Five Fun Things To Do With Raw Cheese

A truly healthy diet includes a good bit of raw food. And not just fruits and vegetables – raw cheese is a great source of protein and calcium, as well as healthy fats. It’s the perfect alternative for people who live in places where raw milk has been banned from public sale (and all my European readers give out a collective gasp!).

Raw milk cheese can be used just like any other cheese – on pizzas, as a stand-alone snack or grated on a lettuce salad – but why stop there? Following are five ways to use raw cheese that make snacks, lunches, dinners – even breakfasts! – a little more interesting.

1. Quesadillas

Start with a sprouted grain tortilla. Plop onto a large skillet and sprinkle with grated raw cheese and tomatoes (jalapenos, too, if you like that kick). Heat until the cheese is just melted. Cut into bite-sized pieces, or roll up and watch the gooey cheese drip down the other end as you eat.

2. Heirloom tomato-cheese sandwich

Sure, you could use a plain-old grocery store tomato. But believe me, that would not give you the same lip-smacking results. When they’re in season, budget for one of those sweet, juicy delights. Even better, learn how to grow your own.

Get out a couple slices of Ezekiel 4:9 or artisan bread, and slap on couple slices of cheese with a slice or heirloom tomato. You may like it so much, that’s all you eat for a week!

3. Apple-cheese salad

Make a dressing with one part apple-cider vinegar, one part honey, two parts olive oil, and salt to taste. Arrange some spinach leaves on a plate. Throw on any diced organic apple of your choice along with a generous handful of grated raw cheddar cheese. Drizzle on dressing. Fantastic!

4. Yummy cooked greens

I call this “yummy” because it is one way to get your kids to think that such items as broccoli, kale and collards actually taste, well, yummy.

While your greens are cooking, grate some raw cheese. As soon as the greens are cooked down and just after you take them off the heat, throw in the cheese and mix thoroughly. Then add a generous squirt of ketchup and stir again. Another variation is to add some grated carrots to add not only nutrition, but a bit of a crunch and more sweetness.

5. Stone fruit and cheese

Everybody’s heard of apples and cheese, but many people have never considered munching it down with peaches, plums or other stone fruits. The salty-sourness of unpasteurized cheese is actually a delicious compliment to the sweetness of the stone fruits. Try it during the summer when such fruits are in season.

Raw cheese is more nutritious in many ways to cheese made with pasteurized milk. Make it raw, and make sure to try at least one of these wonderful flavor combinations!