molds and place them on wax paper or a paper towel whilst drying off the box.
Prepare your rack in the dry box.
Get each cheese and rub a thin layer of salt onto both ends of it. Be sure to wait a few minute between each end and then put each cheese into the box until they have all been salted.
Now close the lid on the box and place it in a space of 50-55F
Make sure you flip the cheeses every day and drain any whey in the bottom of the box.
The cheese will be ready to eat after 2 weeks of being in the box. If you are wanting to age them any longer, keep them in your cave with the lid ajar and make sure you flip them every day. Once you are ready to eat them, wrap them and place in the refrigerator. They’re best served at room temperature.
Dictionary Of Cheese
When it comes to forming your cheese plate, it is always advised to have a lot of variety. In terms of variety, it can mean many things- different flavors, textures and different milk types. In many circumstances, opposites attract, especially in cheese. Opposite flavors often complement each other. The best way to form your plate is just to experiment with different cheeses, you cannot go wrong.
You may be struggling to find inspiration for what cheeses to try for your plate so here is a dictionary list of some delicious cheeses to guide you along your way and ignite your senses like never before.
Adelegger
This cheese is made from raw cow’s milk and is originally produced in the Bavarian Alps. The flavor is nutty and savory with a hint of beef broth. This is definitely not and ordinary cheese and has a texture which is quite gritty.
Bijou
This goat’s milk cheese has a creamy texture. It comes from Vermont Creamery and has a strong tangy flavor. Bijou is often sold in pairs and is packed in certain packaging to ensure it keeps on aging even after leaving the creamery.
Clothbound Cheddar
Clothbound Cheddar is a crumbly cheese which dates back many years is definitely becoming more popular.With a sharp citrus flavor, there is no doubt that this cheese is a delicious winner.
Dorset
Rich in flavor, Dorset is a raw cow’s milk cheese which once produced, is washed in brine and aged until it is semi-firm.
Époisses
This cheese is extremely popular, being produced originally in Burgundy, France. This stinky delight is so creamy because it is washed in brandy. The meaty, salty flavors are really what makes this cheese unique.
Fontina Val d’Aosta
This creamy, buttery delight made from cow’s milk dates back to the middle ages and comes from the Italy Aosta Valley. Similar to many other Alpine kinds of cheese, it smells quite like grass even though its flavor is quite briny.
Grayson
If you’re a fan of breakfast foods like bacon and eggs, this is definitely the cheese for you. Grayson is a raw cow’s milk cheese which has meaty flavors and is made from a yellow paste similar to egg yolk. This cheese comes from Meadow Creek Dairy in Virginia.
Harbison
You won’t need a cheese knife for this one, more like a spoon. Wrapped in bark for a unique touch, this sweet cheese boasts delicious citrus and savory flavors. As for the texture, soft and creamy enough to spread, you won’t be disappointed.
Idiazabal
This cheese has an interesting background. A shepherd produced this cheese in a cabin in Spain a century ago. Made from sheep’s milk, the production method is like no other. Cheese wheels in the rafters would drink up smoke creating a rustic smokiness that will make your mouth water.
Juvindale
From New York’s Meadowood Farms, Juvindale is a smooth paste which is washed in local Riesling. Its flavors are very crème Fraiche like with tangy notes cutting through the meaty, fruity flavors. Juvindale is a fairly new cheese but tasty nonetheless.
Kunik
If you are looking for a rich, buttery cheese, Kunik is definitely the way to go. Made from goat’s and cow’s milk cream, enjoy this creamy cheese with salty notes.
Leonora
Originating from Spain, this gamy goat’s milk cheese has a dense texture to it. It is quite close and compact towards the center and a lot creamier towards the rind with flavors of pepper running through it.
Manchego
Another iconic Spanish cheese is Manchego. It is made from sheep’s milk and is a hard, aged cheese with flavors of toasted almond and roast mutton which will definitely keep you coming back for more!
Nuvola Di Pecora
The name of this cheese actually translates to “Sheep Cloud”, which will come no surprise to find that it is made from Sheep’s milk. It is an earthy, rich cheese with a spectacular neon-yellow color with gray mold. Not only is it deliciously rich, it is a rare style overall of cheese which is available in the U.S.
Ossau Iraty
Firm and buttery like a biscuit, this raw sheep’s milk cheese are from the Pyrenees of Southern France. The flavor is caramelized and nutty with subtle notes of tropical fruit and mint within the sweetness.
Parmigiano Reggiano
When it comes to cheese, why settle for anything less than a high quality, delicious, raw cow’s milk Parmigiano? The best way to make sure of quality is a reliable producer. For many generations, the Cravero family has crafted expert, high-quality wheels of grassy, nutty, mouth-watering cheese.
Quadrello Di Bufala
Leave behind your regular mozzarella and open up to the world of possibilities that comes along with Quadrello Di Bufala. Made from rich water buffalo milk, this cheese is brine-washed and tastes sweet and minerally.
Roquefort
One of the magnificent blue cheeses, Roquefort is rich with sheep’s milk, being produced in France it lays a silken foundation for pockets of mold full of spicy, fruity flavors.
Selles-Sur-Cher
From the Loire Valley, this goat’s milk cheese has ashed rind and a dense paste which is ripe with hazelnut and almond flavors. With intense mineral flavors, it may remind you of pennies or rocks you may have ‘accidentally’ tasted as a child.
Truffle Tremor
This is one of the finest truffle cheeses you can find. Made in Cypress Grove Chevre, the Italian black truffles are folded into a fluffy goat’s milk paste of Truffle Tremor. It is very mushroom like with earthy and tangy notes.
Up In Smoke
From Oregon’s River’s Edge Chevre lies the very foundation of a fresh goat’s cheese which is smoked and spritzed in Bourbon, maple leaves and then smoked completely. The result of this comes to a chevre whose intense smokiness is accompanied by tangy, lemony notes.
Valencay
With a unique pyramid shape which has seemingly lost its top comes an ashed goat’s milk cheese which is from the Loire Valley. It is very moist with and earthy freshness to it. It’s similar to the smell of your hands when you’ve been gardening all day.
Wilde Weide Gouda
Coming from a Dutch farmhouse, this flaky Gouda certainly exceeds expectations with its buttery and nutty, whiskey caramel flavors. The name of this cheese itself translates to “wild meadow” which makes sense because of the cows that graze all day in the meadows to provide the organic milk for this particular cheese.
X Murray’s Project X
With a collaboration between Vermont’s Spring Brook Farm and Manhattan mega-monger, Murray’s Cheese is quite a firm raw cow’s milk tomme which is crusted in fennel pollen and washed in Riesling.
Yarg
Yarg is a crumbly cheese made from cow’s milk. It is wrapped in nettle leaves from Lynher Dairies in West Cornwall, England. Lacy mold then develops on the leaves while the cheese ages, which in turn gives a mushroomy quality along with the citrusy notes of this firm cheese.
Zimbro
Zimbro is a signature cheese of Portugal. It is quite like pudding and is made from sheep’s milk. The cheese is quite sour and can most definitely be eaten with a spoon. Along with its unique name, it is also quite rustic and elegant. The aroma is very herbal and the flavors resemble Amaro. It is best to eat this cheese as a group as it is only sold as a whole.
Exploring Asian Cheeses
It is commonly assumed that cheese is popular all over the world, but that is not the case. It may be hard to imagine the world without cheese, but in many Asian countries, cheese is not a food with much cultural or culinary significance.
For example, in China, milk, and dairy products have been historically rare. The biggest reason behind this is the high rate of lactose intolerance, along with other reasons such as poor climate, and storage and transportation issues.
In this modern day, however, the technological advancements are changing times in Asia, enabling the cheese market to grow. One day, there might be a whole range of delicious cheeses available throughout Asia, but for now, let’s explore some varieties from current and notable Asian cheese-producing countries. These countries include the Philippines and India, and whether it is made from yak’s milk, blended with confections or enjoyed fresh, the cheese in Asia may be little, but they are unique nonetheless.
Philippines
Kesong Puti:
This cheese is also known as Filipino cottage cheese. It is a fresh cheese which is made from rennet, salt and unskimmed milk of carabao, which is a species of Southeast Asian water buffalo. Kesong Puti is a soft cheese which is white colored with salty, but sometimes sour flavors. Its origin is in the provinces of Laguna, Samar, Bulacan, Cebu and it remains fairly popular in those areas as a breakfast food. Common pairings with this cheese are a freshly baked piece of local bread called “pan de sal”.
India
Bandel (Bandal):
Bandel is a soft, unripened salted cheese which gets its name from the place it originates- Bandel. This cheese is made out of cow’s milk, and they use lemon juice to separate the curds from the whey. It is then shaped and drained into baskets and smoked. Bandel is sold in circular flats immediately after production and is fresh and aromatic because of that.
Paneer (Panir):
Perhaps the most well known of all the Asian cheese, this traditional cheese is semi-soft and made from cow’s milk. Traditionally used in Indian cuisine, the process of making Paneer does not involve rennet because cows are sacred to Hindus. It is also unaged, acid-set and is completely vegetarian. A lot of curry dishes include Paneer or it is wrapped in dough and fried for snacks because it is high in protein. The cheese is similar in texture to ricotta or tofu and acts as a perfect meat substitute for vegetarians.
Nepal and Tibet
Chhena (Chhana):
Commonly found in Nepal, Bangladesh, Chhena is a unripened, fresh curd cheese made from either water buffalo milk or cows milk. The process of crafting Chhena is similar to that of Italian ricotta, where the cheese is acid-coagulated. It is often used as a dessert cheese because it is very soft and smooth. Sweet desserts such as resgulla and semolina commonly include Chhena as an ingredient.
Tibet:
Tibet is crafted from yak’s milk. It is semi-hard and gets its name from the plateau region of Central Asia where it is made. The cheese is molded, pressed and dried in natural sun and wind. The taste is extremely strong.
Ragya Yak:
This unique cheese is crafted in Nepal by Tibetan nomads. It is an aged dri’s milk (female yak) cheese which is firm and slightly granular. The color is greenish-yellow and can be mild to medium in strength with flavors similar to goat’s milk Ibores cheese from Spain. There is only one time period of the year this cheese is made- from the end of June to early September. The aroma is mild and nutty with the rind offering just a hint of spice.
Japan
Sakura:
This soft cheese is produced on the island of Hokkaido and is the first widely acclaimed variety from the Asian country of Japan. It is so popular that it even won a gold medal at the Mountain Cheese Olympics in Switzerland. Sakura is creamy white with flavors of mountain cherry leaves, which is also where it gets its name from because Sakura translates from “cherry blossom” in Japenese.
The Wonderfully, Unique Cheeses Available At Shisler’s Cheese House!
Our fantastic Cheese House originally opened in 1958. Since then, we have come a long way and perfected our cheese to a high standard. The 2 main goals of our Cheese House have always been to provide wonderful local cheeses and gourmet foods to everyone, along with exceptional and friendly customer service.
We are currently owned and operated by the third generation of Shislers. We have 2 locations, the original being in Orrville, OH and the second being in Copley, OH. Because of our dedication of cheese and gourmet foods, we ship all throughout the United States and to over 30 different countries!
We have a wide selection of cheese, to your staple cheeses such as American Cheese and Swiss, to our more specialized, unique blends which we would love for you to try!
Here are some of our specialty cheeses:
Hot Pepper Cheese
Want to spice up your cheese plates? We have just the right cheese for the job! Our Hot Pepper Cheese has just the right amount of heat to make a perfect balance of flavor with a little extra kick! You have to try it to believe it!
Green Onion Cheese
We love to support local businesses and that doesn’t change when it comes to our cheese! Our Green Onion Cheese is made with all-natural 100% Ohio farm milk and real green onion. It contains no artificial growth hormones and is pasteurized processed cheese.
Bacon Cheese
Everyone loves bacon! Bacon and cheese make many appearances together in well-known dishes such as Chicken, Bacon Pasta Bakes, Salads, Casseroles and much more. It only made sense to make a Bacon Cheese! This cheese is mild orange cheddar which is infused with smoked bacon.
Beer Cheese
Beer Cheese is one of our Wisconsin Cheeses along with Brick, Muenster, Limburger and our American Cheeses. Our Beer Cheese is not to be mistaken for the popular Beer Cheese dips of Kentucky, it is a semi-soft combination of Limburger and Brick Cheese. The taste and smell are very strong and can be enjoyed with a nice cold glass of beer.
Chocolate Cheese
