15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (2024)

You are here:Home » Food Preparation » Recipes » Appetizers » 15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes

Make a healthy dinner in 30 minutes or less... while spending $0 extra! Click here for the FREE Eat God's Way “30-Minute Skillet Dishes” formula!

We only recommend products and services we wholeheartedly endorse. This post may contain special links through which we earn a small commission if you make a purchase (though your price is the same).

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (2)

Fellow cheese lovers… you’ll love this. We looked all over the web to find raw and easy cheese recipes to include in this collection.

I have to admit, it was actually hard to find that many of them. And as you’ll see, quite a few of them are from this blog. However, it ended up being a nice, round collection of 15 recipes.

So: If you make cheese already and appreciate quality recipes… Or, if you want to learn how to make cheese and need a vetted set of recipes to start you off…

…then this post is for you. We did all the hard work of reviewing recipes (and making a bunch of them, too) so you can just dive in and get started. Yummy cheese awaits. 🙂

Want more recipes or help with cheesemaking? Be sure to check out membership in Traditional Cooking School (for more recipes and hands-on video tutorials) or our stand-alone Cultured Dairy and Cheese eBook and Video package.

Raw Cheese: Easy Cheese Ball

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (3)

You’ll love this easy and delicious cheese ball from yogurt or kefir. It requires very little working time or effort. Via TraditionalCookingSchool.com.

Raw Cheese: Chevre

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (4)

Chevre, a soft spreadable cheese from raw goat milk, is one of the easiest cheeses to make. You can also use raw cow milk to make this cheese. The process is the same, you just can’t call it chevre anymore. 😉 Via ediblearia.com.

Raw Cheese: 30 Minute Farmer’s Cheese

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (5)

If you add an acid to warmed (near the cow’s body temperature) raw milk, it results in a quick and tender farmers’-style cheese, like this one, that truly demonstrates how much easier it is to make cheese with fresh milk! Via countryliving.com.

Note: The leftover whey from this farmer’s cheese is not suitable for fermenting because of the additional acid. You could still use it for soaking grains.

Raw Cheese: Easy Cottage Cheese and Sour Cream

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (6)

Raw milk cottage cheese and raw milk sour cream are easy to make. So easy they could become a staple in your kitchen. The cottage cheese in this recipe is more of a clabber cheese than what you might purchase in the store but is still delicious. Give it a try! Via realfoodrn.com.

Raw Cheese: Kefir or Yogurt Cheese Balls

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (7)

You’ll love this traditional Middle Eastern method of preserving yogurt cheese that requires no refrigeration. The cheese is salted and soured, both of which are means of preservation — but then when fashioned into balls, the balls are submerged into extra virgin olive oil, a protective brine of sorts. Via TraditionalCookingSchool.com.

Raw Cheese: Cream Cheese

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (8)

Check out these four different methods for making cream cheese out of raw milk. Simple and easy! Via wholelifestylenutrition.com.

Raw Cheese: Flavored Cream Cheese

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (9)

Learn to make your own homemade flavored cream cheese, and you’ll never buy another tub again. Sure, the grocery store flavors taste good — but these taste fabulous (and are more healthy). Plus, there’s no limit to what flavors you can try! Via TraditionalCookingSchool.com.

Raw Cheese: Fromage Blanc

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (10)

Fromage blanc (white cheese in French) is a soft, spreadable cheese with a mild flavor. It is perfect as a spread on bread or crackers or as a dip for fruit or vegetables. Fromage blanc is very easy to make and is a great option for beginning cheesemakers. Via culturesforhealth.com.

Raw Cheese: Cottage Cheese

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (11)

Gentle heating and a long, slow ripening time give this wonderful cottage cheese it’s flavor and texture. You can make this with goat or cow milk. Via TraditionalCookingSchool.com.

Raw Cheese: Feta

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (12)

If you’re looking for an easy raw cheese to make, feta is the one. Yes, it takes a little time to make feta — but when you’re done you will have tangy and delicious goodness. Via homesteadlady.com.

Raw Cheese: Monterey Jack

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (13)

Monterey Jack is a popular semi-hard cheese that was first developed in the American west. It’s mild and flavorful and melts easily. It’s traditionally made with cow milk, but goat milk will work equally well. Via culturesforhealth.com.

Raw Cheese: Cheddar

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (14)

Make your own cheddar cheese! You can press then and let it age or press it and eat it fresh. You can even eat it as curds without pressing. Delicious. Via TraditionalCookingSchool.com.

Raw Cheese: Press-less Cheddar

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (15)

Love cheddar but don’t have a press? Make this press-less cheddar. Via thecheerfulagrarian.blogspot.com.

Raw Cheese: Ranchero

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (16)

Start with one gallon of raw milk to make this fairly quick and easy rustic cheese. Via mexicoinmykitchen.com.

Raw Cheese: Pepper Jack

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (17)

Pepper Jack cheese is a delightful kick in the mouth. The cheese is spicy from the addition of fiery jalapeños and habeñeros, with that classic sharp cheesy taste to round it out. I had to include this cheese for an even 15 recipes, thought it’s probably a little less than easy — it’s best made using a water-bath setup or a double boiler. Via culturesforhealth.com.

Do you have a favorite easy raw cheese? Please share in the comments!

Want more recipes or help with cheesemaking? Be sure to check out membership in Traditional Cooking School (for more recipes and hands-on video tutorials) or our stand-alone Cultured Dairy and Cheese eBook and Video package.

...without giving up the foods you love or spending all day in the kitchen!

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (18)

2 free books:

Eat God's Way

Ditch the Standard American Diet, get healthier & happier, and save money on groceries...

We only recommend products and services we wholeheartedly endorse. This post may contain special links through which we earn a small commission if you make a purchase (though your price is the same).

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (19)

About Wardee Harmon

Wardee lives in the Boise area of Idaho with her dear family. She's the lead teacher and founder of the Eat God's Way online cooking program as well as the author of Fermenting, Sourdough A to Z, and other traditional cooking books. Eat God's Way helps families get healthier and happier using cooking methods and ingredients from Bible Times like sourdough, culturing, and ancient grains.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (20)april says

    Great article! Just wanted to say it is not that hard to find raw cheese recipes, any cheese recipe can be made with raw milk, they just might need small tweaks made to the amount of culture/acid added, temps and time.

    Reply

  2. 15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (21)Brittney says

    This is helpful! I always only make raw mozzarella cheese because that’s the only recipe we have.

    1 gal whole milk
    1 1/4 tsp citric acid
    1/8 tsp rennet or 1/4 tablet dissolved in a tablespoon of cold water
    (I actually double the rennet myself)
    1/4 gal water heated to 170 degrees F with 1/2 c salt.

    Mix citric acid into cold milk for 2 mins
    Heat milk to 88 degrees F.
    Remove from heat and add rennet
    Stir. Wait at least 30 mins until whet separates from curds.
    Heat slowly to 108 degrees. Stir occasionally while heating.
    Remove from Heat and let stand for 20 mins.
    Drain in a colander for 15 mins. (I use a cheese cloth and just wrap the ball in it and squeeze out the whey. But don’t overdo it).
    Cut drained curds into strips and lay cross cross in a large bowl. Pour hot saltwater over curd strips and stretch with 2 forks, pulling up and down until soft.
    Remove from water and knead until smooth. Shape into a ball and place in a mold (or just a bowl) in the fridge. The cheese will take in the shape of the container.

    Reply

  3. 15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (22)Julie says

    Hi Wardee,
    When making cheese, can I add salt to the milk before I add culture or rennet, or will that cause problems? I noticed that the raw farmers cheese calls for salt first. For that one, can I use vinegar instead of lemon juice? Organic lemons are expensive! Thank you for posting all of these raw cheese recipes. I do not cook my milk any more!

    Reply

  4. 15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (23)Mary says

    Why do you use citric acid? Does that replace the active cultures? If not, can the active cultures be used? Thank you.

    Reply

  5. 15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (24)Helen says

    I am in day 2 if activating my milk kefir grains, changing every 12ish hours. I am already overwhelmed at the amount of milk needed for activation (and cultures for health specifically says to use only pateurized milk which I did buy but now my raw milk waits). Any suggestions beyond making yogurt in my instant pot with raw milk?
    It is only myself and my husband so it’s a bit crazy the volume every 12 hours!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

15 Easy Raw Cheese Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why is raw cheese legal? ›

Cheese made with unpasteurized (raw) milk can't be sold in the USA unless it has been aged for at least 60 days. This is regulated by​ The Food and Drug Administration. After 60 days, the acids and salts in raw-milk cheese and the aging process are believed to naturally prevent listeria, salmonella, E.

What are examples of raw cheese? ›

Famous Raw Milk Cheeses

In addition to those mentioned above — gruyère, Parmigiano-Reggiano, English cheddar, and camembert — several other world-famous cheeses are made with raw milk by definition: roquefort, morbier, raclette, fontina and asiago, as well as many pecorinos and manchegos.

Is raw cheese unhealthy? ›

Without undergoing pasteurization—the process of sterilizing milk by heating it to a high temperature for a set time period—milk can become contaminated with harmful microbes, such as Salmonella, Listeria and E. coli, that can survive the cheese production and aging process.

Which cheese can be eaten raw? ›

Emmental cheese tastes best with wine and fruit salads. - Emmental cheese is especially meant to be consumed raw. - This cheese can be added to salads or to any dish that is eaten raw.

What type of cheese is illegal in the US? ›

Cheese lovers no doubt know that France produces some of the world's best and most varied cheeses. But one distinctive variety that's among the country's most popular is actually barred by law from the United States. It's called Epoisses, and it traces its roots as far back as the early 16th century.

Is there any unpasteurized cheese in the USA? ›

Unpasteurized cheese is made and sold in the US. In 1987, the FDA banned interstate sales of raw milk, but unpasteurized dairy products can be sold within certain states. Raw milk and cheese must be marketed and labeled as such, as well as aged at least 60 days.

How to tell if cheese is raw? ›

Raw-milk cheese is made with milk that is unpasteurized. Raw-milk cheeses may be firm, oozy, creamy, or crumbly, and can come in any shape, from wheel to block. Almost always made by small-scale artisanal producers, they often come from a single-herd cow, sheep, or goat milk.

Is mozzarella a raw cheese? ›

Indeed, most soft cheeses are made from pasteurized milk, which is heated to a high enough temperature to eliminate harmful bacteria, but sometimes, it is not actually how it is. Some varieties of mozzarella are produced from raw milk, which has not been pasteurized. If so, pregnant women should not eat it.

What is the unhealthiest cheese in the world? ›

The 10 Unhealthiest Cheeses You Can Buy
  • American cheese. It's heavily processed, full of preservatives, and loaded with salt. ...
  • Mascarpone. A soft, spreadable cheese that's used in a lot of desserts. ...
  • Double Gloucester. ...
  • Brunost. ...
  • Any cheese that comes in a can or jar. ...
  • Brie. ...
  • Stilton. ...
  • Pre-grated parmesan cheese.
May 16, 2024

Do you refrigerate raw cheese? ›

Soft cheeses such as cream cheese, cottage cheese, shredded cheeses, and goat cheese must be refrigerated for safety. As a general rule, hard cheeses such as cheddar, processed cheeses (American), and both block and grated Parmesan do not require refrigeration for safety, but they will last longer if kept refrigerated.

Is raw cheese good for your gut? ›

One of the major benefits of raw cheddar cheese is that our raw milk contains many diverse, gut-healthy bacteria. The bacteria in your gut are responsible for 70-80 percent of your immune function. WOW! Without a healthy amount of diverse bacteria in your gut, your immune system can't operate to its highest potential.

Why is raw cheese illegal? ›

Unpasteurized milk, cheese and other dairy products may contain harmful pathogens and are not safe to eat, drink, or use in making foods. It is a violation of federal law enforced by the Food and Drug Administration to sell raw milk packaged for consumer use across state lines (interstate commerce).

Which cheese to avoid? ›

Unhealthy Cheeses
  • Halloumi Cheese. Be aware of how much of this squeaky cheese you're adding to your morning bagel and salads! ...
  • Goats/ Blue Cheese. 1 oz. ...
  • Roquefort Cheese. Roquefort is a processed blue cheese and is incredibly high in sodium. ...
  • Parmesan. ...
  • Cheddar Cheese.

What is the most expensive cheese in the world? ›

Pule cheese is considered the most expensive cheese in the world, with prices reaching up to $1,300 per kilogram ($590 per pound).

Why can you buy raw cheese but not raw milk? ›

For some cheeses, even though cheesemaking begins with the use of raw milk, these are cooked- curd cheeses that are anything but raw. Cheeses made from milk subjected to a sub-pasteurization heat treatment (thermization) are legally classified as raw milk cheeses.

Why does the US pasteurize cheese? ›

This process kills off any pathogenic bacteria that could be potentially harmful. Treating the milk with Pasteurization is considered more efficient on a large scale, as there is less care necessary in the milk collection stage where bacteria from the cows runs rampant.

Why is it illegal to sell raw milk in us? ›

Experts say raw milk is not a meaningful source of "good" probiotic bacteria, and it can carry pathogens including Listeria, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and E. coli.

Why is French cheese illegal in America? ›

The FDA bans French cheeses like Roquefort because E. coli bacteria is present, even though it is harmless version. The FDA says its standards are in line with the rest of the world yet other countries do not have since a low tolerance for bacteria levels.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Gregorio Kreiger

Last Updated:

Views: 6484

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (77 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Gregorio Kreiger

Birthday: 1994-12-18

Address: 89212 Tracey Ramp, Sunside, MT 08453-0951

Phone: +9014805370218

Job: Customer Designer

Hobby: Mountain biking, Orienteering, Hiking, Sewing, Backpacking, Mushroom hunting, Backpacking

Introduction: My name is Gregorio Kreiger, I am a tender, brainy, enthusiastic, combative, agreeable, gentle, gentle person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.