Best Homemade String Cheese Recipes

GOOEY CHEESE STICKS (FRIED OR BAKED)

Steps:

• Open the cheese strings and cut each in half. Cover and place in the freezer for at least 2 hours or until completely frozen.
• Combine flour and cornstarch in a small bowl. Combine the Italian and Panko bread crumbs in a separate shallow dish. In third small bowl, whisk eggs and olive oil until well combined.
• Dip each cheese stick half into the egg mixture and then gently roll into the flour mixture.
• Put back into the egg mixture and roll until coated. Finally, place into the bread crumbs pressing the crumbs on each piece of cheese to make sure it's coated all around so the cheese doesn't leak out.
• Place in the freezer while the oil preheats. Preheat oil to 350°F. It should be hot enough that a few crumbs dropped into the oil will bubble.
• In small batches, place breaded cheese sticks into the hot oil for about 2 minutes or just until browned. Do not overcook or the cheese will leak out.
• Serve hot with warm pasta sauce.

STRING CHEESE

Steps:

• Stir the citric acid into ½ cup of water and set it aside.
• Dissolve the ¼ tablet of rennet in ¼ cup of water and set it aside.
• Pour the milk into the pot, and stir in the citric acid solution.
• Heat on medium to 90°F. 5 At 90°F, add the rennet solution and mix it in with 20 quick strokes to make sure it is incorporated evenly.
• Continue heating to 105°F, then turn off the heat. Stay close and monitor the heat. The milk reaches temperature quickly and overheating can ruin the batch. Look for a separation between curds and whey, clumps, or a yogurt-like texture.
• Use the spoon to gently slice through any large clumps of curd so that the largest curds are just 1 to 2 inches. Slowly move the pieces around in the warm whey to help them shrink as they cook.
• When the texture of the curds has changed from that of soft yogurt to that of a scrambled egg, scoop the curds into the microwave-safe bowl.
• Pour any extra whey into the pot as you hold the curds with your hands or a spoon. Spread the curds across the bottom of the bowl for more even heating. Microwave the bowl of curds for 1 minute on high.
• Using the spoon or your hands, fold the curd mass over itself 5 times to distribute the heat evenly. Drain off any whey that was released.
• Microwave again for 30 seconds and drain the whey immediately.
• Sprinkle the salt, oregano, and sun-dried tomato bits (if using) on the curds, and fold 10 times to incorporate it all evenly. As you fold the curds, you will start to notice changes in texture: they will be less lumpy, will be coming together, and will feel a little springy. You may even see signs of melting.
• Microwave for another 30 seconds. There should be very little whey now. Continue to fold the curds. It will start out looking like cookie batter and transform into a texture more like bread dough.
• The curd could come together in as few as 5 folds or as many as 30, depending on how hot the curds are and how processed your milk is. When it comes together completely and looks smooth, take it between your hands and try to stretch it.
• When the curd stretches easily, pull it as long as you can without it breaking, then fold the curd over itself before stretching it again.
• Continue to stretch and fold until you have a long rope of cheese. Four to six stretches are sufficient, but you can keep going with it as long as it's warm and stretchy. If the curd tears, it's a good time to stop. If you'd like to stretch it longer and thinner, heat it for another 30 seconds, and continue to stretch and fold. .
• When you are satisfied with the length and thickness of the cheese rope, cut the rope into pieces.
• Prepare the ice bath by filling a bowl about three-quarters full with cold water, then adding ice cubes to top it off. Drop the warm Pizza Filata pieces into the ice water for a minute or two so they retain their shape.
• Spoon the cheese pieces from the ice bath and place them onto a clean, lint-free towel or paper towel. Gently dry the cheese pieces with the towel, then refrigerate.

HOMEMADE STRING CHEESE

Steps:

• Place cheese in a Teflon saucepan and add a dash of mahleb and salt and a sprinkling of black seeds.
• Heat on low until cheese is melted thoroughly.
• Remove from heat and drain water.
• Pick up hot cheese in a lump, and make a hole in the center to look like a doughnut.
• Stretch and turn the cheese to form a large loop.
• Double the strand of cheese, making two strands of cheese of even length.
• Repeat, stretching and looping; the more you stretch the stringier the cheese becomes.
• Repeat stretching several times.
• Twist ends in opposite directions and intertwine rope into a braid.
• Place one end through the loop of the other to lock it.
• Set cheese aside to dry thoroughly.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze.
• To serve, open braid, cut one loop and pull cheese apart into thin strands.
• Serve with pocket bread.

STRING CHEESE MEAT LOAF

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce, egg, bread crumbs, garlic and rosemary. Crumble meat over mixture and mix well. , Press half into a greased 8x4-in. loaf pan. Place two pieces of cheese, side by side, near one end of loaf. Cut the remaining piece of cheese in half; place side by side on opposite end of loaf. Top with remaining meat mixture; press down firmly to seal., Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours or until meat is no longer pink and a thermometer reads 160°; drain. Drizzle with the remaining spaghetti sauce; bake 10 minutes longer. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing.