Jben Moroccan Fresh Cheese Recipes

JBEN - MOROCCAN FRESH CHEESE

Steps:

• Step 1: Making the Milk Mixture.
• In a saucepan, on medium-high heat, heat up the milk with the salt, until it reaches a point right below a boiling point.
• When the milk is hot, you can see it starts bubbling a bit, add it to the cold buttermilk (Jben).
• You can flavor the jben if you want, I am using dried thyme. Mix well.
• Let the milk and buttermilk mixture sit on your counter for around 1-2 hours. You will notice that the mixture will start separating, there is a liquid on the top.
• Step 2: Straining the Mixture.
• To strain the mixture, I am using a cheese cloth (that you can buy in the supermarket) over a strainer, placed on top of a bowl (to get all the liquid that is strained).
• Pour the mixture on the strainer and cover it with the excess cheese cloth.
• Let the cheese mixture sit in the strainer (over the bowl) for 10-12 hours (or overnight).
• The cheese is ready after 10 hours, all the water is captured in the bowl, and you end up with the beautiful creamy cheese in the strainer.
• serve on a toasted bread, you can add some honey or jam to it!

JBEN - MOROCCAN FRESH CHEESE

Steps:

• Pour the buttermilk in a large bowl
• In a saucepan, add the whole milk or semi-skimmed milk, the salt, and heat until barely a simmer (when you start seeing small bubbles on the top)
• Add the hot milk to the buttermilk and gently mix with a wooden spoon. Add the herbs and aromatics if you are going for a flavored Jben
• Let the mixture cool down for about 2 hours. You will see it start separating which is a good indicator that the chemistry is working great
• Pour the mixture in a strainer to get rid of the liquid
• Place the strainer (with the strained mixture) on top of a large bowl. Keep the mixture in the strainer and cover it with a cheesecloth on top of which you can place a heavy plate or bowl to add weight and complete the straining process
• Let strain for 12 hours or overnight
• Your Jben is ready and you have now a delicious, soft cheese in the strainer! You can shape your cheese by hand or mold it in a container for a better presentation.
• Moroccan Jben cheese is delicious on fresh bread with a drizzle of honey