How to Prepare Vegetable Rennet with Wild Thistle Flower

Vegetable rennet is a fundamental ingredient for making homemade cheese and can be obtained naturally using the flowers of the wild thistle. In this guide, I will explain step by step how to collect and transform wild thistle into an effective vegetable rennet.

Why Use Wild Thistle?

The wild thistle flower is a natural alternative to animal rennet. It is perfect for those seeking a vegetable option and lends itself to being used in traditional and creative recipes, such as artisanal cheeses.

How to Collect Wild Thistle Flowers

  • Identifying wild thistle: Look for the plant in fields or uncultivated areas. The ideal time to collect the flowers is during flowering, in general during the spring.
  • Safe harvesting: Cut the flowers with a piece of stem about 4 inches (10 cm) long. Be careful, the thistle stings! Use protective gloves and scissors to avoid injury.
  • Drying the flowers: Tie the flowers upside down in a paper bag and hang it in a shady and well-ventilated place. After 7-10 days, the flowers will be dry and ready for use.

Preparing the Vegetable Rennet

  • Ingredients:
    • 20 g of dried wild thistle flowers (about 6-7 flowers)
    • 250 ml of water
  • Instructions:
    1. Carefully remove the top part of the flower, removing the stem.
    2. Put the dried flowers in a jar with 250 ml of water.
    3. Shake the jar and let the mixture rest for 24-48 hours.
    4. Filter the liquid and store the vegetable rennet obtained in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Storage Tips

To prolong the shelf life of the vegetable rennet:

  • Add salt: A pinch of salt helps preserve it longer.
  • Freezing: Portion the rennet into 50 ml doses, ideal for 5 liters of milk. Freeze and thaw as needed.

Using the Vegetable Rennet

The vegetable rennet is ready to be used in the preparation of homemade cheeses. In the next video, I will show how to use it to make a delicious homemade cheese. Will it work? Find out in our next tutorial!

Conclusion

Preparing vegetable rennet with wild thistle flowers is a natural and simple way to create artisanal cheeses. If this guide has been helpful, subscribe to the channel, leave a comment, and discover other creative recipes on my YouTube channel!

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