A Look At A Few Italian Cheeses

You may be shocked to read that there are nearly 400 varieties of italian cheeses. Who knew there were that many cheeses in the world, let alone just from Italy! It sure does help understand how important cheese is to the Italian diet. Cheese is a main ingredient in many entrees as well as a complement to dishes and desserts. From the beginning of the meal to that dessert, cheese will make an appearance on the plate.

Probably the best known cheese from Italy is mozzarella. It gets its name from “mozzare” which is an Italian word meaning “to cut.” This is because when making mozzarella, it is stretched and then cut before being rolled into a ball. Cow or buffalo milk is used in mozzarella cheese. This cheese is one key ingredient in most pizzas and is usually used in lasagna.

And while we are on the subject if lasagna, let us look at ricotta cheese. Ricotta is a cow or sheep milk whey cheese made from the leftover proteins of other cheeses. The proteins bind together when heated and form a curd. Ricotta is not aged; it is a fresh cheese. It has a mild taste and a white, creamy appearance.

A popular cheese for grating is Romano. This is one of the oldest cheeses in the world and was a favorite of Julius Caesar’s Legionnaires. Romano cheese is usually somewhat sharp and salty tasting. Romano is a hard cheese often made from sheep milk. In fact, it is sometimes called Pecorino, from the Italian word for sheep, pecora. It is popularly sprinkled atop pastas dishes for additional flavor.

For those who enjoy a Genoa salami sandwich, it wouldn’t be complete without some provolone cheese. Provolone usually falls into one of two categories: piccante and dolce. Piccante provolone is aged for four or more months and can have a very piquant taste, while the dolce version has a much milder and creamier flavor.

Among the most versatile cheeses is asiago. Asiago cheese is growing more and more popular as a topping for soups and salads. It is also nice to slice thin and add to sandwiches and Paninis. This aged cheese is fairly sharp and usually sliced thin to complement a wide variety of dishes.

You do not have to come from Italy to see the value of so many different cheeses. Italian cheeses can spruce up any appetizer, add a little extra flavor to a meal or take on a life of its own it desserts. From antipasto to tiramisu, some cheese from Italy is bound to entice your taste buds.

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