What Does Goat Cheese Taste Like?

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Goat Cheese is a versatile cheese, and in this article, we will thoroughly discuss different aspects of Goat cheese, such as what it tastes like?

How can you cook it? Does it have any health benefits etc.?

In addition, we will also go through some queries related to Goat cheese that will you be clearer about how you should eat and cook Goat Cheese.

What Is A Goat Cheese?

Goat cheese, also referred to as Chevre (French Word), is made from goat milk.

Goats were among the first animal groups that were domesticated for food.

Goat cheese is made in many parts of the world and is used in many recipes.

There are also many versions of Goat cheese, such as hard, soft, or Aged Goat Cheese.

What Does Goat Cheese Taste Like?

Goat cheese has a tart and earthy flavor, and the fatty acids in the Goat’s milk give the cheese a strong odor.

The cheese also has slight bitterness notes, but the flavor usually depends on how manufacturing process of the cheese.

The cheese has an intense flavor in its youth and a spreadable texture.

As the cheese ages, it will become firm, and its consistency becomes crumbly.

How Is Goat Cheese Made?

Here is how Goat cheese is made:

Step 1 – Getting The Milk

Some manufacturers source the milk from other farms, while others gather it from their goats.

Step 2 – Unpasteurized or Pasteurized

Some manufacturers pasteurize their milk, and others don’t.

In the United States, cheese produced from raw milk has a shelf life of about 60 days.

Fresh Chevre (Age of < 60) is always made of pasteurized milk.

Step 3 – Acidification

Starter culture is mixed into the milk to change the milk sugar (lactose) into lactic acid and the milk’s acidity levels.

This process turns the milk into thick curds.

Then, rennet is added to the milk, which forms the curds.

If you are making Goat cheese at home, you can make the cheese without rennet.

Step 4 – Separating Whey And Curds

For soft cheeses, such as fresh Goat cheese, the curds are usually wrapped in cheesecloth and hung from a hook so that the curds can release the moisture.

For other types of cheeses, the curds are typically cut using a sharp tool or a knife.

Pressing and cutting the curds enables them to expel whey or liquid.

Soft milk cheeses are typically cut into large curds, while hard milk cheeses are cut into small curds to drain their moisture.

Step 5 – Process Of Salting

In this process, flavors are added to the Goat cheese.

The flavors act as preservatives.

Step 6 – Process Of Shaping

The Goat cheese curds are placed in some type of shape or form, such as a ring, basket, or mold, to form a shape.

There are many shapes and forms of fresh Goat cheese, such as pyramids, crottins, pucks, and logs.

Hard or semi-hard Goat cheese is typically sold in wheels.

Step 7 – Process Of Ripening

Fresh Goat cheese only ripens for a few weeks.

However, other types of Goat cheese can ripen for months.

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How Do You Cook Goat Cheese?

Here is how you can cook Goat cheese:

Baked Goat Cheese Balls (16 Balls)

Ingredients

Panko Bread Crumbs: 63.4 grams (1 Cup)
Goat Cheese Logs: 224 grams (28 ounces)
Eggs: 2
Cooking Spray

Method

Cut the Goat cheese log into 8 portions, turning them into balls.

Take one cheese log, cut it into quarters, and slice each in half.

Repeat the process with other portions of the cheese log, and then roll all 16 slices between your hands and form them into a ball-like shape.

You can also do the slicing with the help of a butter knife.

If you don’t like cheese balls, you can bake the shape in a disc-like shape.

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk a pair of eggs.

Beat the eggs until they are well blended.

This process should only take 30 seconds.

Ensure the bowl is large so you can easily dip the cheese slices into the egg.

Then, pour Panko (1 Cup/63.4 grams) into a separate bowl.

Dip the cheese balls into the eggs and then the breadcrumbs.

The eggs will enable the breadcrumbs to stick to the cheese easily.

Transfer the breaded cheese balls to a baking pan, and ensure the pan is lined with parchment paper.

In the freezer, chill the Goat cheese balls for about half an hour.

This will ensure that the cheese won’t completely melt when you bake it.

The parchment paper will also help you easily do the cleanup and prevent the cheese from sticking to the baking pan.

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Preheat the oven to a temperature of 218 Degrees Celsius (425 Degrees Fahrenheit) while the cheese balls are in the freezer.

Let the oven heat up for 10 to 15 minutes.

Preheating the oven is necessary because it will give you a consistent baking temperature.

Then, take the cheese balls out of the freezer and spray some cooking spray on the balls.

Once the cheeseballs are chilled, take the baking sheet or pan out of the freezer and lightly coat the cheese balls.

Olive oil spray has a good flavor, but you can use any time of spray.

Put the cheese balls in the center rack of the oven, and bake for around 8 minutes.

However, check the balls after 6 minutes; if the breadcrumbs are not done, let the balls cook for 2 minutes, and then take the baking pan out of the oven.

Please use a mitt to take the baking pan out of the oven.

If you are baking cheese discs instead of cheeseballs, you will only need to bake the cheese for 5 to 6 minutes.

Transfer the warm cheese balls to a plate and let them cool down.

What Do You Eat Goat Cheese With?

Here is how you can eat Goat cheese:

Pizza Topping

You can add Goat cheese on top of your favorite pizza and other delicious ingredients.

Salads

Salads are one of the best ways of eating Goat cheese; in restaurants, most salads come with Goat cheese.

The Goat cheese is the perfect balance to a crunchy nut or a roasted vegetable.

Herbs

You can also marinate Goat cheese into herbs.

To do this, roll Goat cheese in dried or fresh herbs, and let it settle down in olive oil.

You can also add this mixture to a pasta dish or a sandwich.

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Is Goat Cheese Good For You?

The heart-healthy fats, minerals, and vitamins in Goat cheese improve health in many ways.

For instance, copper can aid in producing red blood cells, which carry the oxygen from the lungs to other tissues in the body.

Copper also aids in absorbing nutrients such as iron.

Goat Cheese is rich in riboflavin, which is also called Vitamin B2.

Riboflavin is essential for the human body, as it aids in several body processes, especially cell production and proper functioning.

Goat cheese can also aid in weight loss, as the fatty acids in the cheese metabolize faster than the acids in cow’s milk cheese, filling your stomach up faster.

Conclusion

This article thoroughly discusses Goat cheese; we now know how healthy it is, what it tastes like, how it is made etc.

Hopefully, this article will give you clarity and inspire you to make Goat cheese a regular part of your diet.

Sources:

Recommended Reading:

What Does Goat Cheese Taste Like?

What Is A Goat Cheese?

What Does Goat Cheese Taste Like?