Goat Cheese

Goat cheese also known as goat's milk cheese, goats' cheese or chèvre (French for goat) refers to the cheese made out of goat's milk. This cheese occurs in a large number of varieties and the mainly popular variety among them is a soft, simply spread cheese. Goat cheese can either be made with hard aged characteristics as well as semi firm cheeses such as feta. Goat cheese is particularly popular in the Middle East, Africa and other Mediterranean countries, where climate is sustainable for the hardy goats rather than cows which cannot be herded in such climatic conditions. Popular goat cheese recipes include - Herb Goat Cheese & Beet Salad, Goat Cheese Pesto, Goat cheese salad, Herb Goat Cheese & Beet Salad and Lentils And Goat Cheese Salad.

 



History of Goat Cheese

The origin of goat cheese goes back to the time when goats started getting domesticated. Goats happened to be one among the earliest animals to be domesticated. The practice started in the Eastern Mediterranean thousands of years ago, making way into Spain and France where it was well accepted. Greek historian Xenophon (430-355 B.C.) states that goat cheese had been familiar since centuries in Peloponnesus.

 



Culinary Uses of the Goat Cheese

Goat cheese is recommended for its medicinal properties. Normally goat milk is administered to young children, the elderly and people who are ill or for people with allergy to cows' milk. Goat cheese recipes are varied and different in flavour from that of the cow milk cheese. While the West has promoted the cow milk products, goat milk and goat cheese are much favoured dairy products in the other parts of the world. Goat cheese is treated and subsequently aged with more amounts of salt and is common in regions with insufficient cold conditions. Goat cheeses are often greatly treated with salt to thwart deteriorating. This is the reason for the cheese becoming infused with salt more so as in strongly salted feta.

 



Popular Goat Cheese Recipes

Herb Goat Cheese & Beet Salad is an appetizing recipe among goat cheese recipes that makes use of sliced beets with goat cheese.
Goat Cheese Pesto is one of goat cheese recipes that are simple to make using only garlic, onions and olive oil with the cheese.
Lentils And Goat Cheese Salad is a recipe rich in proteins chiefly with lentils, goat cheese and assorted vegetables.
Goat cheese salad is a simple bed of greens topped with warm breaded goat cheese, dried cranberries and walnuts.
Eggplant Tomato and Goat Cheese Sandwiches is one of the flavourful goat cheese recipes for making sandwiches.

 



Cuisines Using Goat Cheese


Goat cheese recipes are popular among many cuisines, particularly in Europe, Australia and China.
In France a great number of goat milk cheeses, particularly in the Loire Valley and Poitou, is manufactured.
In Spain and Portugal fresh cheese known as Mató is at times a fresh Catalan or goat cheese. Castelo Branco is a Portuguese variety of goat cheese.
In UK Pantysgawn is a Welsh goat cheese and gevrik is a Cornish goat cheese.
The Greek variety of feta, mizithra and anthotyros are typically made out of a mixture of goat's and sheep's milk.
In Italy, Caprino is an Italian goat cheese.
In China, Rubing is a fresh goat cheese made in Yunnan Province, similar to the Indian paneer.
In Australia, Buche Noir is a fresh goat cheese from Sydney region coated in fine vine ash.
In Venezuela, particularly in the states of Falcón, Lara and San Jose de Turgua in Miranda state, goat cheese is manufactured through traditional methods.

 



Preferable Cooking Methods for Goat Cheese Recipes

This cheese turns soft when revealed to heat; nevertheless, it refrains from melting – similar fashion in which many cow cheeses do. Stiffer goat cheeses with crusts are baked in an oven at times which results in forming a viscous, warm cheese that is perfect to be applied over bread with or without roasted garlic.

 



Nutritive Value of Goat Cheese

Goat cheese is a healthy form of cheese. It is much lower in fat content, calories and cholesterol as compared to cow’s milk products like cream cheese. It as well supplies additional calcium and lesser carbohydrates than cream cheese. This cheese has a full, rich and creamy flavour although containing less number of calories. It is rich in vitamin A and potassium.

 



Goat Cheese Buying and Storing Tips

Goat cheese lasts considerably longer and stays well when taken care of with respect to certain aspects. Excess contact to air can result in the cheese to dry out. Pieces must be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or wax paper or placed in a zip-style bag squeezing out all the air before closing. This cheese stays better when stored in the cheese drawer the refrigerator at 40°F.

 



Goat Cheese: Trivia

Goat Cheese pairs well with many wines including-Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir or Malbec.