Such traditional Japanese dishes as sushi and rolls have gained worldwide popularity and are loved by many Russians. The range of products for stuffing rolls is very diverse. Here and fresh, salted and smoked fish and seafood, fresh vegetables. World cuisine has enriched the rolls with such ingredients as meat, poultry, pastries, scrambled eggs. The taste of these delicacies is largely determined by what kind of cheese is used for rolls. The most common is Philadelphia, mascarpone, ricotta, and other varieties are also used.
What kind of cheese is put in rolls and sushi
The most common cheese for rolls - creamy. It is made from high quality fresh milk or cream. The product is light and tender, slightly sweet in taste, pleasant creamy or snow-white in color. It has a good balance of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. During a short maturation, it is possible to preserve the beneficial properties of milk.
In Japan, sushi or cheese rolls are considered the invention of gaijins (foreigners). It is not used in traditional Japanese restaurants. Outside of Japan, Philadelphia, developed by restaurateurs on the east coast of the United States, is most often used in rolls.
What other cheese do chefs use in rolls
Ricotta, which is low in calories, is also often put in rolls. It is made from the whey left over from the cooking of dairy products.
Not bad for rolls and mascarpone - Italian traditional cream cheese.
As a substitute for Philadelphia in inexpensive sushi bars put soft cream Almette, Buko and Natura.
Buko and Natura are prepared on the basis of rennet, the consistency and taste is enough close to philadelphia. Their main advantage is low fat content. It does not exceed 25%, which makes them ideal dietary products.
Almette should be used with great care - its fat content reaches 65%. Since in terms of mass fraction it approaches half the weight of the roll, its use can increase the total calorie content by several times. When choosing a purchase, you must also be sure to see if spicy or odorous seasonings have been added to its composition. They can significantly affect the taste of the roll.
Cheeses of Greek origin such as Feta (Fetaki) are similar to Bulgarian unsalted cheese. They have a soft texture and a neutral taste. Some housewives undertake to cook them from milk on their own. It's easy if you have enough skill. Requires thick, high-fat sour cream, flag cloth or simple gauze, folded in several layers. A little lemon juice (or citric acid) is also added to the composition, it is heated to a high temperature, stirring continuously, and filtered through a cloth.
Cream cheese
Humanity mastered this dairy product several thousand years ago, shortly after the domestication of cattle. It has been mastered in different parts of the world, but traditionally the cheeses from Normandy and Brittany. The French villages of Camembert and Pont-l-Evêque gave names to famous cheeses. Its taste is characterized by shades of sweetness, soft texture allows you to spread evenly on any base. The production recipe does not require long maturation.
In different regions, their old recipes have been improved for centuries. differ and sources of milk- For cheese, milk from sheep, goats, horses, camels, donkeys and buffaloes is used. Therefore, it turns out different in fat content and taste. Various herbs, spices, fruits and nuts are also added to cheeses to give flavor shades and obtain the desired taste. For example, garlic is an excellent flavor enhancer and easily replaces monosodium glutamate.
Traditional regional cream cheeses for rolls give this dish a particularly refined taste.
Attention! Regional cheeses with strong flavors and aromas do not go well with all products. An experienced chef in a sushi bar will be able to pick up a good set of ingredients. Experiments in the home kitchen will be at your own peril and risk.
Philadelphia cheese
The Philadelphia recipe was created at the end of the 19th century by American cheese makers who developed the English and Norman traditions of cheese making. They named it after a large city, one of the strongholds of American democracy. It was in Philadelphia that the Constitution, the Bill of Rights were adopted and the Declaration of Independence from the British Empire was signed. 
Philadelphia was originally used in cheese sauces for second courses, added to soups, pastries and desserts. Since the 80s of the XX century, as the avalanche-like spread of the culture of sushi and rolls around the planet, Philadelphia began to be used in rolls. A special recipe for rolls was created, and it is called “Philadelphia”. The center of a roll of cheese and vegetable slices is surrounded by a layer of nori seaweed, a layer of rice and a thin slice of lightly salted salmon. There are dozens of variations of this popular recipe vying for the best - but the one thing they all have in common is the cheese.
California and many other delicious rolls are also based on Philadelphia.
ricotta cheese
Ricotta has been made in Italy since the time of the Roman Republic. The recipe, with minor changes, has been perfected for several thousand years. It is also popular in countries that were once part of Ancient Rome: Tunisia, Spain, Morocco. There, for its manufacture, the milk of sheep, goats and buffaloes is used.
Ricotta is made from the whey left over from other cheeses or curds. This explains its low fat content. The dietary product is easily digestible and does not cause irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, even in people with hypersensitivity. It is added to soups, desserts, snacks and pastries. ricotta may well replace Philadelphia cheese if you want to make your rolls lighter and less burdensome for the body.
What cheese in rolls can replace Ricotta
Any whey-based cheese will work for this. Closest in texture and taste cream cheese "Creme Bonjour". Low fat content (up to 15%) makes the product an ideal substitute for Ricotta, which does not burden the body with extra calories.
Remember that whey products are not meant to be stored for a long time. When buying, be sure to check the date of manufacture. It is advisable to use them not on the last day of the expiration date.
Mascarpone
Another excellent regional cheese that is suitable for rolls is Mascarpone. The beginning of its preparation also goes back into the mists of time. In the region of Lombardy, this is the name of the cream from which it is boiled. In the old days, they took the milk of domesticated buffaloes for him, as animal husbandry developed, they switched to cow milk.
Mascarpone is more like a very thick and very soft sour cream. They also use it for sushi, in their global (not Japanese) sense.
Cheeses from other regions, such as Italian Mozzarella or Ricotta, as well as Greek Feta, can serve as an analogue for it.
Attention: due to its creamy base, Mascarpone is very fatty, some varieties reach up to 75% fat. Those who take into account the calorie content of their food need to be careful with its use.
Rolls are a well-known and revered dish of Japanese cuisine in the world. A huge number of people appreciated the taste of the rolls. Some people like classic rolls, the main ingredients of which are fish, rice and Nori seaweed. Other people prefer cheese rolls. Philadelphia cheese is usually used to prepare a Japanese dish. It has a rich, delicate creamy taste. Rolls with cheese have a spicy taste, they seem fatter than regular rolls and not as bland.
Is it difficult to replace Philadelphia inrollsand sushi?
People are happy to cook rolls at home. To enjoy the taste of this wonderful dish, it is not at all necessary to go to a cafe or restaurant. But what if
Philadelphia was not in the supermarket, located near the house? What can replace cheese in sushi or rolls?
The fact is that Philadelphia is not available in all stores and not even in all localities.
In some cities, mostly provincial, it is not for sale, and even more so in the villages. But actually this is not a problem. Philadelphia is quite possible to replace and do it easily. You can invest a minimum of money and still end up with a delicious product. A substitute with a creamy taste is needed. First you need to pay attention to processed cheese. The abundance of firms producing it is impressive. You need to choose the most expensive processed cheese. There is a product on sale called "Creamy" - that's what you need to buy.
It happens very soft, as well as hard processed cheese. Either one will do. You can choose a product packaged in foil or in a plastic container. Adding such cheese to rolls is very simple. A solid creamy product can be cut into small pieces. A very soft one should simply be distributed evenly over the entire strip of filling, and then rolled up. It is best to add both a hard and a soft product, then it will turn out tastier.
A wonderful and easy homemade Philadelphia recipe.
There are many interesting recipes for making Philadelphia at home. You can make a great creamy product without any extra effort. To do this, you need to take 500 g of non-sweet yogurt and the fatter it is, the better. Still need fatty sour cream in the amount of 200 g. The fatter it is, the better. Mix the ingredients and add a teaspoon of salt without a slide.
Then the creamy mass is spread on gauze folded in several layers, placed in a colander in a bowl. A lid is placed on top, and a load is placed on it. Then the whole structure is sent to the refrigerator or cellar. After two days, excess liquid, that is, serum, will leave the mass. And you get a cheese that has a thick consistency that can be smeared on bread.
The taste of the resulting mass is creamy and pleasant. Some people like the resulting culinary masterpiece even more than Philadelphia tastes. It can be added to sushi and rolls instead of the well-known Philadelphia.
Another simple yet delicious Philadelphia recipe.
There is another cooking method. You will need fat milk in an amount of 1 liter. Milk, in which 1 teaspoon of salt and the same amount of sugar is added, is brought to a boil, and then 0.5 l of kefir is added. Due to this, the whey in the milk begins to separate from the curd. When this process is completed, the curd mass is thrown into a colander and the whey is allowed to drain completely.
Then one chicken egg is beaten with a small amount of citric acid (at the tip of a knife) and added to the resulting curd and mixed. Regular cottage cheese cannot be used. It is necessary that the milk curdle under the influence of kefir. The cottage cheese obtained in this way has an extra delicate taste, it is very soft - this is exactly what is required for making homemade Philadelphia.
Benefits of using a homemade butter product.
Homemade cheese will come out much cheaper than a store-bought exotic product, and the finished product will please you. Philadelphia in sushi and rolls can be replaced very simply, and the substitute will cost much less.
People who use the tips listed above will get wonderful rolls, the taste of which will impress and be remembered. As for processed cheese, its cost is low, even if the product is of very high quality. You don’t have to add a lot of it to the rolls, so it’s enough to buy one cheese in foil and one jar of a very soft creamy product.
It is worth immediately discarding the idea of \u200b\u200badding ordinary cottage cheese to the rolls. The dish will not taste good with it. It is better to tinker a little, spend more money, in order to end up with a wonderful creamy product. If you don’t want to use homemade cheese, then store-bought is fine. Some manufacturers advertise their cheeses and claim that their products are a great alternative to Philadelphia. But it's really not worth buying the most expensive soft cheese available in the store. There are quality products, from manufacturers that don't spend money on advertising, and their cheese is relatively cheap.
If you want exotic, what options can you use?
If you want exotic, then you can buy instead of cream cheese, a product with bacon, with garlic and herbs, with mushrooms. Rolls with such cheeses, oddly enough, also turn out delicious. Perhaps someone will like such substitutes even more than cream cheese. You don’t need to buy the cheapest processed cheese, it is unlikely to be of high quality. But also very expensive.
Cheese "Philadelphia" does not come from the city of the same name, as many might think. The birthplace of this most delicate cream cheese is the small town of Chester, in the state of New York. The creator of the delicacy, William Lawrence, gave the same name to his masterpiece due to the fact that in those days it was believed that it was in Philadelphia that the highest quality products were produced. Currently, cheese is in great demand, it is often listed as an ingredient in cheesecakes and rolls.
So, what to do if you decide to cook rolls or bake a cheesecake, but for some reason you couldn’t buy Philadelphia cheese? Don't despair! An excellent alternative to the designated cream cheese will be "Mascarpone" and "Boursin". It is believed that it is the designated varieties that are closest in taste to Philadelphia. However, it must be admitted that they are not too accessible. From more budgetary replacements we can offer processed cheese "Druzhba" and creamy "President" in trays, as well as cheeses "Viola" and "Violett".
What instead of "Philadelphia" to use for making rolls?
All of the alternatives listed above will work for making sushi. The main thing to remember: instead of Philadelphia, you can use any real, slightly sweet, soft, cream cheese with a delicate texture, without additives. Some housewives manage to replace the indicated ingredient with Fetaki cheese and even unsalted cheese.
What can replace Philadelphia in cheesecake?
The main ingredient of cheesecake is cheese (hence, in fact, the name). However, you must admit that not everyone can afford to buy 600 grams of Philadelphia declared in the list of ingredients. But do not despair, because if you use "Almette", "Viola", "President", "Creme Bonjour" or "Buko" while making a cheesecake, then the taste of the finished cake will pleasantly surprise you, because it will practically not differ from the classic one. You can experiment and mix the indicated varieties of cheese in equal proportions with cottage cheese.
There is another alternative to Philadelphia cheese that can be used to make cheesecake. Some housewives argue that if you beat coarse-grained fat homemade cottage cheese to a smooth creamy mass with sour cream or cream with a high percentage of fat, you can get a product that practically does not differ in taste from expensive cream cheese.
And finally, if none of the proposed alternatives suits you, then it will not be difficult to cook according to the recipe that we previously offered to your attention on the pages of our online magazine, or according to the one below.
Philadelphia cheese: cooking recipe
You will need:
pasteurized milk - 1 liter,
kefir - 1/2 liter,
chicken egg - 1 piece,
salt - 1 teaspoon,
sugar - 1 teaspoon,
citric acid - on the tip of a knife.
Cooking method
1. Pour milk into a saucepan and put on fire.
2. Stirring constantly, heat the milk and add sugar and salt just before boiling.
3. After the milk boils, remove it from the heat and add kefir to it. Mix well until the mass is curdled.
4. We spread the curd mass on gauze folded in several layers and hang it, allowing the excess liquid to drain.
5. Beat the egg with citric acid.
6. Combine the egg mass with the curd and beat until a homogeneous consistency is formed. Philadelphia cheese is ready!
What alternative to Philadelphia cheese do you know? Share in the comments!
A popular dish of Japanese cuisine, one of the varieties of sushi is rolls, which are rolled into a cylindrical roll using a bamboo mat (makisu), and then cut into 6 or 8 slices. The filling is wrapped with a sheet of nori - dried and crushed pressed seaweed, less often scrambled eggs, rice or soy paper. Sushi and rolls are prepared with lightly salted, smoked, raw fish, seafood, fruits and vegetables, smoked chicken, bacon, and various types of cream cheese.
What kind of cheese is used for rolls
One of the most important ingredients in almost every roll recipe is cream cheese. The most popular used to prepare a Japanese dish is Philadelphia. This cheese for rolls can be problematic to purchase, because. it has a high price. It can be replaced with a similar product. The closest in taste and texture are soft curd cheeses, such as Almette, Mozzarella, Buco or Mascarpone.
Such cheeses are cheaper than their American counterparts, their soft texture and delicate taste fit well into the recipe for classic rolls. If the accuracy of the rolls does not play a big role, then you can add processed cheese "Viola", "President", even Yantar or Cheese. When using a processed product, it is recommended to choose the classic version, without additives, so as not to interrupt the taste of a Japanese dish.
Cream cheese for sushi
A soft, delicate, sweetish product made from milk with a pronounced taste - cream cheese for Philadelphia rolls. It has a creamy texture, does not pass the ripening period, which distinguishes it from other soft cheeses (brie). The composition of the product includes many vitamins of group B, A, E, K and minerals: magnesium, calcium, fluorine, potassium, iron, selenium. The calorie content of cream cheese is 340 kcal per 100 g of product, due to the high fat content. Almost every country produces such cheese, in addition, certain types of it can be prepared at home.
This product belongs to soft varieties that do not go through the ripening process. To prepare it, milk is first pasteurized, then cooled and a special lactic ferment is added. The process of separating whey from curd clots takes 20-22 hours. After that, the mass must be filtered, then add the rest of the ingredients according to the recipe. This type of cream cheese began to be produced in the city of Philadelphia in the USA in the 1870s, since then the product has not lost its popularity.
Due to the production technology, Philadelphia can be stored up to 4 months, after opening the package - no more than a week. It contains choline, which normalizes cholesterol levels, potassium, necessary for the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system, calcium and phosphorus, necessary for strengthening bone tissue. The calorie content of the product is 341 kcal per 100g. Philadelphia rolls are not the only type of Japanese delicacy where such cream cheese is added.
If you make homemade sushi cheese, you get a tasty and inexpensive substitute for Philadelphia. To do this, you need the ingredients:
- milk - 1 liter;
- fatty kefir - 0.5 l.;
- sugar - 1 tsp;
- salt - 1 tsp;
- egg - 1 pc.;
- citric acid - on the tip of a knife.
Boil milk in a saucepan, stirring constantly, add lemon, salt and sugar, remove from heat. Pour in kefir and mix well. The milk will curdle immediately. Fold clean gauze in two or three layers, place in a colander. Carefully pour the milk mass there, tie the ends with a rope and hang for 6-7 hours. Cheese rolls can also be made with another Philadelphia substitute. Mix fat cottage cheese with cream in a blender, and bring to the desired density.
The homeland of this product is Italy, although it is also produced by other countries - Spain, Russia, France, etc. Goat, cow, sheep, buffalo milk is used to prepare the product. A feature of Ricotta is that it is produced from secondary raw materials, that is, from whey, which remained after the manufacture of other cheeses. It is pasteurized and combined with a special acid, then brought to a boil to form curd flakes. The last stage is the separation of whey from the curd mass - the future Ricotta. To get 100 g of cheese, you will need the following ingredients:
- serum - 4 l.;
- vinegar 6% - 60 ml.
Cooking method:
- Heat the whey to a temperature of 90 degrees, stirring constantly.
- Take it off the heat, pour in the vinegar.
- The process of separating the curd flakes will immediately begin, which will float to the surface.
- These clots need to be caught with a slotted spoon and laid out on a sieve covered with gauze.
- Leave for 1.5 hours to make the cheese tender, for 7 hours - for dense Ricotta.
- Store no more than a week.
In addition to the usual calcium for dairy products, Ricotta contains vitamin A, which is necessary for good vision, and B vitamins that normalize the functioning of the nervous system. It is recommended to use Ricotta for children, teenagers, pregnant and lactating women, the elderly. The calorie content of the product is only 145 kcal per 100 g, so it can be consumed by overweight people.
It was first prepared in Italy. The composition of the Italian Mascarpone includes essential amino acids that are involved in the process of hematopoiesis and strengthening the immune system, tryptophan, which helps to normalize the nervous system, effectively combat depression, stress, insomnia, as well as vitamins and minerals. Mascarpone - a product of high calorie content - 405 kcal per 100 g.
The recipe for making cream cheese is simple: 1 liter of 25% cream is heated, but not boiled, 3 tablespoons are added. lemon juice, simmer over low heat for 3-5 minutes. The mass is laid out in special fabric or gauze bags and hung up to get rid of the serum - this takes 12-15 hours. Mascarpone has a delicate creamy taste and creamy texture, so it is often used to make desserts, snacks, sandwiches.
Feta
This cheese belongs to semi-hard varieties, outwardly similar to pressed cottage cheese. It is prepared from a mixture of sheep and goat milk, the fat content ranges from 33 to 65%. Feta has a sour-salty taste, with a delicate milky aroma. Greece is considered the birthplace of cheese, but most countries of the world are engaged in its production. The product is made in large pieces, which are then cut into portions. Calorie Feta cheese - 255 kcal per 100 g of product.
Feta manufacturing technology is simple: milk is pasteurized so that it curdles, then it is filtered using special bags for several days. The resulting mass is laid out in special forms, salt, spices and marinade are added. The next stage is pressing and then ripening the cheese for 14 days. The density of the product does not allow breaking it with your hands or spreading it on toast like butter.
Ingredients for making Feta at home:
- milk - 2 liters;
- natural sour cream - 200 ml;
- pepsin - 1g;
- distilled water - 1 tbsp.
Cooking method:
- Divide milk into 2 parts.
- Heat half to 38 degrees, mix the other half with sour cream.
- Dissolve pepsin with water, add to the milk-sour cream mixture.
- Mix both parts of milk, leave for 6-7 hours at room temperature.
- Strain, wrap the resulting mass in cheesecloth, place under pressure for 12-14 hours.
Feta cheese contains choline, which prevents the formation of cholesterol plaques and increases the protective mechanism of cells. During some experiments in the USA, it was proved that the cheese contains microorganisms that are capable of producing natural antibiotics in the human body. They contribute to a speedy recovery from dysbacteriosis and food poisoning.
There is iron in Fet, which is actively involved in the process of transporting oxygen, strengthens the immune and cardiovascular systems. Vitamin B2 helps to slow down the aging process of the body and prevents the development of degenerative diseases - Alzheimer's, Parkinson's. Tryptophan contributes to the formation of the "hormone of happiness" - serotonin, which improves mood and normalizes sleep.
The delicate taste of Philadelphia cheese is familiar and loved by many connoisseurs of sushi and rolls, cheesecakes and simply delicious cakes, the cream of which contains this cheese according to the recipe.
However, not in any store you can buy this product and, moreover, the price of cheese is quite high.
Therefore, the question arises of how to replace Philadelphia cream cheese in cream, cake and other dishes. Find a decent and budget alternative to expensive cheese.
The worst replacement option is the usual inexpensive soft processed cheeses such as Druzhba and Yantar.
It is possible that processed cheese will do for making rolls (although it is unlikely that the taste will still not be the same), but you cannot make a good cheesecake with it. Some housewives instead of cream cheese put soft unsalted cheese or Fetaki cheese in the rolls.
But, to be honest, nothing can replace Philadelphia cheese for cheesecake, sushi, rolls and other dishes. It is unique, and the taste of the dish will be different from the original.
And it's very frustrating that often in sushi bars and restaurants other cheap cheeses are added instead to save money.
You can also try to replace Philadelphia cream cheese with other curd cream cheeses to your taste, because everyone has different preferences.
