
Cheese. Just a simple mention of the word and one would think of snacks and sumptuous meals served with them. Cheese, when served with wine shows good taste and class. Here is but one of many varieties of cheeses: Meet the Feta cheese.
Feta Cheese (from the Italian word 'fetta slice sense'' ') Is actually cheese curd in brine. It takes at least three months to make feta. When the solution is removed, this type of cheese dries instantly. Milk goat, sheep or cow can be used to do this.
The color of white cheese. It is usually formed on four sides, cakes that can be soft or semi-hard. Its flavor salt can be adjusted to taste the manufacturer.
Traditionally, in Greece, feta is made with goat milk or just a combination of goat milk and sheep. It skips like a stone, then sliced, then salted once more before it underwent the process of maturation.
Other countries making sheep cheese include: Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Serbia, Ukraine, Romania, Iran, Australia, Denmark, Germany and many other countries. Although the Feta is called differently in each country, the manufacturing process is the same.
The historical record, the first of feta cheese was during the Byzantine time. An Italian who visited Candia (in 1494) gave a vivid description of the brine solution used in the manufacture of feta cheese. Additional records are of peasants in the Balkans that did well with sheep or goat milk.
Today, cow's milk can be used to make feta cheese. The processes involved are: milk curdled with rennet, separation and drainage of the curd, put salt on the blocks of curd, slicing the slabs which are then salted once more.
Feta is usually used to make salads and much more tasty when combined with tomatoes, olives and green vegetables. One can store feta indefinitely because of the salt solution. A wise advice: if you want to reduce the saltiness of the cheese, feta cheese first immersion in water or milk (just a few minutes) before eating.
Now, here is some important nutritional information: it contains 30-60% fat of which 45% is milk fat. The calorie content is 100 calories per small slice. If this is good or bad for you is a question you need to ask your dietitian.
Actually there are some studies that were conducted to reduce salinity of feta cheese and how this has significantly improved its nutritional value. The conclusion was points, has good and bad. The good: it is a superior source of riboflavin, protein, calcium, phosphorus and vitamin B12. The downside: it has a high cholesterol and sodium. Comes with high saturated fats.
Another disadvantage to eat feta cheese: pregnancy not allow the consumption of feta cheese. From the feta is made from unpasteurized milk and comes in soft, which may contain a type of bacteria called Listeria. Although records of Listeria symptoms like the common cold and may be tolerated by adults, is highly fatal to fetuses.
Could take another bad news? It is very difficult to get the real thing in the country. Since it is highly consumed in Greece due to the restriction of import of products produced unpasteurized milk, Americans can have a taste of feta through trading partners. Although commercial feta cheese are lower in almost all respects, by at least they are the closest they are going to try the feta. If you are looking for the cheese 'original', then be willing to pay exorbitant fees!
Enough with the bad. There is more to this cheese that bad once in a while. Feta cheese is used in many sumptuous recipes that stimulate the palate and is incorporated in most Greek meals. Here are some recipes that you could research online:
1. Chunky guacamole (or Guacamole Picado)
2. Turnovers Goat Cheese
3. Feta and Ricotta Cheese Fondue
4. Greek Scramble
5. Lamb and Olive Balls
6. Lemony Artichokes with Feta and oregano
7. Lobster Packages
8. Mediterranean Feta Cheese Dip
9. Leg of lamb stuffed with roasted garlic, feta cheese and basil leaves
10. Spinach Triangles (Spanakopita)
Are not the recipes enough to convince you that there is more good than bad feta cheese? If you are convinced and to reject a good meal with feta cheese on it, then believe me, you're definitely missing half of your life!
Lee Dobbins writes for http://cheese.topicgiant.com where you can learn more about making cheese, cheese recipes and different types of cheese like feta cheese [http://cheese.topicgiant.com/Articles/Feta_Cheese.php].