Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (2024)

Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (1)

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Gorgonzola is a fabulous blue from the northern Piedmont of Italy. This cheese uses a traditional two curd method, known as 'del Nonno' (Grandfathers cheese) or 'Antico' (old fashioned). Today this method is known as 'Picante' due to the stronger flavor. This is a drier, more crumbly cheese than the modern Gorgonzola 'Dolce'.

  • Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (2)

    Yield

    7 Pounds

  • Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (3)

    Aging Time

    ~6 Months

  • Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (4)

    Skill Level

    Advanced

  • Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (5)

    Author

    Jim Wallace

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 10 Gallons of Milk (Not Ultra Pasteurized)
  • 6.4 oz Prepared Bulgarian Yogurt
  • 1/16 tsp Penicillium Roqueforti
  • 7 ml Liquid Single Strength Animal Rennet
  • Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Calcium Chloride (for Pasteurized Milk)
Equipment

  • Good Thermometer
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Curd Knife
  • Skimmer to Stir Curds
  • Cheesecloth
  • Blue Cheese Mold

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Instructions

Traditional Gorgonzola

In this recipe we will make a cheese based on the very old, traditional Gorgonzola. The milk is set in the evening of the 1st day and ripened over night to produce a very acidic firm curd. This curd will make up the interior of the cheese and provide an open texture for blue to grow in.

On the morning of the 2nd day another curd is made, this time with less acid and a better ability to knit into a closed texture. On the afternoon of day 2 the curds are combined in a cheese mold, placing the fresh curd on the bottom, sides and top, and the firmer curds in the center.

  • Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (8)

    Acidify & Heat Milk

    Before you Begin, add 1/16-1/8 tsp blue mold powder to 1/2 cup of milk and allow to rehydrate, for several hours, before starting.

    Begin with 5 gallons of whole milk and heat to 87F.

    Add 3.2 oz prepared bulgarian yogurt, as starter. Add milk with re-hydrated blue mold. Let ripen for 30 minutes.

    Note: The prepared yogurt should be made from our bulgarian yogurt culture. It is added as a percentage of the milk volume, .5% of 5 gallons is 3.2 oz.

  • Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (9)

    Coagulate with Rennet

    Add 3.5 ml rennet and let set 60-90 minutes, for a firm set.

  • Cut & Stir Curds

    Cut curd into 1/2-3/4" cubes, let rest for 5 minutes, then stir for 1 hour.

  • Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (12)

    Drain Overnight

    Remove whey to the curd level, then transfer curds into a cloth bag or cheesecloth and drain overnight. Let acid develop at 68F for a final pH of 4.6-4.8.

  • Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (13)

    Prepare Second Batch

    The following morning, heat another 5 gallons of whole milk to 87F. Add .5-1% prepared bulgarian yogurt, let ripen for 30 minutes.

    Add 3.5 ml liquid rennet, let set for 60-90 minutes.

    Cut curd into 1/2-3/4" cubes, let rest for 5 minutes, then stir for 1-2 hours.

    Remove whey to curd level, pH should be 5.9.

  • Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (14)

    Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (15)

    Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (16)

    Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (17)

    Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (18)

    Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (19)

    Mold Curds

    Break up the drained curds, from the first day, into walnut sized chunks.

    Fill cheese mold with the resh, second batch of curds, on bottom top & outside and the 1 day old curd in the center. Press the fresh curds down around the edges.

    Flip the curds every 30 minutes to set the surfaces, keep flipping periodically until the following day.

  • Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (20)

    Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (21)

    Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (22)

    Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (23)

    Salting

    This cheese gets a heavy dose of salt over the next five days, with a days rest in between each application. Alternate sides are salted AM and PM. The salting doses are distributed at 50%-30%-20%.

    Begin Salting, total salt used is 4% of the cheese weight.

    Distribute salt as follows:

    • Late on Day3=50%
    • Day5=30%
    • Day7=20%
    • Next day the outside curd pH= 5.4-5.2

    Note how the salt melts into the cheese and forms it's own brine. It is important to use a coarse salt to control the rate of salt absorption.

    Following the dry salting, the cheese will have a very rough hard surface feel and is ready for a long ripening in the cave. In about 3-8 days the dry surface texture will become somewhat moist and sticky as the salt moves to the interior. The temp should be about 52-56F and the Relative Humidity 92-97%.

  • Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (24)

    Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (25)

    Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (26)

    Pierce The Cheese

    At about day 10-18 the texture of the cheese will change becoming softer and the blue will begin to appear on the surface. It is now time to punch holes in the cheese surface to allow air to reach the blue inside.

    With a sterile, #2 knitting needle, punch top side of the cheese on day 15 and the bottom side on day 20.

    Note the development of a red rind forming. This is due to high moisture and a change in surface pH. This should be wiped down and RH should be controlled to prevent too sticky of a rind.

  • Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (27)

    Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (28)

    Aging

    Ripen the cheese at 52-56F and 92-97% RH. Do not allow the rind to become too sticky, reduce RH% if neeeded.

    After a nice slow aging in the cave for about 3-6 months the cheese will be ready to enjoy.

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Gorgonzola Picante Cheese Making Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do they make Gorgonzola cheese? ›

Gorgonzola starts off like most cheeses–rennet is added to milk, which reacts and creates curds and whey. However, to make gorgonzola one extra-special ingredient is added: the aforementioned Penicillium glaucum. Don't worry, this mold is the good kind, and it's what creates gorgonzola's unmistakable flavor.

What is the closest cheese to Gorgonzola? ›

Another blue mold cheese named after its place of origin is Roquefort, made from sheep's milk. Tangy, crumbly and with a unique marbling, this cheese closely resembles its Italian counterpart. Aromatic and pungent, Roquefort holds its own when used as a substitute for Gorgonzola.

What is a substitute for Gorgonzola Piccante? ›

A semi-soft English blue cheese from cows, blue stilton is also a good alternative for gorgonzola piccante.

Can you eat the rind of gorgonzola cheese? ›

Basically, there are two parts of a cheese- the rind and the paste- and you can eat BOTH parts as long as they're not wax/plastic or specifically designated on the label as “inedible” (e.g. the rind of Italian Gorgonzola Dolcelatte, which is by no means toxic or anything like that- it just brings a rather unpleasant ...

What are the two types of gorgonzola cheese? ›

There are two varieties of Gorgonzola, which differ mainly in their age: the less aged Gorgonzola Dolce (also called Sweet Gorgonzola), which can have a less salty taste and a slightly sweet finish, and the more aged Gorgonzola Piccante (also called Gorgonzola Naturale, Gorgonzola Montagna, or Mountain Gorgonzola).

Which is stronger blue cheese or Gorgonzola? ›

A cheese simply labeled "blue" will typically be more intense-tasting, saltier and less creamy than Gorgonzola, but you can usually substitute one for the other in most recipes, and they both work beautifully on cheese boards.

How long can you keep Gorgonzola cheese? ›

An unopened gorgonzola container will keep in the fridge for up to 3-4 weeks. During this time, it will continue to mature, so don't let it go past that 4-week mark. Once open, you should use up all the gorgonzola within a week.

How far is it from cheddar to Gorgonzola? ›

The distance between Cheddar and Gorgonzola is 1145 km. How do I travel from Cheddar to Gorgonzola without a car? The best way to get from Cheddar to Gorgonzola without a car is to train and bus which takes 24h 59m and costs £220 - £430.

What is Gorgonzola picante? ›

Gorgonzola Piccante DOP is a soft, sharp, aged blue cheese made with pasteurised cow's milk. The cheese took its name from a small town in Lombardy near Milan, where it is said to have been born in the 12th century. It has ivory, marbled crumbly paste speckled with a hom*ogeneous distribution of liberal blue veins.

What is the difference between Gorgonzola and Gorgonzola Piccante? ›

There are actually a few varieties, but the most popular are Gorgonzola Dolce and Gorgonzola Piccante. The main difference between Dolce and Piccante is that Gorgonzola Piccante's rind is thicker and dryer. Also, the taste of Dolce is sweet, whereas Piccante is spicy.

What is the difference between gorgonzola dolce and picante? ›

The Dolce version is a perfect blue cheese for people who say they are not fond of strong blue cheese. It is a little milder in taste, but still has all the Gorgonzola flavor and distinct blueing. The flavor profile is a bit less intense than Picante but with the same flavors that are inherent in Gorgonzola in general.

How do you know if Gorgonzola has gone bad? ›

If it grows a grey or pink mold around the edges, or a black mold, throw it out. That's an undesirable mold. Those molds aren't usually dangerous, but they can make the cheese taste bad.

Does Gorgonzola cheese have fungus in it? ›

Does Gorgonzola cheese have mold? Yes it most certainly does. The type of mold is known as Penicillium glaucum. It first grows on the outside (it needs air) then holes are poked into the wheel.

Can you eat too much Gorgonzola? ›

Since Gorgonzola cheese is high in fats and calories, excess consumption can lead to weight gain. Hence, you should limit your consumption to moderate. Excess weight may enhance the risk of numerous health problems.

How healthy is Gorgonzola cheese? ›

Gorgonzola contains high quality biological proteins, it's also rich in sodium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and A, B1, B2 and PP vitamins, essential for the proper development of your child. The amount of lipids present is 27%. 100 g of product provide 324 calories intake; the recommended dose per person is 80 g.

Does gorgonzola cheese have fungus in it? ›

Does Gorgonzola cheese have mold? Yes it most certainly does. The type of mold is known as Penicillium glaucum. It first grows on the outside (it needs air) then holes are poked into the wheel.

Which is better blue cheese or Gorgonzola? ›

A cheese simply labeled "blue" will typically be more intense-tasting, saltier and less creamy than Gorgonzola, but you can usually substitute one for the other in most recipes, and they both work beautifully on cheese boards.

What is animal rennet Gorgonzola? ›

Parmesan cheese uses rennet, an enzyme that's found in the lining of a goat or calf's stomach. Because cheeses like Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, Manchengo, Gruyère, Gorgonzola, and others use it, they aren't technically vegetarian.

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