7 Flavorful Cheeses Everyone Should Know
Wise one said “Cheese improves the flavor of life”. Over the decades, cheese has been one of the most favored and loved food item by people all over the world due to its versatility. Cheese is not only tasty but also nutritious. Many types of cheeses are usually made by fermenting milk and adding an enzyme called rennet. Cheese is available in various textures and flavors and can be used in various ways. The flavor of the cheese depends of factors like type of milk it’s made from- cow, goat, sheep or even yak (yes, we tasted some yummy cheese made with yak milk in Ladakh), aging process and country of origin.
Are you confused about the huge varieties of cheeses that are available in the market and which variety goes well with sandwiches, burgers, pizzas or as dips? Wicked spoon confessions lists 7 flavorful cheeses everyone should know about.
Parmesan Cheese – Parmesan cheese is one of world’s most popular cheeses known for its sharp fruity and nutty flavour. Dry and firm in texture, this natural yellow coloured cheese is made from cow’s milk. The good part about parmesan is that more it matures, the stronger it becomes in flavour, and grainier it becomes in texture. However, the quality starts to deteriorate after parmesan is exposed to air. It can be refrigerated up to 12 months. Parmesan is best used as grated over pastas, soups and risottos.
Cheddar Cheese - Cheddar cheese is probably the most commonly eaten and widely purchased. Originated from the village of Cheddar, England, this firm yet crumbly textured-cheese is made from cow's milk. The flavour of Cheddar cheese ranges from mild to strong. It comes in a variety of colours from natural white to pumpkin orange due to use of coloring agent called annatto. A natural food coloring that comes from the Annatto tree primarily grown in the tropical regions of Central and South America. The texture of the cheese is smooth when its fresh. The older it gets, the drier and crumblier it becomes. Cheddar can be refrigerated for up to three years. Cheddar is a great choice to be used as fillings in breads, and appetizer snacks and even desserts.
Roquefort - Roquefort is a popular French cheese that comes from South of France. Popularly known as blue cheese, Roquefort is moist in texture, high on fat and salt and is easily broken into small pieces. Made from sheep milk, roquefort is rich, creamy, tangy, and salty in flavour. This blue veined cheese is made by ripening it with cultures of the mold Penicillium. This cheese’s shelf life is about 3 to 4 weeks after it is exposed to air. Great to use in omelettes and along with meats.
Brie - Brie, the French cheese originated from the French region, Brie. The cheese is popularly known as the Queen of Cheeses. Soft in texture and made from cow’s milk, this cheese has a very strong aroma. The taste is fruity as well as nutty. The good part is; when kept at room temperature, it becomes mouth-wateringly creamy. The cheese has a slight pale colour with a grey tinge, and the shelf life about 30 days. Baked Brie can be made spicy and served as an appetizer or can be made sweet, and served as a dessert.
Feta - Feta a famous Greek cheese is also called white cheese. Feta is mostly made with a mixture of sheep and goat’s milk and is brined or marinated in salt water, when made. This process contributes to its very salty and tangy taste. The texture too is soft and crumbly. As it is brine treated, Feta cheese can be refrigerated for months, however, if it is exposed to air, it is advisable to consume it in 4 weeks. The cheese can be used as table cheese for seasoning on salads or meat, and can also be used in omelettes and pastas.
Mozzarella - Traditionally made with buffalo milk in Italy, Mozzarella is made in other regions with cow’s milk. Easy to make at home, mozerella has a milky flavour. Unlike other cheese, this cheese does not age and hence, should be consumed within hours of being made. Mozzarella is usually sliced or grated, and can be used for toppings. Click here for the recipe of Tomato & Mozzarella Salad
Manchego - A popular cheese from Spain, Manchego is made from unpasteurized sheep milk. The colour is ivory or pale yellow and the texture is firm. It has a very distinct nutty-fruity, sweet yet tangy taste. Manchego exuberates a very pleasant aroma. It can be refrigerated for up to six months. Ideal for burgers or sandwiches.
Are you confused about the huge varieties of cheeses that are available in the market and which variety goes well with sandwiches, burgers, pizzas or as dips? Wicked spoon confessions lists 7 flavorful cheeses everyone should know about.
Parmesan Cheese – Parmesan cheese is one of world’s most popular cheeses known for its sharp fruity and nutty flavour. Dry and firm in texture, this natural yellow coloured cheese is made from cow’s milk. The good part about parmesan is that more it matures, the stronger it becomes in flavour, and grainier it becomes in texture. However, the quality starts to deteriorate after parmesan is exposed to air. It can be refrigerated up to 12 months. Parmesan is best used as grated over pastas, soups and risottos.
Cheddar Cheese - Cheddar cheese is probably the most commonly eaten and widely purchased. Originated from the village of Cheddar, England, this firm yet crumbly textured-cheese is made from cow's milk. The flavour of Cheddar cheese ranges from mild to strong. It comes in a variety of colours from natural white to pumpkin orange due to use of coloring agent called annatto. A natural food coloring that comes from the Annatto tree primarily grown in the tropical regions of Central and South America. The texture of the cheese is smooth when its fresh. The older it gets, the drier and crumblier it becomes. Cheddar can be refrigerated for up to three years. Cheddar is a great choice to be used as fillings in breads, and appetizer snacks and even desserts.
Roquefort - Roquefort is a popular French cheese that comes from South of France. Popularly known as blue cheese, Roquefort is moist in texture, high on fat and salt and is easily broken into small pieces. Made from sheep milk, roquefort is rich, creamy, tangy, and salty in flavour. This blue veined cheese is made by ripening it with cultures of the mold Penicillium. This cheese’s shelf life is about 3 to 4 weeks after it is exposed to air. Great to use in omelettes and along with meats.
Brie - Brie, the French cheese originated from the French region, Brie. The cheese is popularly known as the Queen of Cheeses. Soft in texture and made from cow’s milk, this cheese has a very strong aroma. The taste is fruity as well as nutty. The good part is; when kept at room temperature, it becomes mouth-wateringly creamy. The cheese has a slight pale colour with a grey tinge, and the shelf life about 30 days. Baked Brie can be made spicy and served as an appetizer or can be made sweet, and served as a dessert.
Feta - Feta a famous Greek cheese is also called white cheese. Feta is mostly made with a mixture of sheep and goat’s milk and is brined or marinated in salt water, when made. This process contributes to its very salty and tangy taste. The texture too is soft and crumbly. As it is brine treated, Feta cheese can be refrigerated for months, however, if it is exposed to air, it is advisable to consume it in 4 weeks. The cheese can be used as table cheese for seasoning on salads or meat, and can also be used in omelettes and pastas.
Mozzarella - Traditionally made with buffalo milk in Italy, Mozzarella is made in other regions with cow’s milk. Easy to make at home, mozerella has a milky flavour. Unlike other cheese, this cheese does not age and hence, should be consumed within hours of being made. Mozzarella is usually sliced or grated, and can be used for toppings. Click here for the recipe of Tomato & Mozzarella Salad
Manchego - A popular cheese from Spain, Manchego is made from unpasteurized sheep milk. The colour is ivory or pale yellow and the texture is firm. It has a very distinct nutty-fruity, sweet yet tangy taste. Manchego exuberates a very pleasant aroma. It can be refrigerated for up to six months. Ideal for burgers or sandwiches.
Have yet to try Mantego.
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