Let’s talk Homemade Chevre Goat Cheese!
Originating in France, chevre is the most common cheese made from goat’s milk. With a slightly tangy & salty taste, chevre goes great with a slice of fig & a drizzle of honey, with a fresh beet & arugula salad, on a toasted garlic baguette, and more!
Making chevre is probably the easiest of all cheeses as well! If you’re new to goat cheese-making, I’d recommend starting with chevre! Later on, you can conquer mozzarella, then move on to hard cheeses if you’re feeling really ambitious.
When most people say “goat cheese”, the really mean “chevre goat cheese”. Most people tend to drop the chevre name, but if you’re looking to make homemade goat cheese from scratch, it’s important you know the correct name so you can find the right culture to make it!
Does goat cheese taste pungent?
Since there are various methods for aging, and some companies choose to produce a more “pungent” goat cheese flavor, I can’t vouch for them. If you’re making it at home, however, it should taste clean and fresh, with a strong tart or tangy flavor, but no aftertaste or “goaty” flavor. Fresh goat cheese is delicious! You have got to try it!
How to make Homemade Chevre Goat Cheese
Starting with fresh, chilled goat’s milk, all you need to do is add a chevre culture and let it culture on your countertop overnight. The next morning, you’ll simply drain the curds from the whey and then salt it (and season with herbs & spices if you like). That’s it!
Recipes with Chevre Goat Cheese
- Goat Cheese Toasts with Walnut, Honey, & Thyme
- Peach & Caramelized Onion Goat Cheese Crostini
- Blueberry Cranberry Goat Cheese Walnut Salad
- Goat Cheesecake with Berries
- Peach Tarts with Goat Cheese & Honey
- Goat Cheese Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese
- Golden Flax Pizza Crust with Sundried Tomatoes & Goat Cheese
- Roasted Grape & Rosemary Goat Cheese Mini Tarts
- Grilled Chicken & Berry Salad with Goat Cheese, Pecans, & Blueberry Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Goat Cheese Risotto with Asparagus
- Quinoa Stuffed Peppers with Goat Cheese
- Flaky Goat Cheese Chive Biscuits
- Beet Bruschetta with Goat Cheese & Basil
Let’s get to the chevre goat cheese recipe, shall we?
Ingredients
- 1 gallon whole goat's milk
- 1 packet direct-set chevre starter
- 1 tsp cheese salt
- Butter muslin for draining
Instructions
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In a pot over medium heat, bring the milk to 86 degrees.
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Add the packet of chevre starter, let hydrate 2 min, then mix well into the milk.
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Remove from heat, cover, and let set at room temperature for 12 hours.
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After 12 hours, line a colander with butter muslin and pour the contents of the pot into the colander. (You can have a bowl under it to catch the whey that pours through).
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Tie the corners of the butter muslin and hang over the sink to drain for 6 hours.
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After 6 hours, pour the chevre cheese into a tupperware or glass dish, add salt (and seasonings if you like), and press into mold.
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Refrigerate until ready to eat!
Recipe Notes
Will last about 1 week in the fridge, 6 months in the freezer.
Have you ever tried goat cheese cookies? They’re incredible! The chevre gives a chewy richness to the cookie dough but no goaty flavor. Make some now and thank me later. ;^)
https://giveagirlagoat.com/goat-cheese-cookies-five-different-ways/
Is that 86 degrees F or C? THank YOU!
Fahrenheit. Thanks!
A belated thank you for linking to my Goat Cheese Risotto. I really appreciate it!
No problem! Thanks for the great recipe!
I have my first batch hanging right now 🙂 what is your families favorite was to season it?
We’ll use roasted garlic & rosemary!
Quick question:
Can you save the whey and use it to culture future batches of cheese? I want to try this, but I dont really want to keep having to buy the starter over and over.
Thanks!
Ooo! Also, I use pink salt in everything. Is there any reason to buy cheese salt instead of using my regular pink salt?
Cheese salt doesn’t have iodine in it, which can ruin the cheese:)
I’m sure you could!
So….say I have a Nubian who has so far produced fantastic tasting milk, but when I go to make cheese or kefir it tends to have the musky-goaty flavor. What am I doing wrong?
OMG. I Adore goat cheese (Or Chevre Goat Cheese, if you prefer). So tangy and creamy, and now I’m making myself super hungry.
I really need to get myself some goats…