Goat cheese, mozzarella, asiago cheese; everyone knows these cheeses because there are so many ways you can incorporate any of these cheeses into your diet. As popular as cheese is in the culinary circle, many haven’t heard of gouda cheese.
If you have heard about and tried gouda cheese, then you know what it tastes like. If you haven’t, you must be in a bind. Gouda cheese is pronounced as “how-da” by the locals. It is iconic and is one of the most famous cheeses in the world even though you haven’t heard of it.
What does gouda cheese taste like? The flavor of gouda cheese depends on how long it has aged. The longer the cheese has been aged, the more intense flavor it has. Gouda cheese has a mild and almost sweet taste. Its texture could be soft, semi-hard, or hard.
The soft texture of the young gouda cheese makes a perfect contrast when combined with crackers or sandwiches. Gouda cheese that has been aged for longer, will have a nutty and buttery flavor to them. They also become stronger, harder, and darker as it is aged for longer.
The taste of gouda cheese might be different for some because it can be affected by a number of factors. For example, If an extra step is added or subtracted from the cheese-making process, it could change the taste.
Nutritional Benefits of Gouda Cheese
Gouda cheese has an impressive nutrition profile. In a 100 gram serving of gouda cheese, you have over 20 grams of protein and substantial amounts of minerals and vitamins. In summary; gouda cheese can be a primary source of fat, vitamins including menaquinones (vitamin K2), and protein.
Like every other dairy product out there, gouda cheese is a good source of calcium. It offers about 54 percent of the daily value (DV) for calcium in 100 grams serving. Calcium is an important mineral whose role is vital in the human body. It is essential for the formation and metabolism of bones in the body.
The intake of adequate amounts of calcium into the body can help prevent osteoporosis and help improve bone density. One ounce of gouda cheese offers 115 percent of the recommended daily intake (RDI) for calcium.
Gouda cheese provides large amounts of menaquinone (vitamin K2). This vitamin is present in animal foods that have undergone bacterial fermentation. So, animal foods like aged cheese have high levels of vitamin K2. The research on the benefits that vitamin K2 proffers to the body is still in its infancy stages. But, it is a known fact that vitamin K2 is more easily absorbed by the body.
Gouda cheese plays host to moderate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids can be linked to a number of health benefits. Omega-3 acids are known for being able to improve cardiovascular health. Dietary fats like this should be an important part of our diet. Including gouda cheese into your diet could take care of that.
Culinary Uses of Gouda Cheese
If you are a big fan of mac and cheese, then it should please you to know that you can use gouda cheese when making mac and cheese. Gouda cheese melts in a very amazing way, this is perfect for a combination with cheddar in the preparation of mac and cheese. Gouda cheese can be combined with other types of cheeses.
The young gouda cheese has a soft texture. It is perfect for a combination with crackers or integration with sandwiches. The young gouda cheese also works well in salads and can be enjoyed with some fruits. Due to its soft texture and amazing melting feel, the young gouda cheese works well in casseroles.
Aged gouda cheese has a butterscotch taste that makes it a perfect base for pears or apples. If you are an adventurer, gouda cheese would work if you combine it with barbecue chicken and mozzarella. If you try using gouda cheese in any dish and it goes bad, that would be one big surprise.
What is the History of Gouda Cheese? How to Procure It?
Gouda cheese has Dutch origins. It has roots in the southern regions of the Netherlands. Gouda is named after the city of Gouda in the Netherlands. This town has a cheese center that has been around since 1668. In this cheese center, you can bring your cheese to be sold. The commercial trading of gouda seems to be even older than this cheese center as the first mention of gouda cheese goes back to 1184.
Gouda cheese is sold in public markets and is usually sold in public on large wheeled carts. These days gouda cheese refers to a style of making cheese, since the name gouda cheese has no protected designation of origin, anyone can make cheese and sell it as gouda cheese. Till date, gouda cheese is still marketed and sold in the Netherlands.
What is Gouda Cheese Comparable to?
Gouda cheese can be compared to other types of cheeses in terms of taste, texture, and even properties. Cheeses like young cheddar, munster, monterey Jack, and gruyere cheese can serve as a replacement for gouda cheese.
Facts You Don’t Know About Gouda Cheese
- The white crystals that are found inside Gouda cheese that are mistaken for salt crystals are bits of tyrosine; an amino acid that depicts the sign of aged cheese.
- The salt crystals that form on the outside cheese are a result of the brine bath that is used on cheeses.
