Unpasteurized cheeses okay when cooked?

Nige!!a

I want to make saag paneer with some paneer we found a the local Indian store, it says it isn't pasteurized, but I figure it will be okay after I fry it. Thoughts?

justgnat

I don't think so. I looked up Mattar Paneer wanting to know if I could eat my favorite indian dish and whatever pregnancy website I was on said to stay away from it.

I think you have to get unpasturized cheeses to melt for them to be ok. Paneer doesn't melt.

But what about making your own paneer? I've been told it's easy, just ricotta and lemon juice. And you could certainly ensure it was pasturized then,.

It bites though. Someone FINALLY opens an indian restaurant in my city and wouldn't you know I'm KTFU and can't eat there. With my luck it will be closed down by the time I deliver. =(

NelyBelly

I think so, because pasteurized just means it's heated to such a temperature to kill bacteria so I would think cooking would do it. I had stuffed peppers the other day with feta on top - it all went in the oven - YUM!

lindzed

I'm not sure, but it just occured to me that I've been eating paneer at least twice a week for lunch at this Indian place next to my work.  I haven't even considered that its probably not pasturized. 

Nige!!a

justgnat:

I don't think so. I looked up Mattar Paneer wanting to know if I could eat my favorite indian dish and whatever pregnancy website I was on said to stay away from it.

I think you have to get unpasturized cheeses to melt for them to be ok. Paneer doesn't melt.

But what about making your own paneer? I've been told it's easy, just ricotta and lemon juice. And you could certainly ensure it was pasturized then,.

It bites though. Someone FINALLY opens an indian restaurant in my city and wouldn't you know I'm KTFU and can't eat there. With my luck it will be closed down by the time I deliver. =(

 Thanks! I didn't know I could make my own. I am bummed about the paneer, but I have seen that is okay and not okay on different websites, ugh. One website says it is a hard cheese therefore okay but another says if it isn't make with pasteurized milk it's not okay. Saag paneer is my all time Indian food favorite, I wonder if I nuke it if it will be okay because I really want to eat it.

 I hope the Indian resaturant is still around for you after you have the baby!

Nige!!a

NelyBelly:

I think so, because pasteurized just means it's heated to such a temperature to kill bacteria so I would think cooking would do it. I had stuffed peppers the other day with feta on top - it all went in the oven - YUM!

OMG I love feta! I have found it made with pasteurized milk so it's all good

wowway

I love indian food!!!  Let us know how it turns out if you make your own paneer.  I haven't eaten it yet since being pg but I have devoured some lamb masala and biriyani  and loved every bite.