Murray’s Cheese >> Handmade burrata and mozzarella
Brooklyn’s legendary Murray’s Cheese has long offered on-site cooking classes. Spurred by the lockdown, the fromage experts launched virtual programs for everything from Cheese 101 to a fantastic burrata and mozzarella workshop that gave us a newfound appreciation for our favorite cheese. (Making mozz is not difficult or terribly time-consuming. But who knew the process would be so very hot?)
Burrata is essentially a delicate mozzarella balloon filled with stracciatella — a mixture of cream and wisps of fresh mozzarella — and, if you desire, a dollop of sun-dried tomato or pesto. (Yes, please.)
A box of ingredients — cheese curd and little tubs of sun-dried tomatoes, blueberry conserve and extremely tasty pesto — arrived a couple of days before the class. All we needed to supply was fresh cream, salt and hot water.
With mixing bowls, dish towels and a thermometer at the ready, we and our fellow Zoomers logged into cheese heaven, and our mozzarella pro began showing us the ropes. Soon we were awash — literally. We melted bits of curd in extremely hot water, drenching ourselves in the process, then scooped them out with our steaming, very pink hands and stretched and folded, stretched and folded to form a delicate, perfect ball … that promptly deflated on the platter.
The instructor laughed as comments began popping up on the chat screen — “It looks like a pancake!” “Ours, too!” — and showed us again, troubleshooting, encouraging and offering tips. I won’t say our mozzarella balls looked professional by the end of class, but they were delicious. Especially the ones filled with pesto.
PERFECT FOR … >> burrata devotees
COST >> $80, including ingredients
DETAILS >> Check out Murray’s virtual classes, including Holiday Prep Cheese Board Making (Nov. 4) and Mozzarella Making (Nov. 5), at www.murrayscheese.com.