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August is National Goat Cheese Month
… and we are celebrating! How does one celebrate goat cheese? Let me count the ways…
• Go buy some goat cheese and crackers, grapes, and whatever else you like and go have a picnic in the park
• If you’re hosting a party soon, or just want to have fun in the kitchen, make some fabulous goat cheese appetizers, salads, entrees, and even desserts! Check out these recipes!
• Have fun and try making goat cheese at home
• Educate your self on the history, nutrition, and health benefits of this superior cow's milk alternative. You will find all you need to know right here!
News for Newbies
If you have never tried goat cheese, then Goat Cheese Month is the perfect excuse to get acquainted! Goat cheese is, well, made from goats milk, and it is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms. The distinctive properties of goat milk lend a unique appearance, flavor and texture to goat cheeses that are different from cow's milk.
Although the same varieties of cheese can be made with goat milk as with cow's milk, the most popular form is a soft, spreadable tangy cheese known as Chèvre (pronounced shev), the French word for goat. Other common forms are Feta (Greek cheese), Gouda (Dutch cheese), and Ricotta (Italian cheese).
An Ancient Tradition Lives On
Goat cheese making has been an important part of our history of food consumption. Goat's milk, and the cheese made from it, are widely believed to be the earliest made dairy products. The herding of goats began nearly 10,000 years ago in the mountains of Iran, and the milk from the goats was an excellent source of protein, vitamins, and many other nutrients. However, since milk is not able to last long in hot climates, people would produce cheese by pressing and salting curdled milk to better preserve it. The ancient Egyptians regarded cheese so highly that some pharaohs even had it placed among the other treasures in their burial chambers.
The art of goat cheese making remained popular throughout history and still remains the most widely consumed dairy product in the world. The popularity finally reached North America, where today some of the finest artisan cheese makers are known for their goat cheese.
Why Goat Cheese?
Delicious with a slightly sweet and sometimes salty undertone, goat's milk is the milk of choice in most of the world.
Nutritionally speaking, goat cheese is a smart option when compared to a cow's milk. Goat cheese is lower in fat, calories, and cholesterol; it provides more calcium and fewer carbohydrates. Goat cheese is also easier to digest. In areas where refrigeration is limited, aged goat cheese is frequently heavily treated with salt for the prevention of decay. Due to this, salt has become a distinct flavor that is present in the taste of goat cheese.
But what makes goat cheese superior than other milk sources is the rich flavor and creamy texture.
The Many Benefits of Goat Cheese
Lower in Fat and Calories
When it comes to fat and calories, goat cheese has the advantage over cheese made from cow's milk. Goat cheese clocks in at eighty calories and six grams of fat per ounce, compared to cow's milk cheese, which generally has around 100 calories and 10 g of fat per ounce. This means goat cheese is the better choice for staying fit and thin.
Metabolism-Boosting
Diets higher in calcium have been proven to assist the body's burning of fat after meals. The need for hormone release to maintain calcium levels is banished, which correlates with a higher rate of fat oxidation.
Higher in Protein
There are five grams of protein in a single ounce of goat cheese! Goat's milk is a good source of low-cost high-quality protein, providing 8.7 grams of protein (17.4% of the daily value for protein) in one cup versus cow's milk, which provides 8.1 grams.
Higher in Calcium
The amount of calcium in goat cheese can vary from around forty grams in soft cheese up to 240 grams in hard goat cheese. This clocks in slightly higher than cow's milk cheese, which has about 200 grams in the hard version.
Great Source for a Variety of Other Nutrients
Goat's milk and goats milk cheese are great sources of a number of important nutrients and vitamins:
- the amino acid tryptophan
- phosphorus
- riboflavin or vitamin B2 (which plays important roles in the body's energy production)
- potassium (which helps prevent high blood pressure and protects against arteriosclerosis)
- goat's milk contains 25 percent more vitamin B-6 than cow's
- vitamin A is 47% higher in goat's milk, too!
- three times as much niacin. It is also four times higher in copper.
- goat's milk also contains 27 percent more of the antioxidant selenium than cow's milk.
People who are lactose intolerant (about a quarter of the American population!) are sometimes able to tolerate goat cheese even if they have problems digesting cheese made from cow's milk. The levels of lactose are similar, but the fat molecules in goat cheese are shorter, making them more digestible. Even people who don't have a lactose intolerance will find that goat cheese appears to be more easily digested than conventional dairy products.
Excellent Choice for Dieters
Because goat milk is leaner than that of cows, goat cheese tends to be leaner as well. For this reason, many dieters craving cheese will use goat cheese as a substitute, crumbling it on salads or melting it on cooked dishes.
Other Benefits
Health studies have also shown that cheese has a positive effect on tooth enamel, helping prevent tooth decay, and also promoting better sleep when consumed at bed time.
Get Inspired
Goat's milk has the ability to bring out subtle flavors in other foods, so it is best paired with fresh greens, roasted vegetables, or mildly sweet fruits. Chefs choose goat cheese because it softens without melting when exposed to heat, the way a cow's milk cheese does. This is particularly useful when you want the cheese to retain its flavor in a dish, rather than melt and meld into the other flavors. Here are some ideas to enjoy this wonderful culinary delight:
- Crumble some goat's cheese on a salad of romaine lettuce, pears and pumpkin seeds.
- Next time you want a glass of milk, try goat's milk instead.
- Goat's milk yogurt makes a wonderful base for savory dips.
- Crumbled goat cheese is a wonderful rich topping for soups.
- Add extra taste and protein to a vegetable sandwich by including some goat's cheese.
- Soft, spreadable goat cheese is an exceptional accompaniment to crusty whole grain bread or crackers and fruit.
- Top sliced tomatoes with crumpled goat cheese and fresh basil. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.
Want to Try Your Hand at Goat Cheese Making?
That's right! You can make this delicacy yourself! You can learn how here.
If that's not enough, here are some of my favorite Goat Cheese Recipes.
The More You Know ...
Who knew goat cheese could be so good for you? Better yet, be so tasty? Follow the links below to learn everything there is to know about goat cheese, from the health and nutrition aspects to obscure fun facts and frequently asked questions.
Belle Chevre
Everything Goat Milk
The Nibble
World's Healthiest Foods
Thanks for stopping by, and check back each week for updates, new articles and recipes!
To your health,
H--CAS