What Is Goat Cheese and How Do You Use It?

While the cow and sheep variants typically come to mind when the topic of cheese comes up, it’s interesting to note that goat cheese makes a unique and flavor-filled addition to recipes, charcuterie boards, cheese trays and salads. Also known as chèvre, which, appropriately enough, means “goat” in French, this versatile cheese can be found at specialty stores, farmers markets and many of your local grocery store chains. Like cheese made from cow’s milk, goat milk cheese varieties include gouda, feta, brie, blue and many more.

So, just what is goat’s milk cheese, which variety is best and how do you use it? This article answers all of those questions and delivers tips and insights into the best ways to add goat cheese to your next culinary adventure.

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• What Is Goat Cheese?
• Does Goat Cheese Have Lactose?
• Types of Goat Cheese
• Is Feta Goat Cheese?
• How To Make Goat Cheese
• How To Use Goat Cheese
• How Long Does Goat Cheese Last?

What Is Goat Cheese?

Goat cheese is, quite simply, cheese made from goat’s milk. This unique type of cheese can be made from the milk of any goat, but the most common breeds used for it are Alpine, Saanen, Poitevin and Nubian. Several of these breeds are from the French and Swiss Alps, regions that are famous for cheese-making. Goat cheese has a smaller amount of lactose to cow’s milk cheese, with smaller fat molecules.

It is softer than cow cheese and has a tangier flavor due to caproic and capric acids. Flavors range from floral, grass and hay to lemon, milk, cream and caramel. Goat cheese can have a firm, velvety, creamy or crumbly texture, which makes it an excellent choice to use for different recipes and culinary applications. It tends to get soft rather than melt when heated, making it perfect for combining with herbs and spices for cracker spreads.

What Is Goat Cheese Made Of?

It is made from a blend of pasteurized or raw goat’s milk, water, citric acid, rennet and salt. Other ingredients can also be added to the mixture depending on taste preferences. Don't be afraid to experiment and try a variety of combinations, especially when it comes to spices.

Is Goat Cheese Pasteurized?

It can be made with pasteurized or unpasteurized goat milk. Most goat cheese in the U.S. is pasteurized and completely safe to eat. When shopping for your favorite goat cheese brand, don't forget to research which brands are pasteurized and which are not, to ensure you get exactly what you're looking for based on your dietary preferences. 

What Does Goat Cheese Taste Like?

This type of cheese has the unique ability to deliver a variety of flavor profiles, from mild and sweet to tangy, rich and pungent. While cow cheese is more neutral in flavor, the goat's milk variety tends to have a strong and earthy flavor with accents of citrus and milk.

It pairs well with salami, duck, herbs, crunchy bread, nuts and fresh fruit like strawberries, peaches and apricots. It’s a wonderful cheese to eat slathered on bagels, stuffed into sweet peppers or combined with fresh jam and topped on toast.

Does Goat Cheese Have Lactose?

The answer is yes, goat cheese does have lactose. However, with 4.2%, it has less lactose than cow cheese, which has 5%. This may make it easier on the stomach for those with a mild lactose intolerance.

Is Goat Cheese a Dairy Product?

Goat cheese is made from goat's milk, which makes it a dairy product. Although it falls into the category of dairy products, it has a higher amount of certain fatty acids than milk from other species. Together with its lower lactose count, this makes it easier to digest.

Types of Goat Cheese

Various kinds of cheeses can be made using goat milk. Like sheep and cow cheeses, different types of goat cheese vary in taste, texture, aroma and flavor. Hailing from Italy, Spain, England, France, Canada and the United States, these cheeses can be hard or soft and can vary slightly in color. You’ll find that many of the varieties are familiar. Just remember, if it can be made with cow’s milk, it can also be made with goat’s milk.

Aged Goat Gouda

Originating in the Netherlands, aged goat gouda has a smooth and velvety texture with slight hints of crunchy crumbles. It’s described as having a flavor like butterscotch, bourbon and caramel. Brabander, Murray’s and Dutch Girl all make delicious aged goat gouda cheeses.

Bonne Bouche

Bonne Bouche has a runny texture and a sweet and mellow flavor profile reminiscent of lemons, flowers and bread dough. Ash is used on the exterior, giving this highly textured cheese a blue-gray sprinkling on the rind. This round variant is spreadable, which makes it great for serving with crackers and vegetable trays. It becomes creamier as it ages. Murray’s and Vermont Creamery are popular brands of this variant.

Garrotxa

Garrotxa is a cheese from Spain that gets compared to hazelnut, summertime grass and soft lemon. It has a soft, textured, mold-like rind, with a tender but sliceable interior. Pair it with champagne and sparkling wines. Purchase from brands such as Murray’s or Blancafort.

Goat Brie

While traditional French brie is typically made from cow’s milk, you get a variant that delivers the sticky texture of brie with the tanginess of goat milk. Produced in France and Canada, it has a thin rind, a creamy paste-like consistency and a flavor like sweet cream and lemon. Check out brands like Chevre D’Argental, Murray’s Cheese and Laura Chenel.

Humboldt Fog

Humboldt Fog delivers an incredibly creamy and spreadable texture like that of brie. From Humboldt County, California, this bright white cheese has a flavor like sour cream and citrus with a touch of tangy yogurt. It’s sprinkled with vegetable ash, reminiscent of French cheeses. To try a delicious slice, check out Cypress Grove or Murray’s.

Le Chevrot

Le Chevrot has a tart, sweet and nutty flavor with a creamy texture. It’s almond in color and has a wrinkly rind. It comes from France and is considered a high-quality and superior variety. Sevre & Belle Cooperative and Grand’Or make delicious varieties of Le Chevrot cheese.

Nababbo

Originating from Italy, nababbo has a smooth and slippery texture and a tangy flavor like stone fruit, bread dough and lemons. This white cheese has a pinkish rind and is made by CasArrigoni in Italy. It pairs exceptionally well with prosciutto and savory crusty bread. This is an excellent variety if you’re a fan of stinky cheeses.

Queso de Murcia al Vino PDO

Smooth, with a soft, sweet wine and fruit flavor, this cheese has a snow-white interior and a beautiful violet rind. It gets its rind color from being washed in a red wine, which also infuses a grape fragrance. Produced in Spain, this semi-soft cheese is described as tangy but not too sharp. Explore brands like the Drunken Goat, the Naked Goat and Palancares to try this variant.

Ticklemore

Ticklemore, from England, has a light floral and herb-like flavor with a crumbly texture and a white rind. The unique saucer-like shape of this semi-hard cheese comes from the mold used to make it. Use it in crumbles on a salad or meat dish, with fruit preserves or paired with a glass of pinot gris. Brands to try include Neal’s Yard Dairy and Sharpham.

Verde Capra

Hailing from Italy, the Verde Capra cheese features tangy fruit flavors and a creamy panna cotta texture. This cheese has a creamy white interior that crumbles easily. It’s similar to gorgonzola and blue cheese and pairs well with fruit, cured meats, crackers and crunchy baguettes. Check out brands like Ca De Ambros and Arnoldi Verde.

Is Feta Goat Cheese?

Are you wondering if there’s a difference between cheese from goats and feta? The traditional salty and crumbly feta cheese found in Greek salads is made from sheep’s milk and is a great substitute for goat cheese. However, feta cheese can also be made from goat’s milk. The word “feta” refers to the type of cheese rather than where the milk comes from.

How To Make Goat Cheese

Ready to try your hand at making dairy delight from goats? Follow the simple guidelines below and try sprinkling in herbs, spices or even fresh blueberries for a custom blend.

• Heat the goat’s milk to approximately 65°F.
• Add a starter culture to begin the fermentation process.
• Add rennet to start the process of coagulation and curd formation.
• Scoop out the solid curds and put them into a mold that creates the shape.
• Let it drain for about 24 hours.
• Add salt to help form the rind.
• Soft cheese can be eaten right away. For a harder cheese, let it sit anywhere from a week up to a year. The longer it sits, the harder it becomes.

How To Use Goat Cheese

It is used in multiple ways and a variety of recipes. If you’re looking for ways to boost your culinary skills and add new flavors to your home recipes, consider booking cooking classes near you or online. Gourmet chefs will share their experiences and expertise in implementing any ingredients you can think of into everyday meals, helping you become an expert in the kitchen. 

Recipes using goat cheese include fried goat cheese, goat milk cheese pasta, asparagus and eggs and green spaghetti. Add a log of herbed goat cheese, brie or gouda to a cracker or charcuterie tray for a quick and easy appetizer. If you’re wondering how to cut cheese made from goat’s milk, you’ll want to use a knife designed for soft cheeses like brie, mozzarella and Camembert. Wine and cheese pairings are another delightful way to enjoy the unique flavor of this cheese variety.

How Long Does Goat Cheese Last?

Cheese made from goat milk can last up to three months in the refrigerator when sealed properly in its original packaging. It will last for about two or three weeks if not packaged.

How To Store Goat Cheese

It is best stored in a medium-cold and humid environment. The vegetable crisper is a good spot to store this cheese. Perhaps you've bought in bulk during an unmissable sale and are now wondering, “Can you freeze cheese?” and more specifically, goat cheese? Yes, it can be frozen for up to about six months.

The texture may be slightly affected, but many say the flavor remains the same. Be sure to wrap the cheese in freezer-safe paper or plastic wrap before placing it in a resealable plastic bag. You can also wrap the whole package in aluminum foil for even more protection.

Now that you're more clued up on this dairy variation, are you ready to give it a try? Goat cheese can add a new level of flavor and texture to recipes, pasta dishes, salads and appetizer trays. Now that you have an idea of what to do with cheese made from goat milk, you’ll be able to wow friends and family at your next dinner party.

For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.