Luscious Homemade 4-Ingredient Cheese

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This homemade vinegar cheese is a total game-changer. It’s essentially a cross between a creamy Ricotta and a soft Farmer’s Cheese, made decadent with that final addition of butter.

Per your request, here is the full, formatted recipe based on the guide you shared.

Luscious Homemade 4-Ingredient Cheese

Fresh, creamy, and ready in under 2 hours.

  • Prep time: 5 minutes

  • Cook/Wait time: 1.5 – 2 hours

  • Yield: Approx. 1 cup of fresh cheese

Ingredients

  • 1.5 Liters (6 1/3 cups) Whole Milk (Do not use UHT/Ultra-Pasteurized)

  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) Apple Cider Vinegar

  • 50g (1/4 cup) Unsalted Butter, melted

  • Salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat the Milk: Pour the milk into a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Heat over medium, stirring occasionally to ensure the bottom doesn’t scorch. Bring it to a gentle simmer—do not let it reach a rolling boil.

  2. The “Magic” Split: Once simmering, remove the pot from the heat. Slowly pour in the apple cider vinegar and give it one gentle stir. Let it sit undisturbed for 5 minutes. You will see the cloudy yellow whey separate from the white curds.

  3. Strain: Line a colander with two layers of cheesecloth and place it over a large bowl (to catch the whey). Gently pour the mixture into the cloth.

  4. Drain and Hang: Gather the corners of the cheesecloth and tie them into a pouch. Hang the pouch over your sink or a bowl (you can tie it to a wooden spoon balanced over a deep pot).

    • For Spreadable Cheese: Drain for 30–60 minutes.

    • For Firmer Cheese: Drain for 1.5–2 hours.

  5. Enrich and Season: Transfer the drained curds to a mixing bowl. Pour in the melted butter and add your salt. Mix vigorously with a spoon until the cheese becomes creamy and uniform.

  6. Store: Use immediately while slightly warm, or transfer to an airtight container. It will firm up slightly more once chilled in the refrigerator.

The “Don’t Toss the Whey” Guide

You’ll be left with about a liter of yellowish liquid (whey). Here is how to use it:

  • Smoothie Boost: Use it as the liquid base for fruit smoothies for extra protein.

  • Superior Bread: Use it in place of water in pizza dough or bread recipes; the acidity makes the crumb extra tender.

  • Soups: Use it as a base for creamy vegetable soups.

  • Garden: Dilute it with water and use it to water acid-loving plants like tomatoes.

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