Smoked Beer Washed Cheese

Just did a little experiment which turned out very well. I'm currently in Volcan, Panama and there is lots of dairy production here...we walk right next door to get fresh raw milk, cheese, and yogurt.

Queso Blanco AKA Queso Fresco is very common in the area. This is just a very simple direct set cheese, good but basic...so I thought I would try and make it a bit more interesting...I let it soak in a Stout for about an hour and then smoked it for a few hours....Yum! It turned out delicious. Nice smoky taste w a slightly malty finish.

Did another one of these today, but also put the cheese on a bed of fresh picked rosemary while smoking. Turned out quite nice.

Compared to the usual routine of cheese making this is close to instant gratification.

Wonder how inoculating with a blue cheese strain or similar and allowing to develop would work out?

pictures!! This sounds great =D

Johnnyhitch1 said:

pictures!! This sounds great =D

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Will post if I can get a pic before it dissappers, only 1 piece left. Did some smoked trout recently to go along with it.

Had some Queso Fresco with breakfast today, this sounds very interesting and easy, but as they say pictures or it didn't happen!

ChefRex said:

Had some Queso Fresco with breakfast today, this sounds very interesting and easy, but as they say pictures or it didn't happen!

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Yah, I know, bit it disappeared before I got a pic. Will try to get some next time.

Curtis2010 said:

Yah, I know, bit it disappeared before I got a pic. Will try to get some next time.

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The good stuff often does.

Got pics this time!

Made another batch today, 4 small rounds of queso blanco, cut each into quarters, washed half in Guiness overnight, left half plain, smoked for about 2 hours...yumm!

Looks good, going to have to give this a try when i have time. Have you used other beers?

ChefRex said:

Looks good, going to have to give this a try when i have time. Have you used other beers?

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So far just a couple of different stouts...gave it a very mild malty finish. You could go in a radically different direction and try something like a fruit lambic...damn...that sounds good!

Curtis2010 said:

I'm currently in Volcan, Panama ...we walk right next door to get fresh raw milk, cheese, and yogurt.

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Life is good.

.I let it (Queso Blanco)soak in a Stout for about an hour and then smoked it for a few hours...

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Life can get even better with a little effort.

Thanks for the imagery. I am feeling more relaxed already. Ahhhh

Epimetheus said:

Life is good.

Life can get even better with a little effort.

Thanks for the imagery. I am feeling more relaxed already. Ahhhh

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A few images of local scenery attached to help with your visualization...imagine cool high altitude temps with clouds rolling thru town in the afternoon....