Everyone knows that there are many varieties of cheese available but one that is least frequently used in cooking is Gouda. That is because although this cheese is popular for cheese trays, many people do not realize quite how versatile it can be in cooking as well.
Gouda cheese is originally from the Netherlands and is unique because of the exterior of bright red wax. It usually comes in a wheel ranging from 3 to 15 inches and the cheese itself is the color of straw. The taste is generally buttery and mild and the texture is cream but firm. Before determining how to cook with Gouda cheese, you need to know the age of it as different ages are best used in different ways.
Baby Gouda
You can distinguish baby Gouda because although its wax coating is red like older cheese, this is a much softer variety. Because of that it melts much quicker than ages of the same cheese. Because of its texture (semi-soft to firm) and mild nutty flavor, young Gouda is ideal for seasoning salads and on cheese trays. It also tastes great spread on certain fruits.
If you want to actually cook with the cheese, it works well on casseroles because of its quick melting nature as well as its great flavor. You can also try to make some homemade macaroni and cheese using Gouda mixed with other cheeses.
Aged Gouda
Aged Gouda cheese is also coated in red wax but has a much more astringent flavor than baby Gouda. In addition to the astringent flavor, aged Gouda also gives off a hint of butterscotch. Because of this, it goes great in desserts that are based on apples or pears.
For something a bit more creative, you can try adding it to a homemade pizza. A great combination would be a barbeque chicken pizza with both mozzarella and Gouda. You can also try swapping out your normal omelet cheese for Gouda if you want to give it some different flavor.
Smoked Or Flavored Gouda
You can generally tell Gouda that has been smoked or flavored apart from plain Gouda as it will be wrapped in brown or black wax as opposed to red and may include caraway seeds. Some of the flavored options will include additions such as pepper, jalapenos and herbs. This type of Gouda has an intense flavor that makes it fairly versatile in terms of cooking.
Like the other types it can do well with desserts, fruits and macaroni and cheese. Smoked Gouda is also great for making quiche as the flavor can add a great deal. Try pairing it with spinach for a delicious breakfast quiche. It can also be a great way to add a bit more flavor to your mashed potatoes.
