Gruyère is the pride of Switzerland

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Gruyère is a cheese that originated in Switzerland. It is considered a real attraction of this European country. Almost 30 thousand tons are produced annually. The features of this product, as well as how it can be replaced, will be discussed in our article.

Real Swiss cheese

Perhaps the phrase Swiss cheese is a household word. It denotes a product, of course, cheese, of exceptional quality. And although quite recently two countries - France and Switzerland - were arguing where exactly they first began to make Gruyère, cheese since 2001 can officially consider Switzerland to be its legal, documented homeland. Moreover, a special commission assigned to it the status of “Appellation controlled by place of origin”. That is, only in this country (Switzerland) they have the right to produce cheese under this brand and call it Gruyère. It is believed that this product began to be made more than a thousand years ago. Just imagine how during this time the skill was honed and all the nuances of its cooking were taken into account. Maybe that's why Gruyère cheeseenjoys such popularity in Europe and beyond.

Details about the taste and appearance of the product

Gruyère is a cheese made from unpasteurized cow's milk. It is best if the raw material was obtained in the summer, when the cows graze in the famous alpine meadows and eat fresh, tasty grass. The consistency of the cheese is quite dense, there are no characteristic holes in it, and its maturation period is on average a year. But, despite this, already four months after production, the cheese can be eaten. Experts say that its taste resembles dry fruits, but as it ripens, it becomes more and more tart, pronounced, acquiring an “earthy” flavor. Of course, professional tasters know better what shades of taste and aroma this cheese should have. Otherwise, Gruyère is recommended to be used for making fondue (a traditional Swiss dish, very simple and tasty - pieces of bread, meat, etc. are dipped into the melted dairy product). In addition, it is an excellent addition to wine, as well as an addition to spaghetti, salads and other dishes where cheese is traditionally put.

What can I substitute for Gruyere cheese?

Of course, not everyone can find Gruyere cheese in stores. How to replace it if, for example, the recipe says that this particular variety should be used to cook the dish? Here is what experts advise: firstly, it should be borne in mind that Gruyère is a very hard cheese, therefore an analogue is also needed.search with the same characteristic. Most of all, Emmental or Jarlsberg cheeses are suitable for replacing the Swiss delicacy. The first name is better known to Russian housewives - Emmental cheese can be found and bought in any large supermarket. Although, if you are looking for an even cheaper substitute, remember: Gruyere cheese is an analogue, in fact, of any hard cheese with a pronounced taste. That is, instead of it, you can put a product called “Russian” in the dish, although this will already be a little different. Still, nothing can replace the special, pronounced aroma of dried fruits.

Gruyère cheese price

It was mentioned that this product can be eaten already after 4 months of special aging. However, there is a clear gradation of this cheese depending on its age. So, if it is “turned” 4-5 months old, it has the name “sweet”, if the cheese is already 7-8 months old, then it is already “semi-s alted”, and one-year-old Gruyère heads are labeled as “top grade” or “reserve”. By the way, up to 12 liters of high-quality milk is used to produce 1 kilogram of the product. And the heads themselves, which would be better called heads, have a weight of 25 to 40 kilograms and a diameter of 55-65 cm. Therefore, you will not see such a product on sale in its entirety, as a rule, the heads are cut into large wedge-shaped pieces. Gruyère is quite expensive cheese, especially outside of its homeland. In Russian supermarkets, its price is about 300-400 rubles per pack of 200 grams, that is, from 1,500 thousand rubles per 1 kilogram. Usually it is exported already in vacuum packages with the corresponding inscription (LeGruyere). Remember that the birthplace of real Gruyère cheese is Switzerland. Cheese, on the packaging of which any other country is listed, is not original. Only a dairy product produced in the Gruyere region can carry this name.

What dishes are traditionally prepared with Gruyère

As we have already mentioned, the most popular dish from this product is fondue. It is traditional for France and Switzerland. Perhaps only there residents can afford to buy from half a kilogram of this delicacy (and it takes no less for fondue) and dip slices of bread, ham and other products into it to taste. Due to the fact that the cheese melts perfectly, it is often used to prepare fillings and sauces, it does not clog the taste of other ingredients. By the way, it is Gruyère that is used in the classic recipe for a popular French dish - onion soup. It also goes well with meat dishes. This cheese is one of the most beloved in Europe. We hope that after reading the article you will be interested in trying this product, which is rightfully considered the pride of its region - the small canton of Friborg (Gruyere district) in Switzerland.