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Homemade Cheese with Roasted Tomatoes and Basil

June 24, 2014 / Side Dishes, Tomato, Vegetarian

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

Homemade cheese is easy with this simple method. Adding seasonal tomatoes and basil makes it a summer staple.

Homemade cheese is easy with this simple method. Adding seasonal tomatoes and basil makes it a summer staple.

The cherry tomato plants are taking over.

Deciding that their carefully placed cages are too confining, they’ve reached out their limbs in every direction, trying to make their move out of the garden box. Tomatoes, it seems, don’t realize they’re meant to be eaten.

After a few years of frustration, we now only grow cherry tomatoes in our garden. Thanks to birds and squirrels that are far more industrious than I and the years-long drought, larger tomatoes are best left to those who are experts — or at least have drip tape installed.

This year, I happily pluck tomatoes from our plants nearly daily, and my only worry is how to tether the ever-lengthening branches.

We do get more tomatoes than we tend to eat in on any given day, but luckily summer is the time for tomatoes and their consort basil to shine. In particular, mixed together in this homemade cheese.

Homemade cheese is remarkably easy, and every time I make it I wonder why I don’t do it more often. This is a basic ricotta-like cheese, and it only needs milk and vinegar, plus salt to taste.

Special tools aren’t really necessary either, except for one: cheesecloth! You’ll need to be able to strain your homemade cheese without losing curds, and I find double- or triple-layering cheesecloth and letting it hang over the sink works best for me.

I like to set a bowl underneath to capture any extra whey, just in case I want to blend some back into the cheese later. I do already save the whey from the main pot, which you can use in all sorts of recipes from pancakes to smoothies.

Homemade Cheese - Make homemade cheese with this simple method. Adding seasonal tomatoes and basil make it a summer staple.

Once you have the basic method for making cheese down, the sky’s the limit for flavor additions or use in recipes. Or, enjoy it as I do, by simply smearing it on some fresh bread.

Homemade Cheese with Roasted Tomatoes and Basil Photo from Stetted

Homemade Cheese with Roasted Tomatoes and Basil

Yield: About 1 pint
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Homemade cheese is easy, and this flavor combo with tomatoes and basil is wonderful for summer

Ingredients

  • 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 gallon whole milk, preferably raw or low-temperature pasteurized
  • 1/2 cup white or cider vinegar
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
  2. Halve tomatoes and toss with basil and olive oil. Spread onto a lipped baking sheet and roast for 30-40 minutes. Set aside to cool.
  3. Pour milk in a large nonreactive pot. Heat to 175°F, using a candy or instant-read thermometer to verify.
  4. Remove from heat and stir in vinegar. The milk should start to separate into curds and whey.
  5. Line a colander with cheesecloth and set over a large bowl or pot. (You will collect approximately 3 quarts of whey.)
  6. Carefully pour curds and whey into colander. Allow to drain 5 minutes, or longer for firmer cheese.
  7. Combine cheese and roasted tomatoes together in a medium bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve warm spread on bread, use in lasagna, or as a pasta topping. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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  • Cuisinart Stainless 4-Piece 12-Quart Pasta/Steamer Set
    Cuisinart Stainless 4-Piece 12-Quart Pasta/Steamer Set
  • 100% Unbleached Cotton Fabric Ultra Fine Cheesecloth
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 169Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 123mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 0gSugar: 15gProtein: 8g

Did you make this recipe?

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© Megan
Category: Condiments

More homemade cheese recipes you might like:

  • 30-Minute Mozzarella – Eating from the Ground Up
  • DIY Mascarpone – Stetted
  • Fresh Goat Cheese – Always with Butter
  • Homemade Feta Cheese – Foodie with Family
  • Rich Homemade Ricotta – Smitten Kitchen
Weekly Meal Plan, June 23
Weekly Meal Plan, June 30

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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  1. Amber | Bluebonnets & Brownies says

    June 24, 2014 at 11:10 am

    This is one of those recipes I would love to try, but will have to wait until I live next to people that don’t loathe cheese. Just one look at this would turn James green around the gills. Meanwhile, I want to inhale it breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

    Reply
  2. Jamie | My Baking Addiction says

    June 25, 2014 at 6:23 pm

    I am with Amber, I definitely would love to try this! Such a great appetizer for summer parties.

    Reply
  3. Cookbook Queen says

    June 26, 2014 at 6:56 am

    This is like MAGIC!! So so cool.

    Reply
  4. Christine from Cook the Story says

    June 26, 2014 at 8:02 am

    What an awesome recipe!

    Reply

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