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CHEESE
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Description:
Cheese, one of the oldest known food products, is universally popular. Simply defined, cheese is a dairy product made by coagulating milk, cream , skimmed milk or a mixture of any of these and draining the whey or liquid in a mould. The curdling or coagulation of the milk protein is brought about by the action of rennet or lactic acid. The many different chesses are the result of variation in the making and curing of each variety after the initial curdling has taken place. A distinction is made between soft fresh cheese (including cream cheese and paneer), fermented cheese and processed cheese.
How to select:
Most cheese is high in fat. Reduced fat versions can help if eaten in no greater quantities than ordinary versions. Try stronger cheeses and use less to get the taste.
Use:
Cheese is widely used in cooking for making sauces, in pastry making, for toppings, desserts or eaten by itself. Whole milk cheese contains the same properties as milk. Normally cow's milk is used for cheese making.
How to store:
Keep tightly packaged in moisture-resistant wrap and Store Food in the Refrigerator.
Health benefits:
It is a highly nutritious food, packed with proteins.
Some commonly used kinds of cheese are :
1. Mozzarella :
This cheese has a soft texture. It is mild, white and has a delicate flavour. It can be used for salads and provides a tangy layer in baked dishes. It is also a popular topping for pizzas for its ability to melt and produce strings of cheese once a pizza is baked and a slice is cut apart.
2. Parmesan :
A mature, hard cheese which is excellent for topping. It is also used classically as an ingredient of pesto and Caesar salad dressing.
3. Processed Cheese:
This is used when any recipe states "Cheese" or "Table Cheese". It is a "Pasteurised Cheese", generally a blend of one or more cheeses of the same variety or two or more varieties. It is readily available in the market under various brand names.
4. Cheddar Cheese :
It is one of the most popular and well known cheeses of the world made from cow's milk. It can be white or yellow in colour. It is hard and smooth in texture.
5. Cooking Cheese :
A variety of cheese which is a blend of two or more cheeses in varying proportions which enable it to melt easily while cooking.
6. Cheese Spread :
It is a kind of processed cheese which is used as a topping for several recipes. It is a readily available form of cheese available in several flavours like garlic, pepper, cumin etc. in addition to plain.
7. Flavoured Cheese :
This includes an array of cheeses available at gourmet stores like herb flavoured cheese, cumin flavoured cheese etc.
These can be made by mixing the desired flavouring ingredients like paprika, garlic etc. with mozzarella or processed cheese.
8. Cream Cheese:
It is a full-fat soft and creamy cheese. It can be sweetened and used in desserts. A little cream added to it along with fresh herbs or garlic makes it a delightful accompaniment, dip or spread.
9. Feta Cheese:
Feta is a sharp tasting, white and firm cheese made from goat's milk. It is delicious when sprinkled over salads. Feta cheese is similar in texture to cottage cheese, apart from being more salty.
10. Cheese Cubes :
These are cubes of processed cheese packed in 25 grams block each. They are retailed per piece.
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