More
- Classifieds
- Cars
- Deals
- Real Estate
- Rentals
- Photos
- Find&Save
- Obituaries
- Archives
- Topics
- Blogs
- WP Wine Club

In the News

Cottage cheese that’s worth making at home

Vickie Reh, who heads the kitchen at Buck’s Fishing and Camping in Northwest Washington, makes a creamy, large-curd cottage cheese at her restaurant just about every other day. It’s not like what you’ll find at the grocery store in tubs. Here's how you can make it at home.

5 Seconds

00:00

00:00

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

Reh has tweaked an old Alton Brown recipe. She heats gallons of nonfat milk to 130 degrees. You must monitor the temperature closely; if the milk heats past that, it's best to start over.

Astrid Riecken / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

She adds distilled white vinegar to the very warm milk, which acts as a coagulant.

She adds distilled white vinegar to the very warm milk, which acts as a coagulant.

Astrid Riecken / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Soon, curds begin to form, which need to be stirred.

Soon, curds begin to form, which need to be stirred.

Astrid Riecken / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

The curds and whey (separated liquid) need to rest, off the heat, for 30 minutes.

The curds and whey (separated liquid) need to rest, off the heat, for 30 minutes.

Astrid Riecken / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Reh strains the mixture into a cheesecloth-lined colander. The whey can be reserved for breadmaking or even watering plants.

Reh strains the mixture into a cheesecloth-lined colander. The whey can be reserved for breadmaking or even watering plants.

Astrid Riecken / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

The curd will be firm; you'll work to make it firmer still.

The curd will be firm; you'll work to make it firmer still.

Astrid Riecken / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

She uses the cheesecloth to wrap the curd into a ball, then rinses it under cool water until the mass is solid and almost at room temperature.

She uses the cheesecloth to wrap the curd into a ball, then rinses it under cool water until the mass is solid and almost at room temperature.

Astrid Riecken / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

It takes considerable hand strength to squeeze out all the moisture from the curd. You may need to do it several times; this is a key step.

It takes considerable hand strength to squeeze out all the moisture from the curd. You may need to do it several times; this is a key step.

Astrid Riecken / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

A proper ball of curd at this stage should not have veins or patches of opaque white. The curd should look a bit translucent through the cheesecloth.

A proper ball of curd at this stage should not have veins or patches of opaque white. The curd should look a bit translucent through the cheesecloth.

Astrid Riecken / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Reh wraps the curd in plastic wrap and refrigerates it for at least an hour. If you wish to hold the curd at this stage for a day or two, remove it from the cheesecloth before you wrap it in plastic.

Reh wraps the curd in plastic wrap and refrigerates it for at least an hour. If you wish to hold the curd at this stage for a day or two, remove it from the cheesecloth before you wrap it in plastic.

Astrid Riecken / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Reh pinches off craggy, irregularly sized pieces of the curd, letting them fall into a mixing bowl.

Reh pinches off craggy, irregularly sized pieces of the curd, letting them fall into a mixing bowl.

Astrid Riecken / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Heavy cream is added -- tossing all notions of diet food out the window.

Heavy cream is added -- tossing all notions of diet food out the window.

Astrid Riecken / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Reh stirs gently until the cream thickens and clings to the curds, creating cottage cheese. The curds will absorb more cream as the mixture sits.

Reh stirs gently until the cream thickens and clings to the curds, creating cottage cheese. The curds will absorb more cream as the mixture sits.

Astrid Riecken / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

At this point, Reh adds finely chopped chives, in an homage to the way her grandmother used to make it on the family farm in Kansas. But chives are optional. The cottage cheese can be covered and refrigerated for a day; re-moisten with a little more cream as needed.

At this point, Reh adds finely chopped chives, in an homage to the way her grandmother used to make it on the family farm in Kansas. But chives are optional. The cottage cheese can be covered and refrigerated for a day; re-moisten with a little more cream as needed.

Astrid Riecken / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

At this time of year, Reh's cottage cheese is served at Buck's with arugula, roasted beets dressed in a lemony vinaigrette, a drizzle of olive oil and freshly cracked black pepper.

At this time of year, Reh's cottage cheese is served at Buck's with arugula, roasted beets dressed in a lemony vinaigrette, a drizzle of olive oil and freshly cracked black pepper.

Astrid Riecken / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 18: Jockey Gary Stevens rides Oxbow out to the front of the pack on the first straight away during the 138th Running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., on Saturday, May 18, 2013. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post)

Oxbow wins and infield fun at Preakness Stakes in Baltimore

Oxbow put D. Wayne Lukas in the record books again with an upset of Orb in the Preakness, giving the Hall of Fame trainer his 14th win in a Triple...

New York Yankees' Travis Hafner bats during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Sunday, May 12, 2013, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

MLB power rankings

Barry Svrluga assesses the best teams in Major League Baseball through Thursday.

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 13: Many seminary graduates are choosing not to become pastors. Rebecca J. Cole received her Master of Divinity and is becoming a community organizer on Capitol Hill. She hugs another graduate after the ceremony. The 2013 Commencement ceremony for Wesley Theological Seminary was held on May 13 at the Washington National Cathedral. (Photo by Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

Eager to minister, but not from the pulpit

An increasing number of divinity students who don’t plan to become pastors envision using their degrees to “minister” in a...

epa03704474 A Muslim woman at the ThetKalPyin temporary relief camp near Sittwe in Rakhine State, Western Myanmar, 17 May 2013. A total of 13 people were confirmed dead in neighboring Bangladesh as people began to return home from shelters, a day after Cyclone Mahasen hit the coast, officials said 17 May. EPA/NYEIN CHAN NAING

Photos of the day

Cyclone Mahasen, Texas tornadoes, puffin census, melting Swiss glacier and more.

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 16: American Idol Season 12 Winner Candice Glover (C) is seen onstage during Fox's 'American Idol 2013' Finale Results Show at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on May 16, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Candice Glover wins 12th season of ‘American Idol’

The 23-year-old vocal powerhouse from St. Helena Island, S.C., tops competition in her third try.

US actress Claire Julien smiles on May 16, 2013 while posing during a photocall for the film 'The Bling Ring' at the 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes. Cannes, one of the world's top film festivals, opened on May 15 and will climax on May 26 with awards selected by a jury headed this year by Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg. AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI (Photo credit should read ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images)

Eye on entertainment

Claire Julien, David Hasselhoff, Freida Pinto, Candice Glover, Martin Short and more.

**LOC IMAGE** Geo. Hamilton, Assistant Superintendent, Cambria Iron Mills house, Johnstown Flood, May 31st, 1889. (Photo by Ernest Walter Histed / Library of Congress)

The Johnstown Flood of 1889

On May 31, 1889, the South Fork dam that held Lake Conemaugh failed, and 20 million tons of water descended upon Johnstown, Pa. The flood claimed the lives of 2,209 people and spurred...

HACIPASA, TURKEY - MAY 5: Syrian refugee Hala ponders her life on the run on Sunday, May 5, 2013, in Hacipasa, Turkey. Three times this morning, the sounds of aircrafts were followed by explosions that shook the ground. Hacipasa, which sits just across the river border from Syria, is home of several hundred Syrian refugees who have been displaced by their home country's conflict. For a year, Hala and her family have been displaced from their home village in Syria because of violent conflict. After bouncing from village to village, fleeing bombings that seemed to follow them, the family crossed into Turkey six weeks ago. Initially, the family was deported back into Syria, where they lived in camps for internally displaced Syrians. But when the camps were bombed, the family was allowed to cross into Turkey. Hala said, 'The blood of the people who died in Syria, the martyrs, is our sad song, but nobody is listening.' (Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

Turkey faces a refugee crisis

More than 400,000 Syrians have crossed into Turkey seeking refuge from the conflict at home. Finding its resources stretched, Turkey is urgently appealing for international aid and...

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Loading...

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.