Soft cheese is traditionally considered one of the most beloved among consumers around the world. Adding to his popularity is the fact that repeating his original recipe at home is quite simple even without special skills for this.
The main secret of the product is a specific creamy taste, which is achieved by adding cream to milk. Special bacteria and enzymes useful for the digestive tract are also sent there. Compared to hard solutions, soft analogues are famous for their more liquid, but no less homogeneous consistency.
How to choose the right one?
Today, almost every nationality has in stock branded recipes for such goodies, which are highly valued due to their nutritional value. At the same time, all existing standard versions can be divided into two broad camps, which mean fresh products and with a crust. In the second case, these will most likely be delicacies with white mold or shells of a different color, but also formed by moldy mushrooms. Bree is a bright representative of the exquisite group.
The production of moldy delights requires great skill and strict adherence to established instructions. The technological process here is based on the exclusion of the stage of using the press. But the technology provides for additional heating of the semi-finished curd mass in order to achieve the desired texture when cut. But even variations with mold obey the standards specified by GOST.
According to the world classification, there are only three main varieties of soft varieties. They provide rennet, acid and rennet-acid combinations. But, regardless of the variety, it will be made from pasteurized milk with the involvement of a special sourdough. The result is a mass whose moisture index is much higher than a solid analogue can offer. Its level ranges from 50% to 65%.
If the consumer does not want to bother with what to make a homemade delicacy, then the doors of specialized cheese departments of supermarkets are open to him. Only the products here must be chosen with double care. Especially in situations where you plan to purchase a moldy head.
It is important to pay attention to the consistency, which must remain soft and even a little loose. If a slice issued for tasting smells unpleasant, then this does not mean that the product is spoiled. The most important thing is that the purchase does not have an ammonia aftertaste or smell.
Regardless of the name of the replenishment in the refrigerator, it is worth remembering that these types of cheeses spoil much faster than all other varieties. Some dishonest sellers take advantage of the ignorance of buyers and offer them a slightly spoiled mass, pre-sorted into plastic packaging. If Ricotta or a similar treat was cut in a store without the presence of a client, this should raise doubts.
In order for a white milk delight to please with a richness of taste, you should definitely study the composition on the label. If there are at least some impurities, such as food additives in the form of an emulsifier or dye, then this is a reason to return the package back to the display case.
After the curd-like purchases have arrived at home, they should immediately be placed in the refrigerator for later storage. Moreover, the temperature there should be maintained no higher than 8 degrees.
It is necessary to eat the acquisition in the next few days, otherwise the product will deteriorate, and the taste characteristics will become far from the original ones. In order to be on time, some enterprising hostesses not only feed the family with cheese in its pure form, but also add it to a vegetable salad. It will be delicious if you prepare a vegetable mixture in advance, and then put it into pita bread with cubes of cheese. It remains only to bake the workpiece in the oven, sending only five to ten minutes. This will allow the creamy filling inside to melt a little.
As soon as the package of cheese is opened, it should be immediately transferred to a plastic food container to reduce the rate of drying of the pulp. If there was no box at hand, then the goat cheese is wrapped in parchment paper and also sent to the refrigerator.
If a pickled soft cheese like Mozzarella was bought, then it should generally be stored in a jar, where a special “native” liquid is poured. If cheese makers have prepared Mozzarella on their own, then they will know how to make the right liquid to prolong the shelf life. Rather, they simply will not pour the formed whey into the sewer.
Composition and use
Any high-quality milk product is famous for helping restore bone health. This is facilitated by the high content of relevant minerals and trace elements. An additional advantage that the cottage cheese delicacy received is the presence of a large dosage of ascorbic acid.
It is her doctors who prescribe to patients to support immunity during the season of colds, because it is vitamin C that acts as a reliable shield for weakened immunity. It will not be possible to find stocks of ascorbic acid in pharmacy products, but if you simply add Italian soft cheese from trusted manufacturers to the table every day.
Also, an unusual lifesaver for the body will please with the presence of B vitamins. They are considered the main helpers of the nervous system of a person who suffers from constant:
- stress
- insomnia;
- tiredness.
The French delicacy is especially useful for those who are forced to face daily work in terms of active mental activity. Such people are obliged to constantly be in a state of strong concentration, which depletes the nervous system and brain cells.
Soft cheese products can boast of the presence of sulfur. It is responsible for the constant maintenance of water and electrolyte balance. If it is seriously disturbed, then the cells will no longer receive the nutrients necessary for normal functioning.
Real Kaymak is advised to eat for those who complain about the fragility of bones, teenagers and the elderly. In all of the above, the risks of fractures increase many times, since they may lack not only calcium, but also phosphorus.
And potassium, which is also present in the composition, will help people suffering from various deviations in the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Magnesium will add strength to the heart muscle.
If we collect all the microelements present in such a specific preparation for the cream together, then with regular consumption they will be able to please with shifts in terms of:
- improvement of the skin;
- restoration of vision;
- normalization of metabolism.
Nutritionists note that all soft types have a sustained vitamin and mineral composition, which is formed around a protein content sufficient for the daily norm along with healthy fats.
You should also not discount the essential amino acids, which occupy about 40% in the finished product. This percentage includes the following vital amino acids:
- histidine;
- lysine;
- valine;
- threonine;
- phenylalanine.
Almost the same amount falls on fatty acids. The main representatives in this group are the following acids:
- myristic;
- capric;
- linolenic;
- linoleic;
- oleic.
Against this background, it seems that the composition should simply be packed to the eyeballs with carbohydrates, but in reality their percentage is only a modest 1%. Some people who pay special attention to the cardiovascular system may be surprised by the presence of cholesterol here. But an experienced cardiologist will tell you what kind of cheese contains the so-called healthy cholesterol, which is not deposited on the vascular walls.
Another trump card that Adyghe cheese and the like have hidden is fat-soluble vitamins. They account for approximately 18%. This allows you to squeeze in a fairly large percentage of the following utilities:
- beta-carotene;
- tocopherol;
- retinol;
- cholecalciferol.
Despite the stereotype that processed cheese is the first step towards obesity, this is not entirely true. It’s one thing when it comes to purchased cheese, which contains many dubious food additives. It is completely different – a product created by oneself without synthetic additives, or a purchased product from a trusted manufacturer.
These goodies go well on sandwiches. And if the eater turned out to be a supporter of a healthy lifestyle, then he can eat simple salads, which include a dairy ingredient and tomatoes. For taste, you can add a little olive oil with herbs. Experts note that the Lithuanian look and classic Mozzarella are distinguished by low fat content. The hostesses got used to putting the last one even in a covered type pie, or sprinkle pizza on top.
If you want to ease the load on the digestive tract, then you should focus on Camembert or Brie. You can’t do without soft additions to the table if there is someone in the family who suffers:
- vision problems;
- tuberculosis;
- anemia.
Exquisite Mascarpone will help to cope with increased physical exertion, which is typical for athletes. It will not hurt and destabilize the metabolism.
Separately, all allergy sufferers will be pleased with the fact that the soft original cheese is hypoallergenic if it was made only from goat’s milk. It remains only to adhere to the daily dosage of no more than 120 grams for an adult and 50 grams for children.
Additional tips
If you adhere to these standards, then everything will be in order in the absence of individual intolerance to individual components. Therefore, all doubters need to carefully read on the label not only the name of the variety they like, but also what the authors put there.
Also, nutritionists insist that Philadelphia is not the best solution for losing weight. A small piece can only be used as a reward, but occasionally.
There are several significant contraindications for eating soft cheeses, which should be clarified with your doctor. So, people with certain diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, with high cholesterol or atherosclerosis, should not lean on delicacies of this type. Also beware of hypertension.
And for pregnant women and young children, it is better to postpone the tasting of moldy varieties, since it is not clear how the body will react. Another warning was the advice of doctors who forbid eating sheep cheese to those who suffer from diseases of the liver and pancreas.
Everyone else, adhering to the norms of daily consumption, can enjoy the treat for their own pleasure. Some cheese lovers are so imbued with their favorite product that they manage to use delicate creamy variations for the cake. Moreover, this will not seem strange to taste even to those who initially treated such a strange combination with suspicion.
But much more often soft types are served as part of cheese plates before a direct meal to warm up the appetite of the audience. No less often, cooks add them to the compositions of sauces, soups, pates and casseroles. The flight of fancy here is limited only by the presence of certain ingredients in the refrigerator.
But if the eater does not want to mess around with rolls or mushroom dressings, then you can always taste delicious food in its purest form. To do this, you just need to prepare a glass of dry or semi-dry white wine in advance. Soft gifts are combined with red wine, champagne. Those who do not drink alcohol will enjoy the fresh combination with fruits like pears, peaches, figs, raisins. Add basil and nuts to this, and you get almost food worthy of the Greek gods with minimal effort to set the table and collect ingredients in the refrigerator.