Making your own fresh cheese at home is a rewarding and delicious experience. With just a few common ingredients like milk, yogurt, and lemon, you can create a creamy and versatile cream cheese that lends itself perfectly to being used in many dishes.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of making a tasty homemade cream cheese using just 1 liter of milk, yogurt, and half a lemon.

Ingredients:

  • 1 liter of whole milk
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened natural yogurt (containing live, active cultures)
  • Half a lemon (juice)

Tools:

  • Large pot
  • Kitchen thermometer
  • Wooden spoon
  • Muslin fabric or clean tea towel
  • Sieve or strainer
  • Bowl

Instructions:

Step 1: Heat the milk

  1. Pour the liter of milk into the large pot.
  2. Heat the milk over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon to prevent it from sticking to the pot.
  3. Use a kitchen thermometer to monitor the temperature. The goal is to reach a temperature of around 85-90°C (185-194°F), but make sure the milk doesn’t boil.

Step 2: Add the lemon and yogurt

  1. Turn off the heat once the desired temperature is reached.
  2. Add the juice of half a lemon to the milk. Mix well and let it rest for a few minutes. The lemon will help coagulate the milk.
  3. Also add the quarter cup of natural yogurt. Stir gently to evenly distribute the lemon and yogurt.

Step 3: Coagulation and sieving

  1. After adding the lemon and yogurt, you will notice that the milk will begin to curdle, forming curd lumps.
  2. Prepare a sieve or strainer resting on a bowl. Cover it with a piece of muslin fabric or clean tea towel.
  3. Pour the curdled milk into the sieve, allowing the whey water to drain through the tissue. Allow the cheese to cool slightly.

Step 4: Forming and dripping

  1. Gather the corners of the muslin fabric and tie them together to form a small bag of cheese.
  2. Hang the bag so that it can drip freely into a bowl for at least 1-2 hours. This will allow excess whey water to drain, leaving the cheese firmer.

Step 5: Storage and use

  1. Once the drippings are complete, open the bag and transfer the cream cheese to a bowl.
  2. Adjust the salt to taste to flavor the cheese.
  3. Your fresh homemade cheese is ready to be enjoyed! You can use it as a spread on toast, in salads, in pasta dishes or anywhere you want a creamy and delicious touch.

This simple recipe will allow you to enjoy a creamy and versatile cheese, enriching your meals with a homey and authentic touch.