Montasio reveal

[Lancer99]

I didn't know that it was meant to be a long-aged cheese, cracked into mine four months in, after ten weeks in the fridge.



It looked lovely:



I followed Ms. Karlin's recipe, except that when the honey fell off, flipped the cheese and re-applied the honey.

But, you ask, how did it taste? 

I gotta say, pretty excellent. This is the first cheese I made with goat, and it has a wonderful complexity. And contrary to my expectations, you can actually taste the sweetness from the honey, which just adds to the complexity and makes it better. This is my best cheese so far.





-L

[MacGruff]

Looks wonderful.

AC4U!

[Lancer99]

Thanks!

L

[Lancer99]

Now, after 14 months:



Definitely no longer a "cracker" cheese, now a grating cheese.



But, you ask, how does it taste NOW?

The sweetness is gone.  When it hits your tongue, fairly mild, but quickly the funkiness of the goat kicks in.  Not sure whether I like it better young or old.

And not quite sure what to do with it, maybe just spaghetti, olive oil, cheese, and cracked pepper?  Any ideas??

Thx,
-L

[Mornduk]

That is a wonderful looking cheese. AC4U! Have you considered serving it in rosettes like Tête de Moine? You could just use a vegetable peeler. If you're cooking with it do as you wish, but I'd use another "cheaper" cheese to emulsify the pasta then add a bit of this grated on top after plating, so you're not losing any of the flavor. I do this all the time, adding a bit on top of pizza, roasted potatoes, roasted brussel sprouts, etc. after taking them from the oven.

[MacGruff]

Aw Man!!!  That looks Wonderful!

AC4U!!

I would definitely use it as a grating cheese on pasta, soup, and other such dishes as a finishing touch!

[Lancer99]

Thanks for the cheeses and the sugestions!

I shouldn't have said the sweetness is gone.  More that it seems to have diffused through the cheese and balances the goatiness.

I used some to make this,

Montasio Roasted Potato Wedges with Lime Sour Cream:



Yum!

[Mornduk]

That looks lovely and is making me hungry.

But, I ask, how did it taste?

[Lancer99]

Hot crispy cheesy potato wedges with cold citrusy sour cream, draw your own conclusions.



-L

[DrChile]

makes me excited to cut into mine - another month or so - but now I may just take the plunge and open it now!

trent