Cheese Dor-blue: composition, properties and features of use
Today, store shelves are decorated with various varieties of cheeses. In this case, one cannot but recall the unique blue cheeses. The most popular in gastronomic circles has become a German variety with blue mold - Dor-blue. Real gourmets really appreciate this product. And buyers are willing to pay more to try a piece of this unusual delicacy.
What it is?
Surprisingly, for several centuries, festive tables have been decorated with Dorblue cheeses. Although it hit the shelves of shops and markets quite recently, it has already managed to fall in love with many buyers. It was thanks to a competent pricing policy and marketing approach that the German Dor-blue scattered throughout Europe, including Russia. Unlike expensive varieties such as French Roquefort and Italian Gorgonzola, prices in domestic stores were decent, which made it possible to taste the cheese to the fullest. And also to keep the title of the most famous European cheese.
Dor blue has a moderately spicy taste, a pleasant unusual aroma, and the texture is quite soft, almost creamy, like fatty butter. These cheeses are made from high-quality cow's milk, to which noble blue mold is added. Compared to other similar varieties, it is not as salty as, for example, green mold. And the cost of blue cheese is very acceptable. Such characteristics do not prevent him from holding the title of an elite variety.
The special technology by which the dairy product is made has not changed for more than 100 years. And no changes are made to the cooking process either, because the cheese business loves and honors traditions. For full maturation, the cheese must be placed in a special place where a certain temperature and humidity percentage are set. In such conditions, it should lie for 3 to 5 months, depending on readiness.
Dor Blue has three more varieties that you can find in the store - DourBlu Classic, DorBlue Royal Blue and the exclusive DorBlu Grand Noir line.
How is it different from Gorgonzola?
The German Dor Blue is distinguished primarily by its dense texture, while the Italian Gorgonzola feels softer. Although these two cheeses are considered brothers, despite the different colors of mold. Gorgonzola has a more intense smell and rich taste with a salty-bitter aftertaste than blue cheese.
Composition, calories and BJU
The taste qualities of blue cheese, oddly enough, are quite delicate - it lacks obvious saltiness, like other European-made soft cheeses, and there is no strong spiciness that would scare off half of the buyers. The taste can be called moderate. If you look closely, you can see uneven, chaotic streaks of blue mold - the composition includes a certain type of fungus called Penicillium Glaucum. This is the hallmark of Dor Blue. The product itself is a light cream shade. The texture is dense, but it is easy to break into pieces.
100 grams of the product contains 21.40 g of proteins, 2.34 g of fat, 28.74 g of fat, among which water occupies a special place - here it is 42.41 g! And the calorie content of the delicacy is rather big - 350 calories, and the fat content varies from 40 to 50%. Such data make it a sufficiently high-calorie product. Therefore, when using it, it is important to observe the measure.
The composition contains an important component, which is called penicillin. He is responsible for maintaining the normal state of the entire human body, and also participates in the fight against a certain group of viral and infectious diseases. The variety of chemical composition of cheese is represented by groups of vital vitamins and macroelements that have a beneficial effect on human health:
- representatives of group B: B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B6 (pyridoxine);
- vitamin A;
- vitamin D;
- vitamin PP;
- vitamin E;
- zinc;
- calcium;
- folic acid;
- phosphorus;
- iron;
- sodium;
- magnesium;
- potassium.
Benefit and harm
Everyone knows that milk-based products are good for children and adults. The rich content of vitamins and amino acids known to us contained in cheese will have a positive effect on health. Unusual taste with a touch of piquancy can easily whet the appetite. Due to its high calorie and fat content, it is considered quite satisfying. And the easily digestible proteins, minerals and vitamins contained in the composition give the cheese such a valuable property as strengthening the immune system. The same mold of noble varieties Penicillium Roqueforti affects the improvement of bowel function. And also the DorBlu variety:
- positively affects the nervous system;
- is responsible for improving memory and concentration;
- resists insomnia;
- helps to eliminate depression and irritability from life
- improves peristalsis of the intestinal tract;
- protects the skin from negative UV rays (substances in mold accelerate the production of melanin);
- activates the work of the brain;
- relieves joint pain;
- saves from anemia, anemia;
- relieves fatigue from physical exertion.
Specialists have long proved the high nutritional value of the product. But special rules for its use were also highlighted, or rather, contraindications. Overweight people are generally not recommended to add this kind of cheese to their diet.
High fat content and a large number of calories will only worsen the situation. By regularly consuming blue cheese, the human body may be prone to dysbacteriosis and deterioration of the intestinal microflora. This can lead to frequent intestinal infections. Doctors are cautious about this type of cheese, because, whatever one may say, its composition is not at all simple.
- The ingress of substances contained in fungal spores can provoke new or existing allergic reactions.
- The product is also prohibited for people with acute diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as with ulcers and gastritis.
- Should not be included in the children's menu.
- Especially carefully add to the diet of pregnant and lactating women (it is better to consult a doctor).
- You can not combine the consumption of the product with the use of drugs, namely antibiotics. The fact is that blue mold mushrooms have similar properties. Mixing substances can lead to dysbacteriosis and country allergies.
Judging by the reviews of customers who first tried an unusual look, not everyone liked it because they were not used to such a taste and texture. But from the second sample, the situation changed - spicy notes in taste became noticeable, which everyone talks about like that.The cheese itself is very soft and creamy. And the taste of that very noble mold is felt in full. I especially like the strange but pleasant aftertaste.
What is it eaten with?
Dor Blue is a truly versatile cheese. This can be seen in its combination with various ingredients - it can be rustic bread, crackers, grapes, nuts. Looks perfect served on a cheese plate, i.e. cut into small pieces with other soft cheeses, decorated with nuts. In this case, it is recommended to try it last - so you can feel the fullness of the taste with spicy and oily notes.
You can complement the cheese menu, for example, with fruits and dry red wines - Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are ideal. German gourmets advise drinking Dor Blue with sweet varieties of home-made wines - we are talking about sweet Riesling or Gewürztraminer. But a variety of Grand Noir is washed down with champagne. In the kitchen, this product also found a place. It is used to make canapés, hot sandwiches, fruit and vegetable salads, cheese sauces, Four Cheese pizza, closed pies and other pastries, as well as various types of pasta.
Dor-blue is an expensive product. But oddly enough, you can cook it at home. Of course, the result will be completely different, but it will still be possible to achieve a similar taste.
It is important to remember about sterility during the whole process. Any mistake and the product will be damaged. Be sure to wash and sterilize all utensils and containers before starting cooking. Stock up on disposable gloves, because every touch of the cheese must be perfectly clean.
homemade recipe
We will need:
- 8 liters of homemade milk;
- a quarter teaspoon of mesophilic starter;
- the same amount of rennet;
- 1/16 tsp molds of the variety Penicillium Roqueforti;
- 2 teaspoons of salt.
Preparation description:
- We bring the milk to a temperature of 30 degrees (put the pan on medium heat).
- Pour mesophilic starter onto the surface (suitable - Flora Danica, bioantibut-TP, BK-uglich-MST).
- Immediately add blue mold to the milk mixture, distributing it evenly.
- Gently mix the milk with additives to distribute them evenly throughout the volume.
- Leave the mixture for half an hour.
- At this time, we dilute calcium chloride with 50 ml of water and another solution with rennet (for example, VNIIMS SG-50).
- After 30 minutes, pour the prepared solutions into the infused milk, leave for an hour and a half (wait for the formation of clots).
- We check the clot: we make an incision in it, the serum should separate, if not, leave it for a while.
- We cut the finished clot into large pieces vertical and horizontal.
- Stir the pieces with a slotted spoon, wait for the whey to separate.
- In a colander (cover with a lavsan cloth), transfer the curd mass.
- After separating the whey, we tie the ends of the napkin into a knot, send it to a cutting board, put a load of about 4 kg.
- We shift the finished dish into a deep bowl, break it into pieces and salt.
- We wrap everything with the same napkin, pressing it a little, and leave it in the room for 2 days (the desired acidity will be typed).
- During this time, the cheese should be turned over.
- After the expiration date, leave the cheese open to dry slightly.
- Next, we make punctures with a thick knitting needle (the mold itself will develop in such cracks).
- To mature in a container, place the cheese on a drainage mat, cover and place in a 10-degree temperature area.
- The maturation process will take 4 weeks.
- Be sure to turn the cheese every week.
- After the right time, Dor-blue will be ready for use.
It is not necessary to run to huge supermarkets in search of noble varieties of cheese. Surprisingly, in your kitchen you can create a similar masterpiece, slightly different from German cheeses.
A tasty and healthy European product on your table - you can safely brag about it. But before use, you should still find out about possible contraindications. After all, everything tasty is not always healthy for the body.
See below for how to make real gourmet blue cheese at home.