Fresh goat cheese is a simple, satisfying cheese with a flavor that explodes when toasted under the broiler or with a portable kitchen torch. It is especially wonderful in the summer as an ingredient because it is so light and adds loft to quiches or cheesecake. Lower in calories and cholesterol than cream cheese, it can be used in any dish calling for cream cheese. The trick is to not overwork it or you will lose the light texture that comes from carefully ladling the curd.
GENERAL NUTRITION
Goat cheese, like goat milk, has a unique chemical, physical, and nutritional composition which offers a healthy, digestible alternative. Drs. George Haenlein and Young W. Park in their recent Handbook of Milk of Non-Bovine Mammals point out several reasons why. Goat milk is:
· higher on average in protein, calcium, and in Vitamins A, D, and K than cow milk, and rich in thiamin, niacin, and phosphorus
· lower in cholesterol and lactose
· more digestible because of smaller fat globules and protein agglomerates and high amounts of short and medium chain fatty acids than cow milk
· higher in buffering entities so that it’s protein forms smaller, softer, more digestible curds in the stomach
While there are many different varieties of goat milk cheeses made worldwide, most are high-moisture, fresh cheeses produced through slow coagulation of the milk. Fresh cheeses may also be allowed to ripen and develop an edible surface mold. Both fresh and ripened cheeses are usually lower in fat and calories than low-moisture aged cheeses.
NUTRITIONAL ANALYSIS
Capriole Fresh Cheese, plain
Ingredients: pasteurized goat milk; culture, rennet, salt
Nutrition per 1 oz. serving: calories, 70; calories from fat, 45; total fat, 5g (8% dv); saturated fat, 3g (15% dv); cholesterol less than, (0% dv); sodium, 65 mg (3% dv); total carbohydrate 1g (0% dv); dietary fiber, 0g (0% dv) sugar, 0 g; protein, 4g; Vitamin A (6% dv); Vitamin C (0% dv); calcium (2% dv); iron (0% dv).
Capriole Fresh Cheeses, with basil, pepper, dill or herbes de provence (as above with addition of herbs or spices)
Capriole Ripened Cheeses (Wabash Cannonball, Piper’s Pyramide, Sofia, and Crocodile Tear)
Ingredients: pasteurized goat milk; culture, rennet, salt, geotrichum mold, and ash or paprika
Nutrition per 1 oz. serving: calories, 70; calories from fat, 45; total fat, 5g (8% dv); saturated fat, 3g (15% dv); cholesterol less than, (0% dv); sodium, 65 mg (3% dv); total carbohydrate 1g (0% dv); dietary fiber, 0g (0% dv) sugar, 0 g; protein, 4g; Vitamin A (6% dv); Vitamin C (0% dv); calcium (2% dv); iron (0% dv).
Capriole Fromage`a Trois, Bourbon-Chocolate Torta and Bourbon-Chocolate Hearts
Ingredients: Pasteurized goat milk, Belgian chocolate liquor, bourbon, sugar, cocoa butter, soya lecithin, raisins, pecans, culture, rennet, salt.
Nutrition per 1 oz. serving: calories, 100; calories from fat, 45; total fat 6g (9.3% dv); saturated fat, 3g (16%dv); cholesterol per oz. (less than 1% dv); sodium, 48mg. (1.9% dv); total carbohydrate, 7g (1.9% dv); dietary fiber, .5g (2.9% dv); sugars, 4g (0% dv); protein 3g (.3% dv).
Approximately 60% the calories found in 1.5 oz. of chocolate truffle, 1/2 the total fat, 1/2 the saturated fat and cholesterol
Capriole Aged, Raw Milk Cheeses ( Old Kentucky Tomme, Mont St. Francis, Julianna)
Ingredients: raw goat milk, culture, rennet, salt , and penicilium candidum (Old Kentucky Tomme/Julianna) or b.linen (Mont St. Francis)
Nutrition per 1 oz. serving: calories, 110; calories from fat, 70; total fat, 8g (12% dv); saturated fat, 5g (28% dv); cholesterol less than 5mg (2% dv); sodium, 65 mg (3% dv); total carbohydrate 1g (1% dv); dietary fiber, 0g (0% dv) sugar, 0 g; protein, 8g; Vitamin A (4% dv); Vitamin C (0% dv); calcium (25% dv); iron (0% dv).
TIPS AND WONDERFUL PAIRINGS
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