I made my own raw goat cheese from scratch! The amazing Patrick brought over some raw goat’s milk from one of his farm friends and that’s where it all began…
And now I can say I’m totally digging this homemade goat cheese, it’s deliciously addicting –at least for me. We’re back from California, hence the previous sentence using words such as “totally digging.”
I had a wonderful time in Los Angeles working with The Almond Board to promote healthy eating. I also had so much fun meeting so many of you at the book signing at Erewhon! Finally, hanging with my parents was great and very relaxing. Many delicious salads were made together and much fresh California fruit was consumed. Great trip all around!
Here’s my recipe for homemade goat cheese. Enjoy!
Homemade Goat Cheese
Ingredients
- ½ gallon goat's milk, I used raw from a friend of a friend's farm
- 10 grams yogourmet yogurt starter, 2 packs
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, heat milk to 110°, stirring constantly
- Pour milk into a vitamix, then add yogurt starter and blend on high for 10 seconds
- Blending the milk removes any clumps that the yogurt starter may form
- Pour milk into yogourmet yogurt maker and turn machine on
- Leave yogurt in machine for 12 hours, longer is ok too
- Pour yogurt into cheese cloth lined colander and allow to drain for 8 hours in refrigerator
- Lift cheese cloth off of colander and scrape creamy cheese off onto a plate
- Transfer creamy cheese into a pint mason jar
- Serve with Rosemary Crackers
My goat cheese was just a tad less firm than the kind you can buy at the store, though I think if I had strained it longer I could have gotten it more firm.
I’m sure you can make yogurt without all the gadgets I mention above, though you’ll probably need to do an Internet search for some alternative directions –this is my method and the one that I am familiar with. If anyone else has other methods, feel free to chime in with a comment.
Alison says
Oh, wow, thank you SO much for this post! I have gallons of frozen raw goats’ milk lying around, and for some reason, it isn’t appealing to me as a beverage right now. Not sure why, as I’ve really enjoyed it in the past. But I KNOW I’ll love goats’ cheese. Yum yum.
Megan Hughes says
The low tech alternative to a yogurt machine is an insulated cooler with jugs or jars of hot water in it. Or I have used a cardboard box and blankets and jugs of hot water. Tops of refrigerators, hot water heaters and computers are also a warm place to keep blanketed milk warm. You might as well use the wasted heat.
Anne Merideth says
Hi Elana,
I am totally digging your goat cheese recipe. And, to be perfectly honest, I still say variations on “dig” all the time even though I’ve lived on the east coast for 21 years now! I have purged “far out” from my vocabulary, though :-).
Your California Pal, xo Anne
Carmie says
Be sure to catch and use the drained liquid (soon)! Either drink it straight or use it some other way, as in a smoothie.
Beverly Becker says
if anyone comes up with a recipe for cheese cake made with goat’s milk, please let us know!
Wendy says
Mmmmm, what a great idea!
I will have to try using goats milk with my Kefir grains.
I normally use them with cow’s milk to make kefir (a yogurt like drink that is teaming with probiotics), and then on to cream cheese by straining the whey using an unbleached coffee filter (which then can be used to make preserves and pickles).
I bet it would work the same for goats milk.
The best part about using the grains is that not only is it very easy – you just place the grains & in a sealed jar for 24hrs, but you also get all that good bacteria through the fermentation into kefir.
Looks like I’m off to buy some goats milk, thanks for the inspiration!
Karen says
Oh Elana, you ba-a-a-a-d girl!
Bethany F says
Looks amazing! I can’t ever pass up goat cheese!
DessertForTwo says
Wow! I’m so proud! I’m glad you enjoyed all the California produce we have right now! You picked a great time of year to come–berries are perfect, apricots have been great, and the greens…oh, the greens are always great :)
carrie @ gingerlemongirl.com says
Elana – that looks So delicious! Now I want to scout around where I live to see if I can find some local raw goat’s milk!!