2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Edamer (Edammer) or simply Edam, along with the world-famous Gouda, is among the most popular and popular Dutch cheeses. This dairy product is made from cow's milk and is named after the port of Edam, located in North Holland. The distinctive features of Edamer are the oval shape wrapped in red wax bark, which make it easily recognizable.
Edam was originally produced on rural farms from unpasteurized cow's milk, but in the 19th century it began to be made from pasteurized as well as a mixture of both types of milk. Today Edamer is produced in many countries, and even its authentic round cylindrical shape is often modified into the elongated shape of a block.
Edam cheese is widely popular in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Scandinavian countries. For a long time in Spain and Latin American countries, Edamera has been revered as a delicacy. Cheese is so popular that it has its roots in the culture and art of different nations. Even in "East of Paradise" by John Steinbeck mentions the delicious cheese.
Edam cheese is still not regulated as a "trademark" by European law.
History of Edamer
As early as the 14th century in North Holland, the production of this type of durable cheese was widespread. Through the port of the city Edamer, the popularity of cheese spread to France and Spain in the same century, and later around the world. The main reason for this was the good durability of the product and its long shelf life, which proved to be very important for sailors between the 14th and 18th centuries.
There is even a legend that says that the cheese, due to its characteristic round shape, was used as a projectile for the cannons of the ships of that time. Edam once molded himself into special wooden forms, which the locals also used as helmets during wars and riots.
And while the legend of the shells is a bit dubious in terms of reliability, there is evidence for the latter claim. At that time, the Dutch were called "lilac heads" by their opponents precisely because of the wooden helmets from Edamer's molds.
The cheese was originally made from whole milk on rural farms. Later it is made from pasteurized or a mixture of pasteurized and unpasteurized milk.
Edamer production
Today Edamer is prepared from a mixture of pasteurized milk and unpasteurized, mainly whole or partially skimmed milk. It is produced both in its typical round shape and in the shape of a parallelepiped or block. Edam pies usually weigh from 900 g to 1.8 kg, and the most common in the retail chain are those weighing up to 1.7 kg.
Edam's bright red waxy bark is his hallmark. In his homeland, the Netherlands, they eat Edam with a yellow wax crust, and if you come across Dutch cheese with a black wax crust, it means that Edamera is mature for 17 weeks. Beneath the red, yellow or black waxy rind of the cheese is a smooth, pale yellow texture.
In addition to cakes weighing about 1.7 kg. In the commercial network you can also come across smaller and cute bombs called "Baby Edamer". It can also be sold in huge pies, double size, colored with carotene and intended for export. Edamer's French twin is Mimolet cheese.
It is an interesting fact that Dutch cheese is offered in the country without a wax coating, except during the tourist season. The wax coating provides additional protection for the pies intended for export from the Netherlands during their transportation.
Young cheese is most often consumed Edamer, which is more elastic and soft, and tastes pleasantly sweet, with walnut threads. The more mature Edamer is, the sharper its taste becomes, the more complex it becomes, spicy with a sharp finish.
Composition of Edamer
Compared to some other similar cheeses, Edamer not so greasy. His Dutch cousin, Gouda, contains 48% fat, while Edamera's fat is about 40%. In a portion of 100 g of Edam cheese there is 73% of the required daily dose of calcium per person.
100 grams of Edamer cheese contain:
357 Kcal; 27.8 g fat; 1.43 g carbohydrates; 24.99 g protein; 89 mg cholesterol; 965 mg of sodium; 25 g protein.
Culinary use of Edamer
Edamer enjoys great popularity not only in the Netherlands. In many other countries, this cheese has even become part of people's traditions. For example, on the Yucatan they prepare the dish Stuffed cheese (Queso relleno), for which the Edam pie is cut into 2, part of it is carved and mixed with vegetables and meat and refilled.
Bake in special local ovens to melt the cheese. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Edamera is an integral part of the most popular breakfast there, combined with ham and always with tartar sauce (tatárska omáčka) or mayonnaise. Even in the Philippines, the taste of Edam is revered by serving it on Christmas Eve.
Edamer can be served as a dessert and table cheese. Participates as a supplement and ingredient in many pastries, sandwiches, salads and sauces. It tastes great and is served only with salty biscuits and bread.
Its aroma and taste are successfully combined with many fruits such as peaches, melons, apricots, cherries, apples and pears. If you want to choose a suitable drink for your bites with Edam cheese, you can safely opt for Riesling, Chardonnay, Syrah, Champagne or dark beer.
