Gouda is one of the most popular types of cheese. Interestingly, it originated near Rotterdam, in the Dutch city of… Gouda, from which it takes its name. It is a ripened, semi-hard cheese. Very well known in Poland. Unfortunately, we don’t have good news— to enjoy its unique flavor, you need to be patient. This type of cheese should mature for 4 weeks. We assure you it’s really worth it. Below we show, step by step, how to make homemade Gouda-style cheese. Ready for a cheesemaking adventure? Let’s begin!
Recipe for homemade Gouda-style cheese
Preparation:
Heat the milk to 33°C. Add the starter culture, stirring gently, then remove from the heat, cover, and set aside in a warm place for 1 hour. Dissolve the calcium chloride in a small amount of water and add it to the pot, stirring gently. Let stand for 10 minutes. Dissolve the rennet in 50 ml of water at 38°C, then add it to the pot. Mix thoroughly and leave for 1 hour. Once a curd has formed, cut it into 1 cm cubes and leave for 20 minutes. After this time, drain off 20% of the whey. Replace it with the same volume of water at 30°C, stirring gently throughout. Without stopping stirring, carefully heat the curd to 53°C. Wait 20 minutes for the curd to settle and drain off all the whey. Gently knead the curd by hand, then transfer it to a cheesecloth and a cheese mold. Place the prepared cheese in a cheese press and leave it for 16 hours at room temperature. After pressing, remove the cheese from the mold and place it in brine for 3 days. Then take the cheese out and place it on a flat dish lined with paper towels - to drain and dry. Leave for 3 days, turning it two/three times a day for an even result.
Note:
The cheese should mature for 4 weeks at 12–16°C.
Brine recipe:
Add 5 tablespoons of salt to 1.5 L of water at 15°C.
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