National Cheese Day: Try out all those varities you haven't

Lucknow: This is for all the cheese lovers out there. You've got one more reason to dodge over cheesy products. Try a new recipe or take a risk and try a type of cheese you’ve never heard of before. Ask for recommendations from friends or share your favorites. Make sure you post to social media using #NationalCheeseDay.

An encyclopedia of cheese will cover the alphabet and broaden your vocabulary. It will undoubtedly contain more varieties of cheese than what’s found at the local grocer. Cheese is produced from the pressed curds of milk. The milk can come from cows, buffalo, goats or sheep. Temperature and aging affect the flavor and texture of the cheese as well as spices and other seasonings added during the process.

Excellent as a snack on its own, cheese is also a perfect ingredient in pasta, soups, souffle and many other recipes. We slap it on a sandwich cold but why stop there when it can be grilled and melted like this amazing Swiss and Tomato Grilled Cheese recipe. When company comes to visit, nothing is better than a cheeseball, especially when bacon is added.

The opportunity to go to a cheese tasting or visit a cheesemonger who is knowledgeable about pairings will improve your enjoyment of the cheese you choose. Does Stilton melt? Can you serve Chévre with a salad? Be sure to ask questions and provide your preferences. Your favorite wine might find a new sidekick. You might discover a smokey spread to go with bruschetta or a tangy cheddar to pack with lunch.

Here are some more varieties of cheese:

Brie: The cheese has a delicious soft center surrounded by a slightly chewy rind. Brie is much milder and creamier in flavor than its cousin Camembert, and this is down to two things.

Camembert: Camembert and Brie may look the same, and although Camembert is less creamy, it makes up for this by turning up the flavor dials.

Cheddar: Possibly the most famous variety of cheese, Cheddar comes from the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England.

According to the British Cheese Board, these different strengths of Cheddar depend on how long the cheese was aged;

Mild: 3 months

Medium: 5-6 months

Mature: 9 months

Extra Mature: 15 months

Vintage: 18 months or older

Cottage cheese: Cottage cheese is very different from most other varieties, and its closest relation is probably ricotta.

Due to the different production process, the nutrition profile is very different from other types of cheese. It has a very low fat content and is therefore much lower in calories.

Feta: Unlike many other kinds of cheese, it is not named after the place where it first originated, and “Feta” actually means “slice” in English. Feta has quite a unique taste, and it is very soft and creamy with a salty and tangy taste. However, the flavor can vary greatly depending on how it is prepared or cooked.

Mozzarella: Mozzarella is one of the best-known cheeses in the world. It originates from Southern Italy, and it is traditionally made from Italian Buffalo’s milk. However, in recent times, Mozzarella from cow, goat, and sheep’s milk is being produced. It comes in two main varieties; fresh and dried.

Parmesan: Marking the third Italian cheese in a row, Parmigiano-Reggiano is a dry, crumbly, hard cheese with a strong, robust flavor. People often refer to the cheese as Parmesan, and it has a protected designation of origin (POD status). This designation means that the cheese can only be from its home region in Northern Italy. Parmesan usually comes in unpasteurized form, and it undergoes an aging time of between one and three years.

Ricotta: Ricotta is a soft fresh Italian cheese made from whey. This cheese has a mild, slightly sweet, and creamy texture, and it is one of the most popular types of cheese in the world. Ricotta has some excellent nutritional benefits too. For one thing, it is lower in calories than most other cheese options and it is an excellent source of protein.

Cheese is multinational, too! Every nation in the world has its own variety of cheese. Italy seems to have harnessed the market. They did add it to pizza, and that’s pretty amazing. Savor the opportunity if you ever have the chance to taste cheeses from around the world. For example, hop on over to Greece. They have this dessert called cheesecake. Delicious!