Fresh basil adds delicious flavor to this cheese.
Fresh cheese is a tasty treat that is easy to create at home. A light summer snack, lemon basil yogurt cheese is perfect with fresh vegetables or fruit, and it packs well for picnics. You must make this cheese at least 24 hours in advance of eating, so plan appropriately.
Instructions
1. Zest one lemon using the citrus zester or a fine grater. Set lemon zest aside. Finely chop fresh basil to make about 1/4 cup. You may substitute 1 tbsp. dry basil, but using raw basil adds a fresh, summery flavor to the cheese.
2. Open the tub of yogurt and stir with a spoon. Add the lemon zest, freshly chopped or dry basil and sea salt to the yogurt and stir well.
3. Fold the cheesecloth to make two to three layers. Using the scissors, cut a square of folded cheesecloth approximately 18-by-18 inches. You can find cheesecloth in the cooking utensil or canning section of most department stores.
4. Line a deep bowl with the cheesecloth square, leaving some of the cloth hanging over the lip of the bowl. Spoon the flavored yogurt into the cheesecloth in a mound at the center of the cloth.
5. Cut a piece of cotton string about 12 inches long. Gather the cheesecloth up at the top to form a bag. Tie the bag closed with the string, leaving two long ends of string hanging.
6. Tie the yogurt-filled cheesecloth bag to the middle of a wooden spoon handle using the hanging ties. Place the spoon over the bowl and rest it on the lip of the bowl, suspending the bag over the bowl. Be sure to use a bowl deep enough to suspend the bag with at least 1 to 2 inches of clearance between the bottom of the bag and the floor of the bowl.
7. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 to 48 hours, depending on preference of cheese firmness.
8. Unwrap the cheese carefully and discard the cheesecloth before serving. Place on a serving dish and add sliced fresh vegetables or fruit, sweet or savory bread, or crackers.
Tags: over bowl, basil adds, fresh vegetables, fresh vegetables fruit, lemon zest, this cheese