would you like some cheese with that?

[eor]

Since cyberquail led the way and told me how, today I tried my hand at making paneer. My first batch came out quite well despite the fact that I didn't quite get the milk to a full boil. It was very close though and if I'd let it boil my pot wouldn't have been big enough.

Recipe:
1/2 gallon of milk (actually a little less because my pot wasn't going to hold the whole thing)
3 Tbsp of lemon juice (I started with 2 and added the 3rd after a minute or two)
cheese cloth, colander, and large bowl

In heavy sauce pan, heat milk
while the milk is warming, place colander in bowl and cheesecloth in colander
bring milk to boil (this is important, just warm won't do it)
Immediately remove from heat and stir in lemon juice
Stir for 2-3 minutes until curds are forming
Let set for 10 minutes
Pour into cheesecloth, then fold the cheesecloth over and gently press out most of the whey.
Press out more of the liquid as desired using a heavy weight for as much as 2 hours.
Remove from cheesecloth and you have cheese.

Use whey you've collected in place of water when you're making your next batch of rice.


Makes a fist sized chunk of cheese.

Tonight it'll be pakoras.