Kefir cheese is a homemade soft cheese. It’s made from Kefir milk, which is a probiotic-rich beverage for keeping your gut healthy. It offers the same health benefits as that Kefir milk. Since not many people know about this cheese, you may wonder what kefir cheese tastes like.
Kefir cheese has a thick, creamy texture that’s similar to brie. In terms of flavor, it’s intense, tangy, and rich. You can enjoy it as an appetizer dip, in a salad, or as a toast spread! You won’t believe how delicious this cheese is.
Let’s dig deeper and learn more about kefir cheese and its flavor.
What Does Kefir Cheese Taste Like?
The taste of kefir cheese is tart, rich, and soft – all at the same time! When it comes to taste, traditional kefir milk has an intense flavor that may be unpalatable for some, but that’s not the case with kefir cheese. You can mask its sourness in many ways. You can season it to suit your taste preference by adding herbs and flavorings like garlic salt, curry powder, or dried chives. You can mix it with fig, cocoa powder, or even fresh fruit jam for a sweet-tasting version. When doing so, rest the cheese to allow the flavors to infuse well.
You can determine the sharpness of the Kefir cheese’s flavor by the fermentation period. The longer you allow kefir cheese to ripen, the more acidic it’ll be. If you’d like a milder taste, keep the fermentation period short. Eight hours is a good enough period to achieve a silky-smooth consistency. Fermenting the cheese for twelve hours will yield a tangier flavor and denser texture.
Kefir cheese is not just delicious, but it’s also rich in probiotic goodness, as well as vitamins and minerals. So, if you have some extra kefir milk, you can turn it into kefir cheese to benefit from this versatile cheese and its countless gut health properties. It’s an excellent money-saving strategy, as well, since you get two equally delicious products out of one!
Some of its top benefits are that the cheese is 99% lactose-free and is a rich source of calcium and vitamin A. Moreover, kefir cheese whey contains several beneficial properties, while the curd is an excellent source of probiotics.
On the whole, kefir cheese is a soft and flavorsome cheese that you can turn into a cheese spread to go with sandwiches, bagels, and crackers. You can even have it as a veggie dip or crumbled over fresh salad to add a tart flavor.
What Is Kefir Cheese Similar To?
Kefir cheese bears a resemblance to feta, cream cheese, and ricotta. The resemblance has a lot to do with the soft textures of all these food items.
The dense texture gives kefir cheese a mouthfeel that’s similar to ricotta. Although, when it comes to taste, kefir cheese is pleasantly tangy and more flavorful
l than you’d expect. Since it has a higher lactic acid content, it tastes like a sour version of cream cheese and a richer version of yogurt.
In many recipes, you may use plain kefir cheese to replace sour cream, Greek yogurt, and ricotta. For example, you can pair it with nachos as a herby dip or over lasagna for a tangy, cheesy flavor!
Does Kefir Cheese Taste Like Cream Cheese?
Kefir cheese is similar to cream cheese in many ways, except it’s slightly more acidic. Cream cheese is a versatile ingredient that you can use in various recipes. If you want a close-enough substitute, you can opt for kefir cheese instead of it.
But here’s a tip! Don’t ferment milk kefir for more than 24 hours; younger kefir cheese is less acidic. Then, you can turn it into a creamy, spreadable cheese that you can use for making a cheesecake!
Cut down on the sourness by mixing it with sugar, honey, or maple syrup for a mellower taste. You can also blend it with fruit puree to add a natural sweetness to the cheese!
Conclusion
Kefir cheese is quite delicious, and you should try it at least once! The tangy flavor of kefir cheese with its creamy, yogurt-like texture is just plain amazing!
Although sour and intense at first, there are ways to make the cheese more palatable. You can turn it into a flavorsome cheese spread by mixing in your favorite herbs to enjoy it with crackers, toast, or bagels!
If you’ve got extra kefir milk resting, why not turn it into a delicious pate?