Minas (cheese)

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The Minas cheese ( Portuguese: Queijo Minas ) is a typical cheese from Brazil with a round shape. It is named after the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais , which is very well known for its variety of cheeses. Minas cheese is a typical cheese found in Brazilian farms, and it is easy to make.

The cheese is available in the three classic variants Frescal (fresh), Meia-cura (slightly ripened) and Curado (ripened), whereby the Queijo Minas Frescal is probably the most common and is often referred to as the Minas cheese. The Curado has a dark orange color and, in contrast to the Frescal, is very hard. A fourth, relatively new variant is Padrão (standard), which is subject to a standardized manufacturing process and is available throughout Brazil.

history

Production of this cheese began in the 18th century in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Due to the large number of dairy cows in this region at the time, the gold diggers ( Mineiros ) mainly fed on Minas cheese.

properties

  • Very soft
  • White color
  • Half fat (15-19%)
  • Damp (55 - 60%)

Manufacturing and preparation

A fresh Minas cheese.

Frescal cheese is usually made from the milk of Suri cows . The cheese is made from the following ingredients: cow's milk, salt, sour milk ( Coalho ) and water.

The thick sour milk is mixed with the salt, the warm water and then with the milk, which must be between 33 ° and 35 ° warm. The ingredients are mixed well and left to stand so that the whole mixture becomes sour. After about 10 minutes, the sour milk is removed with a sieve and pressed into a mold. Then a little salt is added and the cheese rests for four hours so that the water can drain out. Then a little salt is added again and another four hours wait. This step is repeated two more times, inverting the shape before the last time.

use

In Brazil, this cheese is eaten with goiabada (a Brazilian sweet made from the guava fruit ( goiaba ), similar to a jam ), with bread rolls or just plain.

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