Cheese: what is it, what are the recipes for cheese, what dishes can you cook with it?
Cheese is a useful and necessary product. After all, pickled cheeses, which is Brynza, are dairy products. They contain calcium, which for some reason is washed out of the body, and cheeses help make up for the deficiency. Cheese goes well with meat and poultry. This cheese is used for sandwiches, as an appetizer or as an addition to salads and hot dishes. He is loved by both adults and children.
Brynza - what is it?
In addition to popular hard cheeses that are aged for a long time, there are also pickled ones. They cook much faster.
There is a legend that tells how pickled cheeses, in particular Brynza, appeared. An Arab merchant who went on a hike put milk in his backpack. For several days his journey continued. He did not look into his bag. The bottom of the backpack could not stand it and broke through, a light-colored liquid spilled onto the ground. A dense white piece of some product remained inside the bag. This was the cheese. As it turned out, he had an excellent taste, and the variety of cheese began to be called brine.
Only women were engaged in the preparation of cheese, moreover, they had to be aged. Greek legends say that the table was considered empty if Brynza was absent from it.
Brynza has a soft curdled texture. It is a cheese without a rind, it has a smooth surface. It may have voids of irregular shape. The product has a delicate salty taste. The pleasant taste of Brynza does not leave anyone indifferent.In addition to the delicious taste, the cheese has a beautiful white color, uniform throughout the mass of cheese. If the milk was very fatty, then perhaps the shade will be a little yellowish.
The fat content of Brynza depends on the milk from which it is prepared. If the milk is store-bought and of low fat content, then the product is light and soft. A dietary product suitable for those who monitor their weight and health.
As a rule, Brynza is made from cow or goat milk. But many argue that a product made with sheep's milk is more nutritious and pleasant and has a richer taste. This dairy product contains quite a lot of salt, so its daily norm should not exceed 70-80 grams. This amount is enough to appreciate the whole taste of Brynza. However, people suffering from kidney and cardiovascular diseases, this amount should be reduced.
The benefits of cheese have been proven for a long time. Nutritionists have noted all the positive qualities of Brynza and recommend including it in the daily menu. It can be used for both breakfast and dinner. To get the most benefit, cheese should be consumed in the morning.
Cheese is rich in calcium and vitamins A, B, C, minerals. It contains a vital whole protein that is well absorbed by the human body. It is enough to use the daily rate of cheese to get the necessary complex of useful substances. The components that make up the product normalize the work of all digestive organs and improve the protective properties of the immune system.
Giving cheese to children is not only possible, but also necessary. As pediatricians recommend, it is worth introducing the product from the age of two. Small portions of cheese will help replenish calcium, which is so necessary for the children's body.
Brynza will also help get rid of problems with the intestines and digestion, as the work of the gastrointestinal tract normalizes.
What can be prepared from it?
This wonderful product can be used as an independent dish and sandwiches can be made with it. With its use prepare hot dishes and snacks. It goes well with the components of vegetable salads. The experience of the housewives shows that Bryndza can be cooked in a very original way. Having shown imagination, you yourself can create a unique dish or snack, which will pleasantly surprise your guests.
baked
Baking cheese is very easy, and the result will please you. A pleasant and unusual snack is prepared very quickly.
You will need:
- 300 g Cheese;
- 150 g butter.
To prepare a piece of cheese, cut it into two equal parts. You will need baking paper, which should be taken with a margin. She is lubricated with oil. It is necessary to coat thoroughly and in a dense layer.
Now each piece of Brynza must be wrapped in such a way that the edges are closed. Optionally, Bryndza can be sprinkled with your favorite herbs and spices. The oven must be heated to 200 degrees and baked for 45 minutes.
Serve as a hot dish, pre-cut into portions. Can be used as an appetizer. This simple dish is perfect for breakfast and dinner with the family.
Bulgarian breakfast
Bulgaria is famous for its Brynza recipe. It is a national product in the country, so many dishes are cooked there with Brynza. You will need the following ingredients:
- Chicken egg - 4 pcs.;
- milk - 30 ml;
- Cheese - 100 g;
- butter - 30 g;
- green onions, spices - to taste.
Step by step follow the steps:
- Cheese must be grated on a coarse grater;
- if using fresh herbs and onions, then rinse them and chop finely;
- beat milk and eggs, add Cheese and chopped greens to the composition;
- grease the pan with oil and pour the prepared mixture;
- Close the lid and fry until done.
You can serve with any vegetables, breakfast will be nutritious and healthy. Fried Bryndza has a very delicate taste. It is unlikely that anyone will refuse such a morning snack.
Pate
Delicate pâté is a versatile product. It can be fish, meat, and any other. Brynza pate will satisfy even the most fastidious gourmet.
For its preparation, the following ingredients are used:
- 200 g Cheese;
- 100 g walnuts;
- 100 g butter;
- 2 cloves of garlic;
- green onions and paprika - to taste.
Making pate is easy.
- Peel the garlic and pass through a press.
- Grind the walnuts and Cheese through a meat grinder. You can use a blender for this, then it is not necessary to pass the garlic through the press.
- Mix all ingredients with butter. If you mix by hand, then this must be done very carefully.
- Add finely chopped green onion and paprika to the finished pate.
The dish is ready, you can start tasting. Delicious and healthy sandwiches are perfect for a hearty breakfast.
You can cook with Brynza both meat and poultry. The mild curd flavor will add some zest to each ingredient. All dishes can be varied to your liking.
You may come up with something new and different, so don't be afraid to experiment.
Pickled Cheese Recipes
You can cook Brynza at home, and even an inexperienced hostess will cope with the task. Cheese will have no less useful properties than farm options.Most often, the product is made from cow's milk, but goat's milk can also be used.
Of course, when the housewives were just starting to cook Brynza themselves, it did not always meet expectations. But through trial and error, recipes were born that can be safely used even by beginners. The main thing in this business is the desire and following the rules.
To prepare classic Bryndza, you will need the following ingredients:
- milk (with high fat content: the fatter the milk, the tastier the cheese will be) - 1.8 l;
- kefir (with a fat content of at least 3%) - 180 g;
- sour cream (with a fat content of at least 20%) - 375 g;
- eggs - 7 pcs. (large);
- salt - 55 g (it is better to take fine grinding).
Cooking should be in a large enameled pan. Pour milk into it and add salt. Put on the stove. While milk is boiling in a separate bowl, mix kefir and sour cream. It is better to do this with a mixer. The mass should become airy and increase in size. Set the mixer speed to low and gradually pour in the boiled milk.
Now this mass of milk, kefir and sour cream must be brought to a boil and kept at a minimum heat for 15 minutes. This time is enough for the formation of curd and whey. The serum must be drained. It is worth taking the advice of grandmothers from the village: it is better to use a colander lined with gauze, which is folded in at least four layers. Leave the mass for 3-6 hours so that the liquid is glass. The curd will become homogeneous in composition.
When the serum drains, tie the gauze so that you get a bag. It must be laid on the bottom of the dish and covered with a lid, and a press should be installed on top. You need to keep under pressure for 5 hours. The cheese will cook on its own. Under the action of the press, the resulting whey will act as a brine. The cheese will be dense, but not dry.After 5 hours, Brynza is sent to the refrigerator for 3-4 hours. Then the cheese is removed from the gauze and placed in cling film. It is ready to use.
This classic recipe can be safely supplemented with seasonings that you like. Then the product will acquire not only new taste qualities, but may even be suitable for dietary nutrition. It has a minimum of calories, but a lot of useful substances.
In a slow cooker
A multicooker is now considered an indispensable attribute in the kitchen, and you can cook tasty and healthy Cheese in it. The technique greatly simplifies and speeds up cooking. From the original products, 300-350 g of the most delicate cheese will be obtained:
- eggs - 4 pcs.;
- milk (high fat) - 2.3 l;
- finely ground salt - 65 g;
Cooking takes place in several stages.
- First you need to prepare a glass jar: sterilize it thoroughly and dry it. It is better to use a 3 liter jar.
- Pour milk into a jar and leave to sour, covering the top with gauze or a thin cloth. The process will go faster if you place the container in a warm place, for example, next to the battery. To speed up the fermentation process, sourdough is added to the milk - pepsin. It is a natural product, available as a liquid and powder extract. You can buy at the pharmacy.
- When the milk turns sour, pour it into a slow cooker. Add eggs beaten with salt to it. Turn on the "Baking" mode. The mode assumes an average baking time of 25-30 minutes.
- For straining, it is better to use a sieve, but a colander lined with gauze in 4 layers is also suitable. When using a sieve, the cheese will take a little longer to glass all the whey.
- After all the liquid has drained, the edges of the gauze must be tied and a load should be placed on top of the mass. For example, a five-liter jar of water.
- Bryndza must be kept in this form for at least 6 hours, after which you can taste it.
Brynza prepared by hand has a very refined taste. Even people who do not like most dairy products will like it, which is especially important if you have children.
You will learn more about how to cook Brynza cheese at home in the following video.