Description
Fresh homemade mozzarella cheese that is soft, smooth, and stretchy, made with whole milk, citric acid, and rennet in under an hour.
Ingredients
- 1 gallon (3.8 liters) whole milk (not ultra-pasteurized)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons citric acid
- 1/4 tablet rennet or 1/4 teaspoon liquid rennet
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) cool, non-chlorinated water (for dissolving rennet)
- 1 cup cool water (for dissolving citric acid)
- 1 teaspoon cheese salt or kosher salt
Instructions
- Dissolve the citric acid in 1 cup of cool water and pour it into a large pot.
- Add the whole milk and gently stir while heating the mixture to 90°F (32°C).
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the dissolved rennet using an up-and-down motion.
- Let the mixture sit undisturbed for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the curd sets.
- Cut the curd into 1-inch cubes with a knife.
- Return the pot to low heat and slowly warm the curds to 105°F (40°C), stirring gently.
- Scoop the curds into a microwave-safe bowl and drain off the whey.
- Microwave the curds for 1 minute, drain again, and begin folding the cheese.
- Microwave again in 30-second intervals, stretching and folding after each interval, until the cheese becomes smooth and stretchy.
- Sprinkle in the salt while stretching and folding the cheese.
- Shape the mozzarella into a ball and place it in cold water to set.
Notes
- Use whole milk that is not ultra-pasteurized for proper curd formation.
- Fresh rennet and citric acid give the best results.
- If the cheese does not stretch well, the curds may need to be heated a little more.
- You can shape the cheese into one large ball or smaller bocconcini.
- Store mozzarella in salted water or whey in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezing is not recommended because it can make the texture crumbly.
- You can add herbs like basil or oregano during stretching for extra flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 oz (85 g)
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
