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Difference between revisions of "Home-made Gorgonzola cheese"
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==Home-made Gorgonzola cheese - about this recipe== | ==Home-made Gorgonzola cheese - about this recipe== | ||
| − | I dare not call myself an expert as I have only made one blue [[Cheese|cheese]] before this attempt | + | I dare not call myself an expert as I have only made one blue [[Cheese|cheese]] before this attempt; however, I know what I like! |
The beauty of making your own [[Cheese|cheese]] is that you can get it exactly to your liking. Add extra [[Cream|cream]] and don't press the cheese too hard and you will obtain a wonderfully gooey blue cheese, akin to [[Saint Agur Blue cheese]]. I also found that with a gooey-runny blue cheese, you need more than one piercing session to assist the veining as the holes tend to 'heal-up', with it being so soft. | The beauty of making your own [[Cheese|cheese]] is that you can get it exactly to your liking. Add extra [[Cream|cream]] and don't press the cheese too hard and you will obtain a wonderfully gooey blue cheese, akin to [[Saint Agur Blue cheese]]. I also found that with a gooey-runny blue cheese, you need more than one piercing session to assist the veining as the holes tend to 'heal-up', with it being so soft. | ||
| − | '''Follow-up notes''': This has turned out | + | '''Follow-up notes''': This has turned out to be a nice cheese. Not overly soft, but it has a very smooth creamy texture with a softer flavour than my [[Home-made Stilton-type cheese]]. |
| + | |||
===Servings=== | ===Servings=== | ||
Makes 1 kg of Gorgonzola | Makes 1 kg of Gorgonzola | ||
| + | |||
===Ingredients=== | ===Ingredients=== | ||
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'''Prepare the [[Penicillium Roqueforti]] mould culture''' | '''Prepare the [[Penicillium Roqueforti]] mould culture''' | ||
# [[Boil]] a little water and allow to go cold. | # [[Boil]] a little water and allow to go cold. | ||
| − | # Pour | + | # Pour 150 ml of the cold, [[Sterilised|sterilised]] water into a lidded container. |
# Whisk up a small amount of [[freeze dried Penicillium Roquefortii]] (see picture) into the cold, [[Boiled|boiled]] water so the powder is held in suspension. | # Whisk up a small amount of [[freeze dried Penicillium Roquefortii]] (see picture) into the cold, [[Boiled|boiled]] water so the powder is held in suspension. | ||
# Cover and [[Refrigerate|refrigerate]] for up to 24 hours - use within 3 days | # Cover and [[Refrigerate|refrigerate]] for up to 24 hours - use within 3 days | ||
'''Setting the [[Curds|curds]]''' | '''Setting the [[Curds|curds]]''' | ||
| − | # Using a [[Double boiler|double boiler]] | + | # Using a [[Double boiler|double boiler]] pre-warmed to 30° C, add the cold [[Pasteurised|pasteurised]] [[Milk|milk]] and slowly bring the milk temperature to 30° |
# Whisk the [[DVI starter]] into a little of the warm [[Milk|milk]] and re-introduce the milk suspension to the boiler. | # Whisk the [[DVI starter]] into a little of the warm [[Milk|milk]] and re-introduce the milk suspension to the boiler. | ||
# Pour the [[Penicillium Roquefortii mould culture]] into the warm [[Milk|milk]]. Whisk to mix. Cover with a clean [[Tea-towel|tea-towel]] and leave for 30 minutes. | # Pour the [[Penicillium Roquefortii mould culture]] into the warm [[Milk|milk]]. Whisk to mix. Cover with a clean [[Tea-towel|tea-towel]] and leave for 30 minutes. | ||
# Add 1ml of [[Rennet|rennet]] to 1 tablespoon of cold, previously [[Boiled|boiled]] water, mix well and add to the [[Milk|milk]]. | # Add 1ml of [[Rennet|rennet]] to 1 tablespoon of cold, previously [[Boiled|boiled]] water, mix well and add to the [[Milk|milk]]. | ||
# Whisk to mix, cover and leave in a warm place (about 22° C) until the [[curd]] sets - this may take 2 to 3 hours. | # Whisk to mix, cover and leave in a warm place (about 22° C) until the [[curd]] sets - this may take 2 to 3 hours. | ||
| − | # Cut the [[curds]] | + | # Cut the [[curds]] into 2.5 cm cubes and leave for 30 minutes, this help to produce a strong cheese. |
#After 30 minutes, drain as much [[whey]] as you can. Because this is '''so''' creamy, it is not as easy as thinner [[curds]] so most of the draining has to be done in [[cheesecloth]]-lined [[colanders]]. | #After 30 minutes, drain as much [[whey]] as you can. Because this is '''so''' creamy, it is not as easy as thinner [[curds]] so most of the draining has to be done in [[cheesecloth]]-lined [[colanders]]. | ||
| − | # Ladle all of the cut curds | + | # Ladle all of the cut curds into a cheesecloth lined [[colander]] to drain. Leave until they have reduced by 50%. This may take up to 4 hours. |
| − | # Pack the curds into one [[cheesecloth]] lined mould and allow to drain for 2 days at about 24°, turning often | + | # Pack the curds into one [[cheesecloth]] lined mould and allow to drain for 2 days at about 24°, turning often, preferably somewhere with a very high humidity (90%). A [[Chinese steamer]] makes a very good cheese mould, though it does need lining first. |
# I want a gooey cheese so I don't want to press too much liquid out of it. The weight of a bottle of wine seems to do this admirably. Turn the cheese regularly. | # I want a gooey cheese so I don't want to press too much liquid out of it. The weight of a bottle of wine seems to do this admirably. Turn the cheese regularly. | ||
# Once the cheese has firmed up a little, remove from the cheesecloth and rub the surfaces with salt. | # Once the cheese has firmed up a little, remove from the cheesecloth and rub the surfaces with salt. | ||
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# Leave to mature for as long as you can bear! A wooden or wicker plate is good for this as it won't make the cheese sweat. The ideal conditions are 10° C at 90% humidity. Turn daily if you can remember. | # Leave to mature for as long as you can bear! A wooden or wicker plate is good for this as it won't make the cheese sweat. The ideal conditions are 10° C at 90% humidity. Turn daily if you can remember. | ||
===Chef's notes=== | ===Chef's notes=== | ||
| − | Don't worry about | + | Don't worry about how much 'extra' water that you are adding through the various stages because as soon as the cheese separates, it will just be become part of the [[whey]] and then discarded. |
[[Category:Recipes]] | [[Category:Recipes]] | ||
Revision as of 13:55, 27 July 2010
Home-made Gorgonzola cheese - about this recipe
I dare not call myself an expert as I have only made one blue cheese before this attempt; however, I know what I like!
The beauty of making your own cheese is that you can get it exactly to your liking. Add extra cream and don't press the cheese too hard and you will obtain a wonderfully gooey blue cheese, akin to Saint Agur Blue cheese. I also found that with a gooey-runny blue cheese, you need more than one piercing session to assist the veining as the holes tend to 'heal-up', with it being so soft.
Follow-up notes: This has turned out to be a nice cheese. Not overly soft, but it has a very smooth creamy texture with a softer flavour than my Home-made Stilton-type cheese.
Servings
Makes 1 kg of Gorgonzola
Ingredients
- 4 litres full cream milk
- 1.2 litre double cream
- A little DVI starter (see picture)
- Freeze dried Penicillium Roquefortii (see picture)
- 2 ml rennet
- sea salt. Use absolutely no more than 2% salt to total weight of cheese.
Mise en place
Sterilise all equipment
Method
Prepare the Penicillium Roqueforti mould culture
- Boil a little water and allow to go cold.
- Pour 150 ml of the cold, sterilised water into a lidded container.
- Whisk up a small amount of freeze dried Penicillium Roquefortii (see picture) into the cold, boiled water so the powder is held in suspension.
- Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours - use within 3 days
Setting the curds
- Using a double boiler pre-warmed to 30° C, add the cold pasteurised milk and slowly bring the milk temperature to 30°
- Whisk the DVI starter into a little of the warm milk and re-introduce the milk suspension to the boiler.
- Pour the Penicillium Roquefortii mould culture into the warm milk. Whisk to mix. Cover with a clean tea-towel and leave for 30 minutes.
- Add 1ml of rennet to 1 tablespoon of cold, previously boiled water, mix well and add to the milk.
- Whisk to mix, cover and leave in a warm place (about 22° C) until the curd sets - this may take 2 to 3 hours.
- Cut the curds into 2.5 cm cubes and leave for 30 minutes, this help to produce a strong cheese.
- After 30 minutes, drain as much whey as you can. Because this is so creamy, it is not as easy as thinner curds so most of the draining has to be done in cheesecloth-lined colanders.
- Ladle all of the cut curds into a cheesecloth lined colander to drain. Leave until they have reduced by 50%. This may take up to 4 hours.
- Pack the curds into one cheesecloth lined mould and allow to drain for 2 days at about 24°, turning often, preferably somewhere with a very high humidity (90%). A Chinese steamer makes a very good cheese mould, though it does need lining first.
- I want a gooey cheese so I don't want to press too much liquid out of it. The weight of a bottle of wine seems to do this admirably. Turn the cheese regularly.
- Once the cheese has firmed up a little, remove from the cheesecloth and rub the surfaces with salt.
- Regularly turn and salt the cheese for another 3 days, a total of 5 days from the start of draining.
- Use a sterilised skewer to pierce the cheese to allow the mould to form. (See picture)
- Leave to mature for as long as you can bear! A wooden or wicker plate is good for this as it won't make the cheese sweat. The ideal conditions are 10° C at 90% humidity. Turn daily if you can remember.
Chef's notes
Don't worry about how much 'extra' water that you are adding through the various stages because as soon as the cheese separates, it will just be become part of the whey and then discarded.
