MAAS-ter CLASS 2 – For the Cheese Girls! Making of AMASI “Cream Cheese”

Growing up in South Africa a “Cheese Girl” or “Cheese Boy” is a term used to label a person who is presumed to be priviledged or living the good life! This could include one having a Western accent and or going to a good school. Beyond this it refers to the concept that cheese is a luxury food item… only afforded in certain homes. Trevor Noah also brilliently captured this concept in his book Born A Crime and other stories, where he has a lovely tale of the Cheese Boys, identified through their increased wealth which allowed them to brag with a cheese burger rather then just a standard burger!

While cheese has been part of the Western diet for many years, it is only in more modern times that it has become a regular enjoyed food in an African household. It is however amazing that by taking our wonderful traditional African staple food of AMASI, we can now show you how to make your very own homemade AMASI cheese. It may not be the good old cheddar cheese … but a lovely AMASI fresh curd/cream cheese that can be used in a number of ways with both sweet and savoury dishes that we are looking forward to sharing with you.

PS…Not only is this a “cheese” but it comes in at a fabulous price when compared to store bought regular cream cheese – with a 2 Litre Amasi giving you around 700grams Amasi cream cheese……at a third of the cost of the other cream cheese!!

Now everyone can be a Cheese Boy or Cheese Girl – say Cheese Please!

Making of Amasi Cream/Curd Cheese

Ingredients and Method:

2 Litre Amasi

Strainer/ Colander

Cheese Cloth

1. Place a strainer or colander over a deep bowl

2. Line the strainer or colander with a cheesecloth

3. Pour the Amasi into the cheesecloth

4. Cover the top of the Amasi with the side of the cheesecloth

5. Place in the fridge for 24 to 48 hours.

If the base of the strainer touches the whey ( liquid) draining from the Amasi then tip out the excess liquid collecting in the bottom bowl regularly.

6. Your amazing Amasi “Cream Cheese”

7. Between 700gram and 1Kg Amasi cream cheese from a 2 Litre Amasi – now that’s a saving worth making!

NOTE: If you do not have a cheesecloth you can boil a clean tea towel to sterilize it and use this as the straining cloth.