Making Hard Cheese with Milk Kefir is a handy bit of knowledge. Milk Kefir Cheese is very healthy and adds good bacteria to your gut. Eat it on bread, cream crackers and more.
Here is the list of Ingredients:
- 1 cup milk kefir
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup lemon juice or vinegar
- Cheesecloth or muslin cloth
- Heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven
- Colander
- Weight (such as a can of beans or a brick)
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine the milk kefir, salt, and lemon juice or vinegar. Stir until well combined.
- Line a colander with cheesecloth or muslin cloth. Pour the kefir mixture into the colander.
- Gather the edges of the cheesecloth or muslin cloth and tie it together to form a pouch.
- Place the pouch in a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven. Fill the pot with enough water to come halfway up the sides of the pouch.
- Bring the water to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is firm.
- Remove the pouch from the pot and let it cool completely.
- Once the cheese is cool, remove it from the cheesecloth or muslin cloth.
- Cut the cheese into desired shapes and sizes.
- Store the cheese in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Tips:
- For a smoother cheese, strain the kefir mixture for 30 minutes before adding the salt and lemon juice or vinegar.
- To make a flavoured cheese, add herbs, spices, or other flavourings to the kefir mixture before adding the salt and lemon juice or vinegar.
- To make a soft cheese, simmer the cheese for 15-20 minutes, or until it is soft but still holds its shape.
Troubleshooting:
- If the cheese is too soft, simmer it for a longer period of time.
- If the cheese is too hard, reduce the amount of time it is simmered.
- If the cheese is crumbly, add more milk or cream to the kefir mixture before adding the salt and lemon juice or vinegar.
There are hundreds of recipes on the internet that will teach you how to make cheese. These can be adapted for milk Kefir. If you have access to raw milk you will find that your cheese is much tastier and more healthy.
If you have a recipe for milk kefir cheese or other milk kefir products, please add it to the comments section below. I will be happy to publish it with acknowledgements.