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This article is about cheese curds as a regional delicacy. For general information about the dairy product, see curd. For information about the role of curds in cheese processing, see cheese curd processing.
Not to be confused with curd cheese.
Cottage cheese is cheese curd
Cheese curds

Cheese curds are the solid pieces of curdled milk either eaten alone as a snack, or used in various regional dishes. These are chiefly found in Quebec, Canada, in the dish poutine (made of french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy), and in the northeastern and midwestern United States. Curds are sometimes referred to as "squeaky cheese".[1]

Production

Cheese curds are made from fresh pasteurized milk in the process of creating cheese when bacterial culture and rennet are added to clot the milk.[1] After the milk has been pasteurized, the result is a mixture of whey and curd. This mixture is then cooked and pressed to release the whey from the curd, creating the final product of cheese curd.[1]

Characteristics

Their flavor is mild, but can differ in taste depending on the process by which they were made. It has about the same firmness and density as cheese, but with a springy or rubbery texture.[1] Fresh curds squeak against the teeth when bitten into, a defining characteristic due to air trapped inside the porous material. This "squeak" has been described by The New York Times as sounding like "balloons trying to neck".[2] After 12 hours, even under refrigeration, cheese curds lose much of their "fresh" characteristic, particularly the "squeak", due to moisture entering the curd.[1] Keeping them at room temperature can preserve the squeakiness.

The curds have a mild flavor and are sometimes somewhat salty.[1] Most varieties, as in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Vermont, or New York State, are naturally uncolored. The American variety is usually yellow or orange, like most American Cheddar cheese.[citation needed]

Uses

Deep-fried cheese curds served at a community festival in Minnesota

Fresh

Fresh cheese curds are often eaten as a snack, finger food or an appetizer. They may be served alone, dressed with an additional flavor, or with another food, such as a small smoked sausage or piece of cured pork, with the elements skewered together on a toothpick. Examples of flavorings applied to fresh curds include jalapeño chili peppers, garlic, various herbs, or spice blends such as Cajun seasoning, with garlic and dill on cheddar curds being a popular combination.[3]

Fried cheese curds

Deep-fried cheese curds are often found at carnivals and fairs, and often local non-chain fast-food restaurants and at regular restaurants and bars, as well as a few chain restaurants of local origin. Deep-fried cheese curds are covered with a batter, similar to one used for onion rings, or are breaded and placed in a deep fryer, they are sometimes served with a side of ketchup, marinara sauce, or ranch dressing.[4]

In many areas where fried cheese curds are common, the term "cheese curds" refers to the fried variety; non-fried curds are distinguished by calling them "raw" or "plain" cheese curds.

In some areas, deep-fried cheese curds are also known as cheeseballs.[5]

Poutine

A classic poutine, such as this one from La Banquise, is made with french fries, cheese curds, and gravy.
Main article: Poutine

Cheese curds are a main ingredient in poutine, a dish consisting of french fries topped with fresh cheese curds, covered with brown gravy and sometimes additional ingredients.[1] The dish originated in rural Quebec, Canada, in the late 1950s. Several Québécois communities[which?] claim to be the birthplace of poutine.

Paneer

Cubes of paneer in a salad served in an Indian restaurant in Mumbai
Main article: Paneer

In the Indian subcontinent, fresh cheese curd is also known as cottage cheese. It is made by boiling milk and then adding an acid (vinegar, lemon juice) to curdle it. Once the milk is curdled, the watery portion is discarded and the white casein is retained. It is then put into a mold and made into a roughly rectangular or oval shape. Paneer, as it is known all over the country, is widely used in snacks, appetizers, main course, and rice biryani. It is an alternative to meat and is very popular especially in India.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Laura Brehaut (25 October 2016). "'The taste is in the squeak': Why the key to the perfect poutine is the cheese curds — just don't refrigerate them". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 25 June 2017. 
  2. ^ Louisa Kamps, "Cheese Curds," NY Times, October 17, 2004
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-10-26. Retrieved 2011-09-12. 
  4. ^ Lewis, Chelsey (April 21, 2016). "Are Fried Cheese Curds Wisconsin's Most Important Food Innovation?", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  5. ^ Belleville, Kansas Dairy Queen website Archived April 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ "Paneer - A good substitute for meat". ZipfWorks, Inc. 2017. 

External links