Fast Food Justice

What Is Cocoa Butter

Extracted from cocoa bean, cocoa butter is a solid fat which is a natural and effective emollient and moisturizer. At the mention of it, what comes to the picture are those tasty desserts like creamy cakes and chocolates. However, its usage stretches further than cooking or baking. This tasty and versatile ingredient equally manifests its benefits to your skin care regimes, having been infused in a number of health and beauty products. The question though is, what is a good substitute for cocoa butter?

Is Cocoa Butter the Same As Coconut Butter?

Now before we even proceed further, first let’s unravel this question. Many people often confuse cocoa butter, coconut oil and coconut butter. Now the two, coconut butter and cocoa butter, have distinct profiles, especially in regards to how they are made.

While cocoa butter is made from cocoa beans, coconut butter on the other hand is extracted from whole coconuts which gives it extra nutritional benefits and flavour. However, they have similar fat levels, sweetness and consistency, meaning that these two are interchangeable ingredients in a number of recipes.

Best Cocoa Butter Alternatives in Recipes:

The Best Cocoa Butter Substitute in Baking

• Unsalted Butter. Pure unsalted butter reveals a combination of tiny bits of carbohydrates and proteins, but still remains to be purely fat, just like cocoa butter. Considering the baking process, this butter makes the best substitute for cocoa butter since they’ll react the same way. In the end, you’ll have the similar texture and moisture levels.

The only difference between the two is the flavour profile, considering that unsalted butter features a combination of milky and sweet flavour, while cocoa butter on the other hand has distinct sweet taste. So for best results, you can add cocoa powder to the butter so that it enhances the flavour.

The best Cocoa Butter Substitute in Lotion

• Shea Butter. Shea butter matches cocoa butter with its moisturising properties. It will still help heal, soften and restore your dry skin so if you can’t find cocoa butter or its lotion-infused range, you can try shea butter options.For shear butter, you can also customize its mild nutty scent with the fragrance of your choice.

The best Cocoa Butter Substitute in Making Chocolates

• Dark Chocolate. You can still make your dark chocolate with coconut butter or coconut oil in place of cocoa butter, but for the flavour, you have to introduce cocoa powder. To balance the bitterness from cocoa powder, you can add a liquid sweetener of your choice.
• White chocolate. Unlike dark chocolate, you won’t necessarily need any cocoa components here, so you can use unsalted butter. For best results, you can have it combined with milk and sugar, or vanilla for flavour. However if you’re vegan, you can still use coconut oil, coconut butter or a combination of the same, only that you won’t get the desired smooth, creamy and soft consistency.

Cocoa Butter Equivalent

Cocoa Butter Equivalent (CBE) is any ingredient which has a profile similar to that of cocoa butter. This cuts across physical properties and the fatty acid profile, making them compatible. Examples of CBE are shea butter, nut oils and palm oil.

Tips on Using the Replacement for Cocoa Butter

• Balance the fats. As mentioned, cocoa butter comprises of solid fats, and this is what makes it act differently in different recipes. Some of the substitutes available don’t precisely match this feature, meaning that you’ll probably have to combine two or more substitutes, or go heavy on the measurements to match the balance of fats needed in the recipe.
• Smoke point. First, you need to establish how your substitute will react to high temperatures, especially if you’re substituting it for cocoa butter when frying. With a very high smoking point, cocoa butter can stay stable at temperatures of up to 450F. Otherwise for any other cooking needs, this shouldn’t be much of an issue.
• Flavour Balance. Flavour in this case is subjective, depending on whether you can or cannot stand cocoa. Most of the time it’s unnoticeable because the flavour is lighter, however what stands out is a cream and savoury taste. Therefore, it’s also good to find a match or rather a better comparison in the substitute for cocoa butter.

How to Make Cocoa Butter for Cooking

Cocoa butter can be expensive, and with that you can always opt for home-made samples. Here is a simple guide on how to make cocoa butter from cocoa beans:

• Thoroughly clean the cocoa beans with cold water in order to get rid of any residues. Once clean, leave the beans to air-dry. The amount of beans used here will dictate the amount of butter you’ll end up with.  
• Set your temperatures to 100 or 135 degrees Fahrenheit and roast your cocoa beans for 90 minutes or until they’re evenly roasted. In the event that the beans are different in sizes, you can sort them and roast in portions for an even roast. You can pick any roasting means for this step other than open flames which might burn the cocoa beans shells since they’re flammable.
• After that, quickly cool the beans, preferably with the help of a fan to keep them from scorching. Once cool, use a heavy tool like a hammer to gently tap on the beans in order to separate the inner nib from the outer shell which will be relatively loose by now.
• Separate the nibs and grind them into a powder. Now to make the process even simpler, you can use a grinder which will leave you with what’s called cocoa liquor instead of the powder. This is made possible with heat released which then melts the fats from the nibs after they turn powdery.
• You can then extract cocoa butter from the cocoa liquor by filtering using a cotton cloth, passing it through an expeller or through an extrusion. You can chill or store the end product in a glass jar for all your future cooking needs.

Conclusion

This article has comprehensively answered the question what is a good substitute for cocoa butter. As you hunt for the ideal cocoa butter substitute for your recipe, you might realize that the prices are equally relatively high. So to keep your supply intact, you can always make yours every now and then right from home. The better part is that cocoa butter is versatile, so as you take a break from using it in your meals, you can as well use it to revive the natural glow in your skin and hair.

Thank you, Fast Food Justice

What is Taleggio Cheese?

Taleggio cheese gets its name from its place of origin, making it one of the region’s tradition incarnate. It’s identified with its unique exterior which is coarse and edible and perfectly blends with the creamy interiors. It’s this blend of contrasting sensations that makes Taleggio cheese boast of its unmatched flavor and consistency.  But does it really another type of cheese that can substitute it? And if yes, then what is a good substitute for teleggio cheese?

This cheese matures quickly and during the aging process, its outer parts are thoroughly washed to promote the intense flavors.  The production process also includes infusing 5 different edible molds to come up with the reddish smear which makes it unique.

What does Taleggio Cheese Taste Like?

This semi-soft cheese strikes with its aromatic character, doubled up with a mild flavor. The blend of consistency and flavor in the end gives it a rich and mellow taste. It melts down to tangy and meaty flavors with a fruity after taste. The texture, which includes traces of edible mold ranges from moist to oozy and leaves you with a refreshing melt inside the mouth.

In a nutshell, Taleggio cheese has it all in terms of texture, flavor and taste, features formed during its aging process. However, all these depend on the variation of Taleggio cheese that you have, whether it’s the raw milk, fresher or extra aged versions.

What are some of the famous Taleggio cheese Recipes? This variety is often picked because of how easily it melts, something which makes it a great choice for melting onto your pasta or risotto. The slices are also highly ideal for a grilled cheese sandwich or as a top-up to traditional casserole dishes. The cheese is equally flexible and can as well be used as a substitute in recipes which call for compatible cheese varieties. This also means that even with the traditional dishes, you can also substitute Taleggio cheese with something else.

Why Would You Want To Substitute Taleggio Cheese?

Taleggio cheese remains to be a great option for your cheesy recipes, however here are some of the instances where one would think of substituting it in a recipe:

• Scarcity. In the world of cheese varieties, Taleggio cheese happens to be one of the least produced options. This means that there are chances it doesn’t land on every market, so you can easily run out or fail to find it near you. In that case, you can always replace it with any of the Taleggio cheese substitutes, the best of which I have highlighted below.
• Cost. With scarcity comes a price to pay, making this cheese quite pricey. Some stores might give you options of buying in smaller quantities as it suits your budget, however that will just have you running-out sooner than enough. Therefore, you can always replace it with a workable and relatively affordable option.
• Overwhelming Flavor. If you’re highly bent towards milder cheese varieties, Taleggio might not go well with you; that and the fact that what strikes first is the strong pungent smell. You can still strike a balance with the right substitute, depending on what your recipe calls for.

The Best Taleggio Cheese Alternatives in Recipes

Here are some of the best Taleggio Cheese Substitutes that will save the day, no matter the reasons you have for substituting:

• Fontina Cheese. With the original Italian Fontina Cheese range, you’ll get the same flavor prolife as that of Taleggio. You still have the options of switching up with milder ones in case you can’t stand the pungent traits of the original Italian options. It also melts nicely so you can confidently use it in any Taleggio cheese recipes.
• Gruyere Cheese. This yellow variety still matches Taleggio’s melting properties, irrespective of how hard it is. It releases nutty and tangy flavors which are equally great for salads, soups, pastas, fondues and even sandwiches.
• Brie Cheese. This French variety has different options in its bracket in terms of flavor and taste. One that perfectly suits the place of Taleggio in recipes is Brie de Melun which is characterized with a creamy and soft texture and a strong pungent smell.
• Limburger Cheese. Unlike the rest which either match Taleggio or are slightly lower, here’s something with a slightly stronger flavor.Having been made using similar formulas, using this as a substitute will give you same results which extend to consistency.
• Robiola Cheese. With its origin in Italy, this variety is considered to be from a category similar to Taleggio. It also gives you options to pick from in terms of flavor and texture. Overall, it’s pale-yellow in color, complemented with a tangy, mild sour taste. These key features make it usable as a table cheese and in any other Taleggio cheese recipes.
• Havarti Cheese. Lastly, we have this semi-soft variety from Denmark. It’s a great option for those who can’t stand the pungent smell of Taleggio and its subsequent substitutes. It releases a buttery aroma complemented with another combination of slightly acidic, sweet and buttery flavors.

Tips on Using Replacements for Taleggio Cheese

• Flavor Balance

It’s difficult to find a substitute that perfectly matches Taleggio cheese flavors, but whatever you use has to at least mimic the straightforward flavors. To some extent, you might have to combine different varieties to achieve Taleggio’s powerful profile or somehow double the quantities used to get the best results.

• Uses

The reason why we have a varieties of cheese substitutes outlined is so that you get the right option for the specific recipe you have at hand. This somehow traces back to the flavor profile and tasting notes which have to be in harmony with the dish you’re making. What often saves the day is the flexible types because with them you can always hack different recipes with a single block of cheese.

• Melting Ability.

This actually cuts across all cheese varieties, especially if it’s a recipe that needs the cheese grilled or used as toppings. As I mentioned earlier, Taleggio melts perfectly, giving you the right consistency. So ensure that your taleggio cheese substitute matches this key feature.

Conclusion

So, what is a good substitute for taleggio cheese? There are a number of good substitutes for Taleggio cheese that you can explore in addition to the ones we have discussed. All you have to do is get the cheese properties straight and if they happen to be a match, you can comfortably grab the variety in question as your Taleggio cheese substitute.

What Is Applesauce?

Applesauce is one of the versatile ingredients used in baking which can be used either as a main ingredient or as a substitute. It often takes the place of eggs and fats and what makes it a great substitute for the two is that with it comes equal measures of consistency and moisture.

Applesauce is used in recipes both for flavour and health reasons, in that as it brings the desired moisture to your pastries or whatever it is that you’re making, it equally tones-down unhealthy fats and calories. All in all, you can still switch it up with much ease being that there are a number of ingredients which can be used in its place as well.

Why Would You Want To Substitute Apple Sauce?

For a long time, applesauce has been used as a substitute on its own, meaning that substituting it can be simple or not, depending on the reason why applesauce made it to the list of ingredients in the first place. Some of the instances where one would choose to substitute applesauce are as follows:

• You’re looking for a change. If you have been using applesauce as a substitute for various baking needs, it’s also healthier to switch things up once in a while. This mostly applies to those who love trying new ideas so that they end up with different tastes for various occasions.
• You’re out of applesauce. You might have started the baking process before realizing that you actually ran out of applesauce and apples to make one for that matter. For such, finding a substitute is the best way to go, because luckily most of them are common in every household so you won’t miss something to try.
• You can’t stand applesauce. However healthy it is, applesauce doesn’t go well with everyone.  So in the event that you come across a recipe that highlights it as an ingredient, you don’t have to beat yourself up. You can substitute it and still end up with properly baked and healthy products. 

Best Apple Sauce Alternatives

Applesauce Substitute in Baking

Apple Purees: If you’re out of applesauce and still want the same texture and flavour profile, pureed apples is the way to go. With the right food processer or blender, you can also have yours home-made to get a healthier substitute in that this time you’ll be using even the apples skins.

Pumpkin purees: It’s all about texture and consistency, and ingredients like pumpkins can get the process started. You can make this from a scratch or get the commercial options for those quick fixes.

Fruit Purees You can still get that sweet and tasty flavour in your baked goods from fruit purees. The best way to know what’s right to use is tracing back to how applesauce is made. This means that the fruits you use should be able to give you the same results as apples once you have peeled and pureed them. Examples are pears, apricots and raspberries.

Oil or Butter: As mentioned, applesauce is mostly used to replace fats when baking, meaning that when you run out of apples or applesauce, you can still use regular oil or butter. In some instances, you might have to use either of these together with some applesauce substitutes so that you get the right texture.

Applesauce Substitute in Muffins

Mashed vegetables: You can use your vegetable purees and mashed vegetables to match the health benefits of applesauce. However, being that muffins deserve all the sweetness that comes with them, sweet potatoes is the most preferred option. With the right hint of sweetness, they also feature fibers which are great for your digestion tract. All you have to do is boil them and mash to your desired texture and consistency.

Dairy products: Dairy products also work great in place of applesauce especially in instances where you’re toning-down some calories. Muffins can go well with products like yoghurt, cheese, buttermilk and sour cream. You can pick from this range of ingredients depending on your desired flavour, whether it’s sweet or tangy.

Applesauce Substitute in Vegan Baking

Tofu: Tofu on its own is food consumed by most vegans, and the same is ideal for baking. It’s simple to make, and all you have to do is coagulate soy milk then you press the curds to get blocks. You can control the consistency ranging from silken to extra firm by controlling the amount of pressure you use in the process. However, it tends to be dense compared to applesauce, so only use it if you prefer dense baked products.

Coconut Products: If you happen to be both vegan and lactose intolerant at the same time and want to use oil or milk in your baking, coconut products are the closest options you have. Coconut milk and oil carry with them rich minerals and vitamins and will also give you the perfect creamy texture and flavour in the baked products.

Tips on Using the Replacement for Applesauce in Recipes

Picking the right substitute for applesauce at any particular moment traces back to the reason why the recipe calls for applesauce and also the reasons why you’re substituting it in the first place. Here are some general tips to help guide your pick:

• Substituting applesauce for vegans: If you had been using applesauce because you’re vegan, your choices are limited because with that you can’t go back to dairy substitute options. That way, you have to go the fruits way or go natural with coconut oil, coconut milk or tofu.
• Substituting applesauce for health reasons. For others, it’s all about the flavour, but to some there’re compelled to us applesauce so as to eliminate fats. This means that the substitute you pick has to be equally healthier. Other than fruit purees, you can also go for vegetable purees and natural dairy products depending on the recipe at hand.

Conclusion

No matter what your needs are, there is always something viable to use as a substitute for applesauce. The better part is that most of these options can be home-made or commercially outsourced, meaning that you’ll still have the chance to turn the recipe around, just as you would with applesauce.

What Is Gruyere Cheese?

Gruyere is a smooth-melting Swiss cheese made by curing whole cow’s milk for 6 months or more. The process creates a pale yellow cheese with a rich-creamy and nutty taste. As with Swiss tradition, this variety also features small holes formed by gas bubbles released during the cheese formation process.

If your life revolves around gooey cheese, it’s time you tried this hard cheese which melts to a nice and creamy consistency. This uniqueness is credited to its production process which involves the cheese being curdled with a combination of rennet enzymes.

Why Would You Want To Substitute Gruyere Cheese?

Gruyere cheese is unmatched, all thanks to its flavour and versatility, however here are three instances where one would consider finding an alternative for gruyere cheese:

• You have no idea what this variety looks like. Keeping tabs with all the cheese varieties can be quite some task, so chances are if you come across a recipe that calls for Gruyere cheese and you have never used it before, you’ll definitely resort to an alternative which you’re well conversant with.
• Nothing on the shelves. However much widely available Gruyere cheese is today, it’s still not stocked on certain markets. This means that you’ll have to grab something else to get the recipe going, pushing you to its substitute.
• Your budget is up tight. This cheese variety will have you spending a couple of more dollars than you would on regular cheese. So for those days when you have a certain budget to work with, buying Gruyere might not be a great choice.However, you can also go for the slices option instead of buying the entire cheese which might help cut on the cost.

Best 7 Gruyere Cheese Alternatives

Emmental Cheese.

This is a semi-hard cheese variant characterised with distinctive sweetness and cherry-sized eyes. It boasts of aroma and delightful flavour with traces of ripe fruit and hazelnut. It matches the versatility of Gruyere, making it suitable for a variety of culinary needs.

Jarlsberg Cheese.

Jarlsberg is a mild-flavoured Norwegian cheese equally made from cow’s milk. It has a buttery texture, sweet and nutty flavour, which is close to Gruyere’s profile, only that it’s slightly mild.Its versatility in flavour and consistency is what makes it a great table cheese, so you can trust it with your sandwiches and a number of traditional recipes which call for Gruyere cheese.

Beaufort Cheese

You can also try this noble Alpine cheese exclusively produced form pasteurized cow’s milk. From that it gets unique grassy and flowery aromas which blend perfectly with its firm and butter taste, melting perfectly right from the mouth. With a curd cooked at lower temperatures, the taste tends to be subtler than that of Gruyere.

Comte Cheese.

Another match for Gruyere is this semi-firm French variety. It reveals a creamy texture and good melting ability. Having been made from pasteurized cow’s milk which is basically matured for months is what gives it a taste similar to that of Gruyere.

Raclette Cheese.

Raclette is another cow’s milk cheese featuring unmatched creamy texture. The flavour has everything in it, so if your recipe calls for a combination of sweet, salty and nutty flavours, this is your plug. When perfectly aged, it gets a slightly pungent smell which however doesn’t translate to the taste.

Gouda Cheese.

You can also bank on versatility with Gouda Cheese. This semi-hard cheese has its roots from Netherlands and with that it’s characterized with a springy and dense texture. It brings with it aromatic and caramel-like flavours paired with traces of nutty, sweet and creamy notes. As a table cheese, its finish varies from sharp to smooth, depending on how well aged it is.

Fontina Cheese. This is an Italian Cheese with a firm velvety texture guaranteed to give you the right consistency once melted. It makes a good substitute because of the reminiscent butter and roasted nuts flavour. With it also comes some dense flavours of herbs and wild flowers. 

Tips for Using Substitutes for Gruyere Cheese

Before picking on a substitute for Gruyere cheese, here are some of the things you should take into consideration:

• Profile. One of the reasons why it isn’t recommended to switch ingredients is pegged on flavour related issues. This is the case with Gruyere cheese, so the alternative you pick has to match gruyere’s strong and delicious flavour profile.
• Characteristics. Different cheese varieties have equally different melting characteristics. For this you’ll need something that melts smoothly as Gruyere does, also depending on what the recipe calls for. At times, this could mean that you have to go slower or more on the quantities of the substitute used so that you achieve the desired consistency.
• Versatility. Unless you’re looking for quantities to use for a single recipe, versatility should be key. It’s better to invest in a cheese variety that works well with different dishes, like Gruyere does. 

Gruyere Cheese Recipes

Some of the tradition dishes involving this table cheese include the following:

Fondue. You can save up your Gruyere cheese for Christmas and New Year traditions. It’s the perfect cheese to use when making fondue in order to hack a warm and satisfying dish as it should be. Here, you’ll need a combination of Gruyere and Emmental cheeses together with Kirshwasser brandy as the main ingredients.

The Croque-Monsieur. This is a classic French grilled cheese sandwich famous in a number of eateries in Paris. It’s made by combining Gruyere cheese with some creamy béchamel sauce, which is then grilled to perfection. The sandwich pairs perfectly with French fries or a bowl of salad.

Conclusion

As with the norm, recipes are ingredients-specific, so when you choose to substitute one of the ingredients like cheese, the outcome can sometimes vary. However, this shouldn’t be the case with Gruyere, now that you know what makes a good substitute for Gruyere cheese and a few tips to get you started.

Generally when substituting, all you should focus on is the flavour profile and tasting notes, key things which must be similar to that of Gruyere cheese. This will save the day especially if your recipe calls for numerous cups of cheese unlike in the case of small amounts which might even go unnoticed.