How to make melted cheese from cottage cheese at home?
Cottage cheese stale in the refrigerator, which they did not have time to use on time, is a fairly common occurrence. However, do not rush to get rid of this product and run to the supermarket for a new one. There is a wonderful and healthy way to use cottage cheese to make homemade processed cheese. To prepare this product at home is not difficult and does not take much time.
In addition, the recipe for traditional classic processed cheese can be modified depending on your desires and preferences. It is acceptable to add various spices, spices, herbs and even dark chocolate. About the benefits and harms derived from this product, and you can find out below.
The benefits and harms of the product
Homemade processed cheese is an indispensable source of amino acids, proteins, saturated acids vital for the human body and essential fats. The composition of this product is famous for its impressive amount of microelements such as phosphorus, calcium and vitamin B groups. And the use of cottage cheese, butter, cream, milk powder in the cooking process will give the body a portion of vitamin D. An equally important ingredient is melting salt. Homemade processed cheese has a fairly long shelf life.
This type of cheese is classified as a dairy product, which has a beneficial effect on the entire human body. For the most part, homemade processed cheese is rich exclusively in protein, a small amount of fat and a minimum amount of carbohydrates, which makes it possible to classify this product as a dietary product.
The amount of protein contained may vary - this is due to the percentage of fat content chosen for the preparation of cottage cheese. For example, per one hundred grams of processed cheese, the protein content is in the range of ten to twenty grams, the fat content of the product is from thirty to sixty percent (in some cases much more). In this regard, the energy value of one hundred grams of homemade processed cheese is from two hundred and twenty to three hundred and sixty kilocalories.
This product is extremely nutritious, and its regular use, for example, for breakfast, can provide irreplaceable benefits for the body. First of all, it can be used as a source of energy necessary for human life. It is worth noting that cheese made from curd mass contributes to a better absorption of other food products. The presence of mineral salts in the composition is predominant in comparison with other dairy products.
For example, one hundred grams of homemade processed cheese contains the daily requirement of elements such as sodium and phosphorus. They are perfectly combined with each other, which ensures their complete assimilation by the body.By the way, cheese made from cottage cheese is recommended for patients with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, who are undergoing rehabilitation after a fracture or surgery on a bone or joint, as well as during the active period of skeletal development in a child. Eating even a small amount of homemade cheese helps the body absorb iron, zinc, copper and other trace elements. Processed cheese also contains vitamins of groups A, D, C, and the main vitamin of group B - B12, which is absorbed by the body only from animal products.
The fact that the product will be prepared by yourself and at home will guarantee that its consumption is completely safe for you and your family. Since unscrupulous manufacturers often sin by adding cheap and low-quality ingredients to the composition, such as palm and coconut oil, flavor, flavor and aroma enhancer, preservatives and other chemical additives. Their content in the composition makes the product affordable for more people, however, in some cases it can provoke an adverse reaction of the body.
First of all, it is recommended to refuse to use for people with individual intolerance to any ingredient involved in the preparation of homemade processed cheese. Also, do not abuse this product for serious diseases of the heart and blood vessels, since the cheese mass contains a large amount of sodium.
Processed cheese can be made at home in a slow cooker from goat's or cow's milk. It is not difficult at all, if you take into account all our recommendations.
General principle of preparation
It is worth noting that there are a huge number of variations of self-preparation of homemade processed cheese. Before you start experimenting with the recipe, it is advisable to study the traditional classic recipe for this healthy product. Having mastered the algorithm for making processed cheese from curd mass, you will be able to make changes without someone else's help, making the product the way you want it.
So, first you need to get: five hundred grams of cottage cheese, one teaspoon of baking soda, salt and your favorite spices. The cooking process will take approximately one hour and thirty minutes. One hundred grams of a homemade product contains two hundred and fifty kilocalories. The algorithm for making cheese is as follows.
- Pick up two saucepans with different sizes. Boil water in a large saucepan.
- In a small saucepan, place the cottage cheese with a small pinch of baking soda. It is advisable to use loose cottage cheese.
- Stir the ingredients vigorously, bringing the consistency to a homogeneous state. Make sure there are no lumps in the curd.
- Once the water in the large pot starts to boil, lower the burner power and fit the pot with a smaller volume into it.
- After a minute, you can observe the melting of the curd, mix it thoroughly. In this way, you will avoid the product sticking to the walls of the saucepan.
- Stir until the characteristic smell of cottage cheese dries up, and the consistency becomes viscous and plastic.
- After about twelve to sixteen minutes, the curd will begin to acquire a dense texture. This indicates that the product is almost ready.
- Add your favorite spices and spices.
- Turn off the burner and move the pot with the resulting melted cheese to a cooler place. After the product has completely cooled, it can be poured into containers for further storage in the refrigerator. The shelf life of homemade cheese is just over eight months.
Recipes
A great alternative to the classic recipe is the recipe for processed cheese with mushrooms. This product goes well with all types of bread. First you need to get half a kilogram of cottage cheese, one chicken egg, one hundred grams of butter (the spread will not work), half a teaspoon of baking soda, three hundred grams of porcini mushrooms or traditional champignons, three tablespoons of olive or sesame oil, salt, spices and spices. This dish takes about 60 minutes to prepare. One hundred grams of the finished product contains no more than two hundred and twenty-five kilocalories. The algorithm for making homemade processed cheese with mushrooms is as follows.
- Mix the cottage cheese of your choice with baking soda. Grind the resulting mass so that there are no lumps in the consistency. Leave the curd mass for fifteen minutes.
- Chop porcini mushrooms or champignons as finely as possible.
- Lightly fry the mushrooms using vegetable or olive oil.
- Then separate four tablespoons of mushrooms to the side, and grind the rest with a blender until smooth.
- Mix the curd with the chicken egg.
- Add the resulting mass to the pre-melted butter.
- Next, mix the creamy-curd mass with a blender until a homogeneous consistency.
- Place a small saucepan on the burner and transfer the resulting mixture. Leave it to languish over low heat for five to seven minutes. Add a pinch of salt.
- Add previously fried mushrooms, spices and finely chopped greens.
- Remove cheese from heat and let it cool. After complete cooling, the product is ready for use.
For lovers of sweets, there is a dessert option for making chocolate processed cheese. To do this, you will need to acquire: five hundred grams of cottage cheese, granulated sugar, five grams of baking soda, two hundred grams of dark chocolate, heavy cream, thirty milliliters of freshly squeezed lemon juice. The algorithm for preparing this useful delicacy is as follows.
- First you need to heat the required amount of cream. Then melt dark chocolate and granulated sugar in them to taste.
- Carefully wipe the cottage cheese through a metal strainer to avoid the appearance of lumps.
- Then add the previously prepared creamy chocolate mixture to it and pour in freshly squeezed lemon juice mixed with baking soda.
- Boil the resulting mass for about five to seven minutes over low heat, remembering to mix systematically.
- Then wait for the product to cool completely (up to seventy - eighty degrees) and place on dessert saucers.
Helpful Hints
There are cases when the cottage cheese for some reason does not begin to melt. Let's consider the main ones.
- Poor quality product. It tends to coagulate when cooked in a bain-marie. In this regard, when making processed cheese at home, it is recommended to give preference to a farm, village or purchased product from a trusted supplier.
- The melting process with high-quality cottage cheese begins after a couple of minutes. A product that does not change its original structure is most likely not suitable for homemade processed cheese. In this case, it is advisable to immediately set aside the cottage cheese for making cheesecakes or cheesecakes.
- If there are small lumps in the curd, it is recommended to add a small amount of baking soda. Do not overdo it, as its excess can significantly affect the taste of the future product. You should not pay attention to excessively small curd grains. Most likely, they will disappear when the processed cheese is infused.
It is advisable not to be distracted during the melting process. Since the overexposed curd mixture in a water bath can turn into cottage cheese.
Soft, stretchy and plastic consistency indicates the readiness of the product. After the cooked processed cheese is cooled, its texture becomes elastic, but not firm. If homemade cheese crumbles, it means that its recipe was violated or low-quality products were used. Also, the finished product should not contain curd grains. In order to avoid this, carefully keep an eye on the cooked cheese dough. If necessary, wipe it with a strainer.
To enhance textural qualities, such as plasticity and softness, which give the product a pleasant taste, it is recommended to add a small amount of milk or sour cream to the cheese dough. The latter, by the way, is desirable to add if necessary to increase the level of acidity of processed cheese. Cooking processed cheese is best done using a water bath, so you do not allow the curd mass to burn. To do this, prepare in advance all the necessary set of dishes.And be prepared for the fact that during cooking, the cheese mass should be mixed regularly and thoroughly.
To regulate the fat content of homemade processed cheese, cream or butter is added during cooking. There are recipes in which it is recommended to add a little vegetable oil to the cheese dough in order to add softness and plasticity to the structure. Subsequently, this consistency of the product remains even after cooling.
You will learn more about how to cook cream cheese from cottage cheese at home in the following video.