Buying and Serving Goat Cheese
Goat cheese (Chevre) is not only frequently found in America’s top restaurants, it is increasingly available from Farmer’s Markets and chain grocery stores. Whether creamy and mild or pungent and crumbly, goat cheese is ideal for a wide variety of recipes. Goat cheese is an ancient food, and compared to cow’s milk cheese, fresh goat cheese is lower in fat, cholesterol, and calories. It also has more calcium and is an excellent choice for those who are lactose intolerant.
Buying
Fresh goat cheese is moist, but doesn’t leak whey. Because it isn’t aged, it is creamy and has a milder flavor. Aged goat cheese is also available, and is hard like most cow’s milk cheeses and has a stronger flavor.
Storing
Fresh or aged goat cheese should be stored in the refrigerator in an air tight container; ideally, keep the original wrappers and wrap the cheese up after every use, before placing it in the air tight container.
For best flavor, remove the cheese from the refrigerator about an hour before cooking or serving.
Goat cheese may also be frozen in chunks of 1 pound or less. Wrap the cheese tightly in heavy duty aluminum foil and place it in a freezer-safe, air tight container. It will retain its texture and flavor for several months. Allow the cheese to thaw in the refrigerator for about 48 hours.
Cooking and Serving
White wine made with Sauvignon Blanc grapes pairs nicely with goat cheese, as does Chardonnay. Young red wines are also a good choice, especially Malbec, Zinfandel, or Pinot Noir.
Fresh goat cheese is excellent spread on toast, bread, or crackers, and may be used in place of cream cheese in many dishes. Crumbly goat cheese is ideal for serving atop salads. Any type of goat cheese is also a good choice for pasta dishes or pizzas.
For more ideas, see Gourmandia’s goat cheese recipes on video.
