This is a soft, ricotta-like cheese, reminiscent of the "Farmer Cheese" my grandmother used to bring us when she visited from the Bronx. This recipe is from Ricki Carroll's Home Cheese Making.
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time1 hourhr25 minutesmins
Total Time1 hourhr40 minutesmins
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6servings
Author: Ricki Carroll
Ingredients
1/2gallonWhole Milk2% will work, but produce a drier cheese
2lemons, juicedapproximately 1/4 to 1/2 cup
Approx. 1/2 tsp. Cheese Saltany salt will do
Finely chopped Herbssuch as chives, oregano, or lavender (optional)
Instructions
In a large pot over medium-low heat, gently bring the milk to 175 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to stir frequently to keep from scalding the milk.
Turn off the heat. Add about 1/4 cup of lemon juice and stir well. Let sit for 15 minutes.
After waiting, the milk should be curdled, and the whey (the liquid) should be clear. If it's still milky/cloudy, add more lemon juice, stir gently, and give it a few more minutes. Depending on the acidity of the lemon juice, it may take quite a bit more. It won't hurt to use more, but if you use more than necessary, the final result will have a stronger lemon flavor.
Line a colander with butter muslin and gently pour the curds into it. Allow it to drain for a few minutes, and then tie the corners of the muslin together to form a bag.
Hang the curds to drain. I use a twist-tie and rubber-band combination to hook the bag over the kitchen faucet.
Allow to drain for 1-2 hours, until it stops dripping and has firmed up a bit. (If you're in a hurry you can speed the process somewhat by squeezing the bag gently from the top down).
Remove the cheese and mix in the salt and herbs to taste.
Ricki says to store the cheese in the fridge for 1-2 weeks, but I guarantee it'll be gone long before then.