Want to add more friendly bacteria to your digestive tract? Then this homemade probiotic kefir cream cheese should be part of your arsenal.
I love Kefir (fermented yogurt) for its health benefits and drink it almost daily.
Ever since I introduced this amazing superfood to my diet my occasional heartburn, and what remained of my acid reflux issues completely went away.
I have never been a cream cheese lover per se, but when butter became the villain and margarine (yuk a molecule away from plastic) was the “healthy option”, cream cheese seemed like a pretty ok choice. Ummm spreading some of that cheesy goodness on a piece of toasted anything was always a good alternative. However, conventional cream cheese is no longer even an ok choice.
Why?
Because unless it clearly states from grass-fed milk or pastured it is made with GMO ingredients, preservatives, stabilizers, and additives which aren’t a healthy option.
Worse yet non-organic cream cheese lacks Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a naturally occurring dietary fatty acid which is crucial in helping our bodies burn fat, but there are way more benefits to CLA we ever thought of.
Why This Kefir Cream Cheese is Healthier Than Conventional
Research indicates that CLA from grass-fed beef (and dairy from it) is more beneficial than ever thought. Here Dr. Mercola’s detailed article explains:
A host of research has been conducted on animals, under microscopes, and with humans to determine the impact of CLA on disease. Results have shown CLA to be a potent ally for combating diseases, such as cancer (including breast cancer ) Cardiovascular disease, High blood pressure, High cholesterol and triglycerides, Osteoporosis, Insulin resistance, inflammation and of course aids in fat burning. Read the full article here.
It is also sourced from milk raised in (CAFOs) Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, You do not want meat, dairy or anything from these animals and should avoid it as much as you can. You may read more about CAFOs vs free range meats and dairy here.
We don’t want any of these foods in our bodies. And that is why I make this nutritious, full of live probiotics spreadable cream cheese for my family. If you’re going to eat cream cheese this should be the way to do it.
Yes, I know, you could always buy organic cream cheese at the store but why not add millions of friendly bacteria to your lovely gut by making kefir cream cheese at home?
It tastes so much better than store-bought cream cheese, plus you know you are adding top-notch live bacteria to your gut. Fresh, homemade, and delicious.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Kefir Cream Cheese?
Kefir is loaded with micronutrients like fats and proteins, and micronutrients like vitamin B, vitamin K, and folic acid.
According to bodycology, Milk kefir is predigested. This means that the beneficial microbes (bacteria and yeast) in milk kefir have broken down the milk proteins and also consumed most of the milk sugars. The finished product is a creamy, tart beverage that is easy to absorb and supports your overall wellbeing. [1]
Additionally, you can say goodbye to acid reflux or GERD , indigestion, and most digestive issues when you drink kefir and anything made from kefir (butter, cheese, cream, flavored kefir). Furthermore, you’ve heard that optimal health begins in the gut right? Well, natural probiotics like this probiotic kefir cream cheese will be introducing billions of healthy bacteria such as u are protecting your entire immune system.
Here is the recipe to make both Kefir and Kefir Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- Finished Milk Kefir
- Cotton bag or cheese cloth for making cheese
- Bowl
- plastic strainer (this is what I use)
- weigh
Instructions
- How to Make Kefir Cream Cheese
- Once the whey has separated about 1/4 inch from the kefir use a cheesecloth to strain it so you can separate the whey from what will become soft cheese.
- Hang above a jar or bowl and drain off whey for 12-24 hours.
- You'll need the plastic strainer to put the cheesecloth over it and a glass bowl to collect the whey.**
- When the kefir is no longer dripping, wrap the cheese in the cheese cloth or whatever you use to drain it and place it in a colander.
- You may place a semi-heavy object to help drain the whey faster.
- Once the whey has drained the end result will be a delicious and nutritious probiotics filled spreadable cheese.
- Enjoy
Notes
** Note: Do not toss the whey (liquid) there are millions of the amazing digestive enzymes in live probiotics in it too. Transfer it to a glass bottle/jar and store it for later use. If you are daring enough add the whey to your homemade lemonade to make a probiotic lemonade like I do. 😉
Have you tried Kefir, kefir cheese or have you made it before? Did you like it or what would you change? I’d love to hear your experiences below.
References:
http://bodyecology.com/articles/4-benefits-of-milk-kefir-that-could-change-your-life [1] https://www.mercola.com/beef/cla.htm
Gut Microbiome Influences Your Mental and Physical Health
I will try to make a vegan version of the kefir cream cheese. Hopefully it turns out as good.
This is such a helpful article. I’ve never had kefir cheese, but I definately wasn’t to add this to mine and my husbands diet! It sounds like it would be very beneficial for us.
I can honestly say I have not heard of this but it’s really interesting and looks good! I’m going to have to try it.
My mom makes this and I actually love this form of cheese. But yes, I haven’t tried making it yet.
I love cream cheese! I bake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting almost every week. I’m aware that cream cheese isn’t exactly a healthy food especially if you eat a lot of it. 🙁 I think I’ll making this healthy version and see if it’ll fit my taste bud. I’m not promising anything though. 😛
I do like kefir but I have never tried cheese made out of it. I know that kefir it’s pretty hard to find also, it depends which country you live in.
I had tried kefir in the past, many many years ago. It has quite a distinct taste. My mom loves it – sharing this with her!
Awesome! I drink it daily in my smoothies and sometimes make a drinkable dessert with Manuka honey, cinnamon or cardamom, or turmeric or all of the above ha! I add fruit to it, you name it. Excellent hope moms makes it for ya 😉
This looks good! I will have to try making these, we sometimes bake with cream cheese I’ll have to try it with this!
Fantastic! I prefer not to “heat it up” because it is a live food. I’d bake the goods then add the Kefir cream cheese.
I’ve never drunk espresso, yet in the wake of perusing this article, particularly the part about heart wellbeing, I could conceivably begin drinking it. It’s obvious, my family history is covered with heart illness, thus I need to do all that I can to ensure that I live as long as I can and sound as well. Perhaps I can begin drinking some espresso a couple of times each week and afterward climb to on more than one occasion per day.
I would definitely try making Kefir and use it. It has so many benefits. Thanks for sharing detailed instructions.
I had never thought of making my own cream cheese – I don’t eat cream cheese very often to be honest – but i could defo give it a try! especially considering all the health benefits!
I was in the same boat as you ha! I rarely consumed cream cheese and never ever thought of making my own. However, when I started learning about food fermentation, gut health and the amazing health benefits of Probiotics I dove right in. This creme cheese is exquisite and has a tanginess to it, but that’s because of all of the fermentation. It is a beautiful wholesome food that is worth every ounce. Definitely give it a try and let me know how it goes. I actually send out Kefir grains from my private group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/healyounaturally/ 😉
I have never tried Kefir cream cheese, but it looks very healthy and easy to make. I would like to try it on a whole grain cracker.
It is actually quite delicious, and yes the health benefits are fantastic. Yes, or even better almond flour crackers and grain free foods– @sietefoods and @Mikeys are some of my favorite places to get grain free stuff.
I have a heard a lot about Kefir and how it’s better than normal curd. But I have not found it where I live. I would have loved to try making this cheese.
I adore Kefir and its one of the Natural probiotics with the most diversity and amount of Natural probiotics. Where are you located? If you are in the US I can ship some to you. DM me or join my closed FB group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/healyounaturally/ and mention this comment. 😉
The cream cheese surely sounds like one healthy one I’d want to take in for my recipes since I’m seriously keen on a natural lifestyle. It’s nice that it’s so easy to prepare to. Glad you shared.
Thank you! Yes, it is pretty easy to make, but remember you must make Kefir first.
Interesting! It would be amazing to make my own cheese. I think the instruction is easy to follow. I am so excited to try it!
Fantastic! Let me know how it goes. I am sure you are going to love it!
Absolutely loved this! Made a few tweaks, as I literally never follow a recipe 100%, but this was so yummy I will actually make it again! Thank you!
Oh that’s great to hear. What tweaks did you make? I am curious. I have to make it soon!