Homemade Fresh Mozzarella Recipes

30 MINUTE FRESH MOZZARELLA CHEESE HOMEMADE

Steps:

• Crush the rennet into the water and stir to dissolve.
• Pour milk into a non-reactive pot (no aluminum or cast iron).
• Place over medium heat. Sprinkle the citric acid over the milk and stir a few times. Heat milk to 88°F; milk will begin to curdle.
• At 88°F, add the rennet solution and continue stirring slowly every few minutes until the milk reaches 105°F Turn off the heat. Large curds will appear and begin to separate from the whey (the clear, greenish liquid).
• With a slotted spoon or mesh strainer, scoop the curd into a large glass bowl. (If it's still too liquid, let it set for a few more minutes). Press the curds gently with your hand and pour off as much whey as possible.
• Microwave curds on high for 1 minute, then drain off all the excess whey.
• With a spoon, press curds into a ball until cool.
• Microwave two more times for 35 seconds each, and continue to drain the whey and work cheese into a ball.
• In the meantime, place the whey over medium heat and let it heat to about 175°F.
• When cheese is cool enough to touch, knead it like bread dough until smooth. When you can stretch it like taffy, it is done. You can sprinkle 1 to 2 teaspoons salt into the cheese while kneading and stretching it. The cheese will become stretchy, smooth and shiny. If it is difficult to stretch and breaks easily, dip it into the hot whey for a few seconds to make it warm and pliable. Then pick it up again and stretch it into a long rope. Fold over and stretch again. Dip in hot whey as needed to make the cheese pliable.
• When the cheese is smooth and shiny (this takes just a few minutes), it is ready to eat. Shape it into a log or golf-size balls, then store in a solution of 2 teaspoons salt to 1 cup water.

OUR 30+ BEST FRESH MOZZARELLA RECIPES (+HOMEMADE FRIED MOZZARELLA CHEESE STICKS)

Steps:

• Cut the cheese into thin slices.
• Whisk eggs with salt and water.
• Dredge cheese slices in egg and breadcrumbs.
• Do a second coating.
• Cook in hot oil in a deep fryer.

FRESH MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• In a large stock pot add the water and enough kosher salt until it tastes like saltwater. Bring the water to a simmer and remove from heat.
• While waiting for water to boil, the mozzarella curd needs to be shaved with a sharp knife into thin layers and set aside in a large bowl.
• When water is ready, ladle over the shaved curd, just enough to cover. Allow curd to warm before you begin forming your mozzarella. Using a wooden spoon, stir the mixture until the curd begins to pull (you should have a string like effect). Work quickly with the curd to achieve a consistent silken texture. Hold the cheese in the bowl with wooden spoon and pour off excess water. Take the cheese in your hands and begin to fold under itself creating a round shape of desired size. Pinch between your thumb and index finger, place fresh mozzarella in a bowl of cool water, continue this process until all the fresh mozzarella is formed.

HOMEMADE MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring a gallon of water to a boil.
• In a large bowl, break up the mozzarella curd into small pieces. Coat the curd with 2 tablespoons of salt, and set aside.
• In another large bowl, salt the second gallon of water with the remaining salt and add as much ice as it can hold.
• This is where it gets a little tricky. Carefully pour the boiling water over the salted curd. As the curds begin to melt, carefully stir with a wooden spoon for 1 minute. Submerge both of your hands in the ice water for as long as you can stand it, because you're about to stretch the mozzarella in boiling hot water. The curd will have settled into the bottom of the bowl, and at this point you have to work quickly or risk over-cooking the curd.
• Dip your hands into the hot water and begin stretching the mozzarella. By stretching the cheese you insure that all the curds have completely melted. The curds will become incredibly soft and have buttery shine, and also, it smells wonderful. Form the mozzarella into tomato size balls, and then drop the mozzarella into the ice water to stop the cooking process. Work quickly, as the mozzarella will start to become rubbery the longer it sits in the hot water.
• Wrap each mozzarella ball tightly in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
• Serve the cheese with the best tomatoes you can find, really fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil, salt and fresh cracked pepper.