Use That Parmesan Rind
Parmesan is something we prefer to eat as completely as possible, but we don’t really like the rind. But wait—never throw it away, because you can make some really delicious things with it. There’s a ton of flavor hidden in that rind.
Those flavors are released when you stir the rind through your food. So next time your cheese is almost gone, the rind goes in the fridge, not the trash. Or in the freezer, where it will keep even longer. Want to eat it right away? If the rind doesn’t have a wax coating, grill it and eat it just like that.
Parmesan Rind Is Worth Its Weight in Gold
For example, stir the Parmesan rind into tomato sauce or stewed meat. The rind never melts completely, so once your food is ready, fish it out again. Or toss it into your soup and purée it right along with everything else—that works too. The Parmesan rind adds extra umami, making your sauce or soup even more delicious.
The Perfect Stock
Or make stock with it. Who needs pork bones when you have Parmesan to give stock a creamy, rich flavor? Use it for risotto, for example. You make Parmesan broth by boiling a few pieces of Parmesan rind and some flavorings, such as onion and garlic, in a pan of water until the amount of water has been reduced by half.
Besides soups and sauces, you can also use it to add more flavor to olive oil. Put the rind in some olive oil and let it sit for a while. If you like, add flavorings such as rosemary and garlic. Delicious for dipping bread into.
And you know what else is divine? Cheese fondue with Parmesan! The rind can simmer along nicely.
