How to Make Gouda Cheese

Heating the milk to a certain degree and then curdling is the process of making any type of cheese. The same applies for Gouda cheese which is made from cow's milk. This cheese is yellow in color and is sweet to taste. The name for this cheese originates from a city in southern Holland - Gouda. This cheese can be easily made at home and when added to any recipe, it renders its sweet flavor thus enhancing the taste of the dish. The best thing is you can make this cheese at home and store it till further use. This will save you the trip of going to the food store every time you need this cheese.

Making Gouda Cheese at Home

Gouda cheese can be made easily at home and tastes as great as the original from Netherlands. Just follow these instructions and you will get this Dutch cheese in no time.

Ingredients Required

• Whole milk, 2 gallons
• Mesophilic starter culture, 5 oz.
• Rennet tablet, 1¼
• Salt, 1½ cup
• Water, 1 cup

Instructions for Preparation

☞ Warm the milk in a saucepan and dissolve the mesophilic starter culture. Stir the milk with the help of a ladle till the meso culture gets completely incorporated in the milk.
☞ Dissolve the rennet tablet in a bowl of water and add it to the milk. Continue stirring for about 10 minutes to blend the contents properly. Once the rennet mixture has completely dissolved into the milk mixture, allow it to stand for about 2 hours.
☞ With the help of a knife cut the curd that has formed in the pan and allow it to cool down till the curd hardens. Once the curd forms, drain the water (or whey) which can be seen in the pan. Replace the same amount of water drained from the curd.
☞ Place the pan on the burner again and cook the curd for about 45 minutes and if you see it leaving whey liquid, drain and replace it with water. Once it is done, cover a different saucepan with cheesecloth and pour the curd through the cloth to drain the water. After you have emptied the contents of the saucepan, tie the ends of the cloth securely and press it to drain out excess water.
☞ Place a weight on the cheese for about one hour. After this flip the cheese and apply pressure for about 3 hours. Now take a large bowl and fill it with water. Dissolve salt into the water to make a brine solution. Unwrap the cheesecloth to remove the cheese and float it in the solution. Refrigerate this for approximately three hours till the rind forms. For the equal formation of rind on the cheese, keep turning it at regular intervals.
☞ Remove the cheese from the brine solution and dry it with the help of paper towels. Place it on a plate and return it to the refrigerator. Keep checking the cheese and if you see any growth of mold, wipe it with a paper towel dipped in vinegar. After 25 days, you can use this Gouda cheese in any recipe you like.

Gouda Cheese Soup Recipe

Ingredients Required

• Smoked Gouda cheese, 2 cups
• Italian plum tomatoes, with juices, 2 cans
• Large onion, sliced, 1
• Canned chicken broth, 1 cup
• Butter, 2 tablespoons
• Celery seed, ½ teaspoon
• Whipping cream, 1 cup
• Italian seasonings, 1 teaspoon
• Freshly ground black pepper, 1½ teaspoons
• Salt to taste

Instructions for Preparation

☞ Take a large saucepan and melt the butter in it. Saute the sliced onions in it till they turn light brown. Now transfer the canned tomatoes and chicken broth to the pan and cook them. With the help of a spatula, mash the tomatoes so that they cook thoroughly.
☞ Once it starts simmering, add the cream, seasonings, pepper and salt to taste and stir it to incorporate the ingredients. Stir in the cheese, while reserving some for garnish, and cook till the cheese melts and blends into the soup. Remove the pan from the heat, pour some of the soup into a bowl. Sprinkle the cheese and finely chopped thyme on it.

Smoked Gouda Cheese and Macaroni

Ingredients Required

• Smoked Gouda cheese, shredded, 2 cups
• Elbow macaroni, 1 package
• Whole wheat bread, 2 slices
• Fresh spinach, coarsely chopped, 4 cups
• Green onions, thinly sliced, 1 cup
• Fat-free milk, 2 cups
• Fresh Parmesan cheese, ½ cup
• All-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons
• Butter, 1 tablespoon
• Garlic cloves, minced, 5
• Freshly ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon
• Salt to taste

Instructions for Preparation

☞ Warm a large sized saucepan over medium heat and melt the butter. In the butter saute the green onions and minced garlic till you get the flavor. Stir in the flour and cook for about a minute. Meanwhile cook the macaroni as per the instructions given on the package.
☞ In the food processor bowl, place the whole wheat bread slices. Now pulse for about 2 minutes till the bread forms coarse crumbs. Empty the crumbs into a bowl and keep it aside.
☞ Add the milk, pepper and salt to the mixture and stir to blend them. Once the mixture comes to a slight boil add the cheeses and cook till they melt. Transfer the cooked macaroni and spinach to the sauce and mix them well. Empty the contents to a well greased baking dish and sprinkle the bread crumbs. Bake this dish in a preheated oven at 325º F for about 15 minutes.

So the next time you need to add Gouda cheese to any of your recipes, no need to rush to the store when you can make it at home. Simple as ABC, isn't it!