Delightful Oven-Baked Cheese Curd Casserole

Ingredients

- 4 cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon rennet or 1 rennet tablet (crushed)
- Optional: Herbs or spices of your choice for garnish

Instructions

1. Prepare the Milk Mixture
In a large, oven-safe pot, pour the whole milk and add the salt. Stir well to combine.

2. Warm the Milk
Place the pot over low heat on the stove and slowly warm the milk to 85°F. Use a kitchen thermometer for accuracy. This should take about PT10M (10 minutes).

3. Add Rennet
Once the milk reaches the desired temperature, remove it from the heat. Add the rennet and gently stir for about PT1M (1 minute) to ensure even distribution.

4. Let the Milk Set
Cover the pot and let it sit undisturbed for PT60M (60 minutes) at room temperature to allow the milk to coagulate.

5. Check the Coagulation
After an hour, the milk should have formed a firm curd. If it still appears liquid, let it rest for an additional PT10M (10 minutes).

6. Cut the Curd
Using a long knife, cut the curd into ½ inch cubes, slicing vertically and then horizontally.

7. Heat the Curd
Preheat your oven to 200°F. Place the pot with cut curds over medium heat. Gently stir the curds for PT20M (20 minutes) to release whey and start to firm up.

8. Drain and Set the Curds
Using a slotted spoon, carefully transfer curds into an oven-safe dish lined with cheesecloth. Allow the whey to drain.

9. Bake the Curds
Transfer the dish to the oven and bake for PT30M (30 minutes) to enhance flavor and firm up the curds.

10. Finishing Touches
Remove from the oven, and let it cool for PT10M (10 minutes). Optionally, garnish with your choice of herbs or spices.

Total Time

PT2H11M
2 hours 11 minutes

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

cheese curd, homemade cheese, oven-baked, dinner dish, easy cheese recipe, cheese casserole, beginner-friendly cheese, curd preparation, homemade curds, baked cheese

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total Calories: 1200

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