Goat cheese...
- ...is packed with protein.Goat cheese on average contains a whopping 21 percent protein per 100 grams.
- ...has lots of good fats.Goat cheese provides many short-chain fatty acids. These are not only particularly easy to digest, but also help support a healthy gut.
- ...strengthens the bones.With around 700 milligrams of calcium plus 500 milligrams of phosphorus per 100 gram serving, goat cheese contains a large portion of the two minerals that play a particularly important role in strong bones and strong teeth.
- ...has lots of vitamin A.Just 100 grams of goat cream cheese provides almost a third of your daily requirement of vitamin A, which is beneficial for good eyesight, healthy skin and healthy mucous membranes.
- ...is easy to digest.Thanks to its short-chain fatty acids, even people with a sensitive stomach can usually tolerate goat cheese well.
- ...contains lactose.Unfortunately, people with a lactose intolerance usually have to pass on goat cheese: a 100 gram serving contains 2-4 grams of lactose.
- ...may contain cow's milk.Many goat cheeses are actually made from a mixture of goat and cow milk. If less than 50 percent goat milk is used, the label must include an indication ("cheese made from cow's milk using goat's milk").
What You Should Know About Goat Cheese
In France, around 100 different varieties of goat chese, called chèvres, are consumed. They come in a wide variety of shapes, from the typical pyramid and roll to the small ball or cone. Although other countries do not have as many varieties as the French, goat cheese is popular throughout the Mediterranean region, with Italy, Spain, Greece and Turkey among the most prominent producers.
Fresh goat's cheese is made in the same way as other fresh cheeses: lactic acid bacteria and rennet are added to the fresh goat's milk, separating the whey from the cheese mass. This mass, also called curd, is then pressed into cloths or moulds to drain it and make it firmer. It's then packed, and either combined with ingredients like herbs, or sold plain as-is.
Origins
Fresh goat cheese is one of the oldest types of cheese, and originates from the Mediterranean region.
Season
You can get goat's cream cheese at any time.
Flavor
Depending on age, origin and the percentage of goat's and cow's milk in the mix, goat cheese can be very mild to more pungent. The younger and fresher the goat cheese is, the milder it tastes.
Fresh goat's cheese tastes most mild when some of the goat's milk has been replaced by cow's milk. This is absolutely allowed and many people want it to be. If less than 50 per cent of goat's milk is used, the label must state that the cheese is made from cow's milk using goat's milk.
Our Favorite Recipes With Goat Cheese
Find all our goat cheese recipes here.
How Healthy is Goat Cheese?
Goat cheese contains less fat and lactose than cow's milk. However since goat cheese still contains an average of two to four grams of lactose per 100 grams, people with a severe lactose intolerance should not eat it.
With around 21 percent protein per 100 gram serving, goat cheese is a good choice, not only for those who want to build and maintain muscle mass. For athletes and fitness fans, goat cheese is definitely a good value, as it has 21 percent protein per 100 gram serving, depending on the variety.
Thanks to goat cheese's combination of calcium and phosphorus, it helps support strong, firm bones and healthy teeth.
Vision, skin and mucous membranes can also benefit from eating goat's cheese. 100 grams already contain almost a third of your average daily requirement of vitamin A.
| GOAT CHEESE NUTRITIONAL INFO (100 g) | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 264 |
| Protein | 19 g |
| Fat | 21 g |
| Carbohydrates | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
Shopping and Cooking Tips
Purchasing
If you can't eat cow's milk, make sure to take a close look at the label before you buy goat cheese to make sure it's really 100 percent goat's milk. If the percentage of goat's milk is less than 50 percent, the label will read cheese made from cow's milk using goat's milk. This means the cheese can contain up to 85 percent cow's milk.
Storage
Like any fresh cheese, goat cheese should be kept in the fridge and eaten as soon as possible.
Preparation
Special preparation is not necessary for goat cheese
What To Make With Goat Cheese
The very young and very soft goat's cream cheese is ideal as a spread for crispy baguettes or to combine with nuts and fresh fruit such as figs, grapes or pears.
Fresh goat's cheese also gives salads, pizzas and other savory dishes can extra creaminess and tangy kick. You can briefly bake firmer varieties in a hot oven so that they become slightly liquid inside.
