Homemade Cheese

Master this basic recipe and you can go wild with additional ingredients to make unique and tasty cheese at home.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 C (500 ml) live culture full-cream / Greek yoghurt
• 1 C (250 ml) fresh cream (optional)
• 1 tsp (5 ml) salt
• (if you are adding cream, add an additional 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) salt)
• *Developing/Hanging time: 5 days

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Line a sieve with a clean muslin cloth. Don’t use a cotton dishtowel as it is too thick and won’t allow the yoghurt to render liquid. Cut a clean muslin cloth cut into a 25-cm square (you will need one square per 250 ml cheese) and line a sieve with it.
2. 2To make the cheese, mix the yoghurt, cream (if using) and salt together. Fold in any other chopped ingredients or pulp that you may using (see Variations below).
3. 3Line the muslin cloth with your chosen ‘lining’, such as tomato peel ‘petals’, herb leaves, thinly sliced biltong or smoked salmon. You could also sprinkle the muslin cloth with spices, cocoa powder, powdered biltong or seeds and chopped nuts in a pretty pattern.
4. 4Now carefully scoop the cheese mixture into the cloth lining.
5. 5Pull up the sides and tie the ends with string and secure it to a hanging-stick, such as a wooden skewer or a chopstick, to fit over an empty yoghurt container or a tall glass canister with a wide brim.
6. 6The cheese ball needs to hang free from the sides and at least 3 cm from the bottom of the container.
7. 7Place in the refrigerator for five days.
8. 8Before serving, carefully untie the string and pull the cloth away from the cheese to reveal your beautiful creation! Serve with a selection of breads and crackers, as an accompaniment to fresh crudités or with poached eggs and smoked salmon.
9. 9Goat’s Cheese & Peppercorns
10. 10Add 100 g goat’s cheese for a mild goat’s cheese flavour and a few Madagascan green peppercorns.
11. 11Sun-dried Tomatoes & Pesto
12. 12Line the muslin cloth with tomato peel ‘petals’ or a smear of basil pesto and add balsamic-roasted sun-dried tomatoes to the cheese to make a delicious starter.
13. 13Chocolate, Blueberries & Honey
14. 14Add grated good-quality chocolate, blueberries and honey to the cream cheese to make a wonderful, not-so-sweet dessert.