Randy Chandler
Making cheese at home is a fun and rewarding experience, and the ability to experiment with different flavours is a big part of the appeal. While cheese is delicious, its flavour can become stale over time. Fortunately, there are many ways to enhance the taste of homemade cheese, from infusing the milk with dried mushrooms, saffron, or coriander, to adding herbs, spices, dried fruits, or mushrooms to the curds. Soft cheeses, such as cream cheese, blend well with fresh herbs and can be used in grilled cheese sandwiches, as icing for carrot cake, or even as a dessert. The possibilities are endless, so let your creativity shine!
How to Flavor Homemade Cheese
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Cheese | Soft cheese, Queso Fresco, Ricotta cheese |
| Flavor | Sweet, Savory, Spicy |
| Ingredients | Herbs, Spices, Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts, Extracts |
| Temperature | Hotter than usual (198 degrees) |
| Milk | Non-homogenized/cream-on-top milk, homogenized whole milk |
| Additives | Fruit preserves, Salt, Almonds, Vanilla extract, Chocolate |
| Dippers | Water crackers, Pretzels, Bagels, Apple slices, Strawberries, Chocolate-covered graham crackers |
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What You'll Learn
- Using herbs, spices, dried fruits, or mushrooms
- Infusing milk with dried mushrooms, saffron, or coriander
- Adding sweet ingredients like fruit preserves, chocolate, or vanilla extract
- Pairing with dippers like pretzels, bagels, or apple slices
- Making a basic recipe and choosing to flavour with sweet or savoury ingredients
Using herbs, spices, dried fruits, or mushrooms
Homemade cheese can be flavoured with a variety of herbs, spices, dried fruits, or mushrooms. One way to add flavour is to infuse the milk with spices, such as coriander and orange peel, or saffron, as in Saffron-infused Manchego. You can also add herbs to the curds, like chives in Farmhouse Chive Cheddar, dill in Dill Havarti, or mint in Halloumi with Mint. When infusing milk with spices, it is important to stir occasionally to ensure the spices are in good contact with the milk and not settling at the bottom of the container. The milk usually takes around 30-45 minutes to heat up, which should be enough time to infuse the spices.
Another option is to add dried fruit to your cheese. You can make your own dried fruit at home by drying fruit slices in the oven at a low temperature, such as 170°F. Apples and pears cut into wedges are a nice addition to a cheese board. However, be aware that oven-dried fruit can take on a "cooked" flavour. Alternatively, you can use a dehydrator, which can handle a larger volume and enhances moisture removal.
If you're feeling adventurous, you can even try making mushroom-infused cheese, such as Mushroom-infused Camembert. Or, if you're looking for a more savoury option, you can make cheese-stuffed mushrooms using your favourite type of cheese, such as sharp white cheddar, and breadcrumbs.
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Infusing milk with dried mushrooms, saffron, or coriander
When it comes to infusing milk with dried mushrooms, the process typically involves rehydrating the mushrooms in warm water before adding them to the milk. This helps to release the mushrooms' flavours and makes it easier to blend them into the milk. The milk can then be used to make a variety of soft cheeses, such as fromage blanc or cream cheese.
For saffron, a valuable and prized spice, it is common to infuse it in warmed ghee or milk. In Iranian culture, saffron is used for a wide spectrum of health needs, and it is believed to have warming, bitter, and antispasmodic qualities. When added to milk, it transforms it into a deep golden yellow colour, and the aromatics from the saffron create a floral and ethereal taste. This saffron-infused milk can then be used as a base for a variety of soft cheeses.
Coriander is another herb that can be used to infuse milk and add flavour to homemade cheese. Coriander has a distinct flavour profile characterised by its citrusy and herbal notes. When adding coriander to milk, it is typically done in seed form, crushed or powdered, and added to warm milk. This infusion can then be used to make a variety of soft cheeses, adding a unique twist to your creations.
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Adding sweet ingredients like fruit preserves, chocolate, or vanilla extract
Vanilla extract is another great way to add a sweet flavour to your homemade cheese. You can make your own vanilla extract by splitting vanilla bean pods in half and letting them soak in alcohol for at least two months. The flavour will get better with time as the extract gets darker. You can add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to your cheese mixture.
Chocolate is another sweet ingredient that can be added to your homemade cheese. You can grate or chop up your favourite chocolate and mix it into your cheese mixture. You can also use chocolate as a coating for your cheese. For example, you can make chocolate-covered cheese crackers or graham crackers.
Additionally, you can get creative and use other sweet ingredients to flavour your homemade cheese. For example, you can add a quarter cup of honey, a teaspoon of cinnamon, and a teaspoon of nutmeg to your cheese mixture. You can also make a spinach dip by mixing cream cheese with chopped spinach, minced garlic, and sour cream. This can be served with raw veggies, crackers, or bread slices.
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Pairing with dippers like pretzels, bagels, or apple slices
When it comes to pairing homemade cheese with dippers like pretzels, bagels, or apple slices, there are numerous options to explore. A classic and comforting choice is to make a pretzel cheese dip. This can be done by creating a cheese sauce, using a double boiler to melt shredded cheese, and keeping it warm in a mini crockpot or slow cooker. The type of cheese is key, with stronger, bolder cheeses like sharp cheddar, white cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Pepper Jack recommended for maximum flavour. For a fun twist, you can substitute milk with beer in the recipe, creating a beer cheese dip. This pairs well with soft pretzels, pretzel bites, or homemade bagel chips.
For those who enjoy a bit of spice, adding freshly cracked black pepper and a sprinkling of paprika on top of the dip can provide a kick, as well as a nice colour. If you're looking for a more substantial snack, you can top the pretzels with everything but the bagel seasoning or sesame seeds before baking. For a lighter option, you can use a variety of vegetables as dippers, including broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, or celery. Fruits like sliced green apples or pears can also provide a nice balance of sweetness to the cheese dip.
If you're a fan of soft pretzel bites, you can easily make them at home. The dough only needs about 10 minutes to come together, and then you can shape and bake the pretzel bites, sprinkling a bit of salt or everything bagel seasoning on top. These bites are perfect for dunking into your cheese dip. You can also get creative and experiment with different types of dippers, such as tortilla chips, baguette slices, or even baby red potatoes.
When it comes to drinks, pairing your cheese dip with a light beer like an ale, pilsner, or IPA can enhance the flavours. For a stronger beer flavour, you could opt for a darker beer, but be aware that very strong beers might overpower the cheese and seasonings. With so many options to choose from, you can easily customise your homemade cheese and dipper pairings to suit your taste preferences.
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Making a basic recipe and choosing to flavour with sweet or savoury ingredients
Making cheese at home is an exciting and experimental process. While the ideal milk for cheesemaking is non-homogenized/cream-on-top milk, you can make great-tasting cheese at home using standard homogenized whole milk. Soft cheeses are some of the simplest cheese recipes, making them perfect for beginners, but simple doesn't have to mean boring!
A basic recipe for homemade cheese includes only three ingredients and can be used to make queso fresco, Mexican queso fresco, and ricotta cheese. Once you have mastered the basic recipe, you can experiment with different flavourings.
Soft cheeses blend well with fresh herbs, and you can add just about any flavour of your choice to the basic Jack Cheese. For example, you could make Farmhouse Chive Cheddar, Dill Havarti, or Halloumi with Mint. You can also add flavour in a more subtle way by infusing the milk with dried mushrooms, saffron, dried lavender, coriander, or other ingredients before making the curds.
If you prefer sweet flavours, you can add a hint of sweetness to soft cheese to make a creamy, rich dessert. You could stir in 1/2 cup of your choice of flavoured fruit preserves, or add 1/4 cup chopped almonds, 2 tsp almond extract, and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Serve with apple slices, strawberries, and chocolate-covered graham crackers. You could also try using your soft cheese as icing for carrot cake, or topped with homemade jam.
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Frequently asked questions
You can flavour your homemade cheese by adding herbs, spices, dried fruits, or mushrooms to the curds. You can also add ingredients such as dried mushrooms, saffron, dried lavender, coriander, or other ingredients to the milk before making the curds for a more subtle flavour.
Some examples of flavoured cheeses are Farmhouse Chive Cheddar, Dill Havarti, and Halloumi with Mint.
The ideal milk for cheesemaking is non-homogenized/cream-on-top milk, but you can also use standard homogenized whole milk.
Surround your flavoured cheese with dippers such as water crackers, pretzels, or mini-bagels. You can also add toppings such as homemade jam or fresh herbs.
Stir in 1/2 cup of your choice of flavoured fruit preserves. You can also add 1/4 cup chopped almonds, 2 tsp. almond extract, and 1 tsp. vanilla extract.
