Gouda is a hard, sweet cheese that goes well with a variety of foods and beverages. It can be eaten with fruit and cheese on a cheese platter or enjoyed with a glass of red or white wine. Gouda is also great on sandwiches, vegetable dishes or other baked recipes. Before eating, cut it into slices and remove the coating from the cheese.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Cutting the Gouda Cheese
Step 1. Remove the plastic wrapping from the cheese
Tear off the plastic with your fingers or the tip of a knife. Then pull it up to remove the wrapping around the entire disc and throw it away.
Step 2. Cut the cheese into slices with a very sharp knife
Place knife tip in center of disc and cut straight from center to outer edge. Then place the knife tip back to center and position the blade at a 45-degree angle to the first cut you made. Slide it into the cheese and make another cut. Then remove the slice of cheese from the entire disc.
Wrap the remaining gouda in film or aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator for up to three weeks
Step 3. Remove the wax coating, if applicable
Some gouda discs come with a red or black wax coating that must be removed before consuming the cheese. If yours has one, peel the wax on each slice with your fingers or a knife and throw it away.
Step 4. Cut slices horizontally to make cheese trays or sandwiches
Divide each slice into four or five homogeneous horizontal pieces. Take the end near the rind (the hardened part on the outside of the cheese) and cut it halfway across to make two pieces. The rind is edible - leave it with the rest when cutting the cheese. If you don't want to eat it, eat the cheese until you reach this part and throw it away when you're done.
Step 5. Grate the gouda to place on top of plates
Place the grater on a plate or bowl, hold the slice of cheese in your hand and grate down on the sharp, perforated side. When you get to the bottom, lift the grater slice, bring it back to the top and slide it again to grate. Repeat until the entire slice has been grated.
Be careful not to hurt your fingers when grating the cheese
Method 2 of 3: Combining Gouda with Food and Drink
Step 1. Eat the cheese with a light, fruity wine
If you prefer white wine, choose a white Chardonnay or Burgundy to enjoy with the gouda. If red wine is your type, pair it with a Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot or Zinfandel to enhance the cheese flavors.
Step 2. Combine gouda with beer rich in caramel flavors
The caramel flavor in beer complements the sweetness of the cheese. American amber ales, brown ales and brown porters all look really good with gouda. If the cheese is aged, a sweeter stout is also a great option.
Step 3. Try the cheese with sweet fruits
Make a cheese tray with sliced gouda and peach. The cheese is also very good with d’Anjou pears due to the sweet, citrus flavor of the fruit.
Step 4. Eat sliced gouda with whole grain bread
Make a warm mix with wholegrain bread and slices of gouda cheese, or add them to a cold sandwich. Another option is to serve wholegrain bread on a tray with slices of gouda. The weight of the bread goes very well with this type of cheese.
Step 5. Add grated gouda to your favorite vegetable dishes
Place the cheese grater on a large bowl and grate. Then, when the dish is ready, sprinkle the cheese over the vegetables.
Mix the grated gouda cheese in a hot vegetable dish to help melt it
Method 3 of 3: Making macaroni and gouda cheese
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 190 °C and prepare the casserole dishes
Grease the dishes by spraying them with cooking spray. In the absence of spray, oil or butter the inside with a paper towel.
Step 2. Boil 450 g of tube noodles for ten minutes on the stove
Add a pinch of salt to the boiling water before adding the noodles. While the noodles boil, start making the cheese sauce.
In the absence of tube noodles, use shells or another type
Step 3. Prepare the cheese sauce in a saucepan over medium heat
Combine in the pan with 2.5 teaspoons (40 ml) of melted butter, 2 teaspoons (30 g) of all-purpose flour, 2.5 cups (600 ml) of milk and ½ teaspoon (2.5 g)) of salt and pepper. Stir well until sauce is smooth.
Step 4. Turn off the heat and add 110 g of gouda to the sauce pan
Mix cheese until melted.
Step 5. Combine pasta and sauce in casserole dish and bake for 15 minutes
After that time, remove the pasta and see if it's all heated up. If so, the dish is ready. If not, put it back in the oven for a few more minutes or until it gets really hot.