Steps to Prepare Vegan Feta Cheese

Homemade Feta Cheese

This cheese can be swapped for its nonvegan counterpart and the possibilities for serving it are endless!

Recipe Summary Homemade Feta Cheese

If you love making homemade cheese, try your hand at feta. The results are well worth the effort. Use goat or cow milk, or even a mixture of both. To serve, remove from brine and allow the cheese to air-dry before serving.

Ingredients | Vegan Feta Cheese

½ cup water, divided

1/2 teaspoon calcium chloride

1/2 teaspoon liquid rennet

1 gallon whole milk

1/4 teaspoon feta MT1 cheese culture

8 cups water

5 tablespoons coarse sea salt

1 teaspoon calcium chloride

¼ teaspoon white vinegar

Directions

Combine 1/4 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon calcium chloride in a small bowl; mix well.

Combine 1/4 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon rennet in another small bowl; mix well.

Pour milk into a double boiler set over medium-low heat. Heat milk until it registers 86 degrees F (30 degrees C) on an instant-read thermometer. Sprinkle cheese culture on the surface. Allow to dissolve without stirring for a few minutes, then stir well. Cover and keep at 86 degrees F (30 degrees C) for 1 hour.

Pour calcium chloride mixture into the milk; stir for 1 minute. Add rennet mixture; stir for 1 to 2 minutes. Let stand at room temperature until milk sets into curd, about 1 hour. Press edge of the curd gently with a palette knife or the back of a spoon to check for firmness.

Cut curd all the way to the bottom of the pot into 1-inch squares. Stir gently with a rubber spatula. Let rest, 5 to 10 minutes.

Stir curds, maintaining temperature at 86 degrees F (30 degrees C), until they sink to the bottom of the pot, about 20 minutes. Scoop out liquid (whey) with a ladle and discard or reserve for another use.

Line 2 basket-style molds with damp cheesecloth. Ladle curds into the molds with a slotted spoon and cover with ends of cheesecloth. Place one mold on top of the other, pressing lightly. Let drain, switching the molds and stirring curds a few times, until cheese is firm, at least 4 hours.

Mix 8 cups water, sea salt, 1 teaspoon calcium chloride, and white vinegar together in a large container to make brine. Submerge cheese in brine and let soak, at least 8 hours and up to 3 weeks.

You can use mesophilic Aroma type B, mesophilic Type II, or mm100 mesophilic cultures.

Nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of brine ingredients. The actual amount of brine consumed will vary.

Info | Vegan Feta Cheese

prep: 45 mins cook: 5 mins additional: 14 hrs 8 mins total: 14 hrs 58 mins Servings: 16 Yield: 1 pound

TAG : Homemade Feta Cheese

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