Ever grate a hunk of Parmigiano-Reggiano, Grana Padano, or pecorino Romano, and are left with a hefty cheese rind? Earlier than you toss it, use it to boost one other recipe. The feel of a cheese rind is simply too exhausting to eat by itself, nevertheless it makes for an amazing flavoring in soups and pasta sauces. Upcycling rinds is a good way to create one thing new with extra meals waste, resulting in a extra sustainable solution to cook dinner with cheese. Earlier than cooking with cheese rinds, make sure you clear them. To do that, rinse the rinds in water and pat dry with a material. Subsequent, take away any extra wax on the outside with a cheese planer or knife. Now, it’s time to place this method to make use of—listed here are our favourite methods to reuse cheese rinds.
Storing Cheese Rinds
First issues first: If you happen to’re not prepared to make use of your cheese rinds instantly, seal them in an hermetic plastic bag and retailer within the freezer till a recipe requires one. Surprisingly sufficient, they’ll final indefinitely. Cheese rinds are the one kind of cheese you must retailer within the freezer. By no means freeze cheese that you just intend to eat at room temperature—the chilly temperatures will have an effect on the flavour and texture.
Soup
Probably the most common strategies for utilizing cheese rinds is soup. If a soup tasted higher with grated cheese on high, there’s a great probability that the cheese rinds will improve the flavour of the crock! This Parmesan Broth is an ideal instance. The broth requires 1 cup of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese rinds, sautéed with herbs and greens and simmered in water. The cheese rinds soften the flavour and liquid, including refined nutty and barely fruity notes. From right here, you may customise the soup nonetheless you need!
This Minestrone Soup is a comfy winter staple that requires a 2” rind of Parmigiano-Reggiano. Right here, it’s simmered with greens together with tomatoes and inexperienced beens, two kinds of legumes, recent herbs like rosemary and thyme, and water to create a zesty and flavorful soup. The rind is eliminated simply earlier than serving however grate much more cheese on high as a result of why not?
Pasta
Rinds are typically added to home made pasta sauce, corresponding to a traditional marinara. Add a couple of rinds of Parmigiano-Reggiano or Grana Padano and simmer with the tomatoes, mirepoix, and basil. This provides a barely salty taste to the sauce whereas thickening the consistency. Bear in mind to take away the rind earlier than serving.
Risotto
Until it’s completely dairy-free, Parmesan cheese is often folded into silky risotto simply earlier than serving. However don’t wait till the tip so as to add it—use cheese rinds in risotto, too. Usually you’d warmth up inventory or water earlier than stirring it into the rice, proper? Whereas the liquid heats up, add the rind, together with thyme, bay leaves, rosemary, and produce to a light-weight simmer for a extra flavorful base. The rice will probably be enhanced by the tacky notes within the broth and the result’s a deliciously creamy, nutty dish.
Olive Oil
If you happen to’re a fan of infused olive oil, you’ll love this trick! Take a pecorino Romano cheese rind and add it to a jar of extra-virgin olive oil. Let this combination sit for a couple of days so the flavour of the cheese infuses the oil. You may as well add different herbs and aromatics corresponding to thyme, rosemary, and garlic for an additional kick. Serve alongside crusty bread as the proper aperitivo snack!
What are your favourite methods to reuse cheese rinds? Share your concepts within the feedback beneath!
Marissa Mullen is a Brooklyn-based meals stylist, recipe developer, photographer and cheese lover. She is the founding father of That Cheese Plate and creator of the Cheese By Numbers technique. She can also be the writer of the best-selling cookbook, That Cheese Plate Will Change Your Life, a step-by-step styling information for crafting lovely and scrumptious cheese plates as a type of artistic expression. Featured on The Right now Present, The Rachael Ray Present, Enterprise Insider, Vox amongst others, Marissa is devoted to bringing individuals collectively by means of creativity, meals and leisure.