Goat cheese Benefits, Recipes, Calories, Nutrition
Cheese has been the go-to dairy products over the past century. From what researchers and theories have led us to believe, cheese was possibly discovered around 8000 BC around the same time men first started domesticating sheep.
Before refrigeration, cheese was just one of the ways to preserve milk. Initially, cheese was made in the leak-proof stomachs and other bladder-like organs of animals, but millennia later the process has been redefined completely
Well, scientist learned to mass-produce rennet enzyme -initially found only in animals -, resulting in the wildfire production of cheese in the 21st century.
As the main product required to form cheese is milk- produced by various mammals - it comes in a variety of flavor and nutritional value depending upon the animal in use. Among the many types of cheese, one of the most popular cheese is goat cheese.
What is Goat Cheese?
In simple terms, it is the cheese made from goat milk. The process required to make it is no different from the way cheese is made from cow milk- coagulation followed by the breaking process.
While the production method remains the same, the end product is entirely different. Rich in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, the goat cheese remains ahead from the traditional cow cheese.
A portion of goat cheese on display (Photo: healthline.com)
More comfortable to digest as well as a hypoallergenic alternative for people with allergies towards cow cheese favors the goat cheese overall. Goats milk can be used to make a variety of cheese, from Gouda, Cheddar, Aged, Tomme Style, Blue, Crumble Soft, Spread, and even the famous Brie cheese.
It Goes With Almost Anything
As surprising as it may sound, it is the truth, goat cheese is used in multiple dishes and recipes all around the world.
It provides a variety of taste depending upon the type of cheese used. With different kinds of goat cheese, they can even be incorporated in the daily diet. Used on salad, avocados, veggie breakfast, crackers, a tasty chicken dinner, the goat cheese can be used anywhere at any occasion no problem.
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Goat cheese is an extraordinary tool which can be used, the only limit is your imagination. Among the various recipes and dishes include :
- Soft goat cheese can be crumbled on fresh greens results in a sweet and creamy salad topper.
- Spread goat cheese on toast together side avocado, sautéed eggs, and veggies is a winning breakfast combination.
- Crackers, goat cheese, and chopped apples make for a tasty bite.
- Stuff chicken breasts with goat cheese and fresh herbs, then roast in the oven for a beautiful dinner.
- Insert goat milk into your favorite quiche or frittata recipe.
- Blend goat cheese with tomatoes that are cooked, then packed with sweet or savory ingredients like vegetables or fruit.
- Fill peppers with cooked quinoa, vegetables, and goat cheese before grilling or roasting.
- Create an omelet with goat cheese, mushrooms, and fresh herbs.
- Add goat milk to mashed potatoes to get a unique flavor.
- Goat cheese offers a suitable replacement for cream or butter when making soups to include flavor and texture.
Overall the goat cheese is a healthy dairy product packing in both flavor and nutrients. With its benefit and multi-purpose quality, goat cheese is considered one of the supreme food ingredients in the 21st century.
Is Goat Cheese Good For You?
As the creamy and distinct taste goat cheese provides is suitable for your tongue, it is equally beneficial for the human body as well.
Counting in terms of calories only, the standard goat cheese packs around a whopping 300 calories per 100 gram of its serving. In addition to the energy the cheese supplies, it provides 24 gram of fat and 20 gram of protein in nutrition all at the cost of a 1 gram carbohydrate.
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Among the various benefits of goat cheese include:
- Good source of Protein and Calcium
- Provides probiotics (a form of beneficial bacteria)
- Rich in Vitamins, Copper, and Phosphorus
- Reportedly Reduces Hunger and Cravings
- Contains Less-Harmful Casein Variant
While the portion of fat in the cheese may raise some doubts, the fact is clear that its benefits outweighs the loss. Also, the fat provided by the goat cheese is partially saturated, and despite earning a reputation for being dangerous and unhealthy scientifically, the fact is yet to be proven.
However, it is not with its disadvantages, due to its higher acidic content it may result in diseases like ulcer, gout, and gastritis in extreme conditions. Also, if the product is not stored correctly, goat cheese goes bad very quickly as well.
