In this article, we\u2019ll be talking about dry curd cottage cheese, its health benefits, and how to make it at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This versatile dairy product goes by many names. You might not have come across \u201cdry curd cottage cheese\u201d in your local supermarket or at your grocer. But you might have seen it called by other names: farmer cheese, baker cheese, or if you\u2019re feeling a bit fancy, fromage blanc<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This cheese is described as buttery, with just a hint of tang. (That tanginess is a hallmark of most soft cheeses.) Overall, it has a mild taste. This cheese is somewhat moist, as are a lot of soft cheeses, but is still dry enough to slice or crumble. You can spread it, too, if that takes your fancy. Dry curd cottage cheese goes great on toast or crackers. But we\u2019ll be talking about serving suggestions later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If we\u2019re getting technical here, this soft cheese is made from milk that is cultured, which curdles it, and then pressed to separate the liquid whey. What you\u2019re left with are the solid curds, which go on to enjoy their new life as delicious dry curd cottage cheese. It\u2019s essentially cottage cheese that has been pressed to remove most of the moisture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might come across this delectable dairy product hung in cheesecloth or pressed to make a solid block that\u2019s still crumbly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, fun fact: different countries and cultures have evolved their own versions of dry curd cottage cheese: Americans like theirs salted, while the Mexican variant queso fresco <\/em>is a bit spongy; on the other side of the globe, Indians make chenna <\/em>that\u2019s almost like dry cottage cheese. It seems like everyone wants a piece of this cheese!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you know what dry curd cottage cheese is, let\u2019s talk about its nutrition and health aspects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An ounce<\/strong> of this crumbly cheese\u2014about two tablespoons\u2014would net you the following: (1<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n (The percentages daily value (DV) are calculated based on a 2,000-calorie daily diet.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only does this soft cheese taste great, but it\u2019s also great for your health, too! Here are some of the benefits of dry curd cottage cheese that might sway you to add it to your cheese platter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A tangy tablespoon of the stuff has half the calories and less than a third the fat of other kinds of cream cheese (2). Depending on the brand you go for, you can enjoy a low amount of sodium as well (pick the salt-free products if you like).<\/p>\n\n\n\n So are you looking to shave off some pounds? With dry curd cottage cheese, you can do just that while enjoying a great tasting (and guilt-free!) snack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While dry curd cottage cheese goes easy on the calories, research has shown that its nutrition profile is quite well-rounded (3<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n When added to the diet of a youngster, it can be a pillar component and an important source of valuable milk protein, milk fat, and vitamin B2, among other necessary nutrients. Even for grownups, dry curd cottage cheese can be a source of calcium and phosphate, necessary for the development of the skeletal and muscular systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Add to this bevy of nutrients healthy amounts of vitamins A, E, P, B2<\/sub>, B6<\/sub>, B12<\/sub>; folic and nicotinic acid; and macro-and micro-elements like iron, sodium, magnesium, and zinc. And last but definitely not least\u2014 like many other fermented milk products, our chosen cheese contains probiotic cultures that have a whole bunch of healthy effects on your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So we can safely say that, yes, dry curd cottage cheese is light on the calories. But it can easily hold its own when it comes to nutrition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many reasons why dry curd cottage cheese stands out in the world of soft cheeses. For starters, the taste. The texture. The nutrition. And talking about nutrients: one, in particular, makes this cheese extra special: our titular cheese has a high amount of calcium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you\u2019ve probably heard throughout your childhood, your body needs calcium to keep your bones and teeth. Calcium also keeps your heart, muscles, and nerves in working order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some studies suggest even greater benefits. One 2007 study demonstrated that calcium, when paired with vitamin D, may work to prevent cancer and diabetes (4<\/a>, 5<\/a>). Just keep in mind that these studies are not definitive, and future research may sway these opinions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our point is, calcium does good things for you. But a lot of the food that contains calcium isn\u2019t necessarily light on the carbs. If you want a guilt-free snack to make sure you\u2019re hitting that calcium count, why not try dry curd cottage cheese?<\/p>\n\n\n\n What does 65% percent of the entire human population have in common? Sadly, it\u2019s lactose intolerance. This condition makes your body unable to (or at least very poor at) digesting lactose. Lactose is a sugar found in milk and most dairy products. Yes, that includes cheese, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the lactose intolerant people of the world need not go their entire adult lives without tasting cheese. There are multiple varieties of soft cheeses that can be eaten without triggering lactose intolerant symptoms: brie, camembert, muenster, and of course, dry curd cottage cheese.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNutrition information <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Health benefits of dry curd cottage cheese.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1.<\/strong> Fewer calories<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
2.<\/strong> Wholesome nutrition profile<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
3.<\/strong> High in calcium<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
4.<\/strong> Low in lactose\u2014great for lactose intolerance<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n