Famous Cheeses From Italy
Cheese is one of the most important ingredients in Italian cuisine since it gives an added flavor to pasta sauces and many more. Aside from that, placing good cheese in a dish ensures that one gets a balanced meal because of its protein content.
However, Italy is not only known for its famous food but it’s also famous as the origin for a number of popular types of cheese. The following are a couple added on the list – a great addition to already mouthwatering dishes and meals straight from Italy.
1. Mozzarella – This is probably the most well known type of Italian cheese. Mozzarella is derived from the milk of buffalos which comes in a white texture. This type of cheese is very soft, chewy and gives off a mild taste. Mozzarella has been added to the ingredients list in various Italian dishes including pastas and lasagna.
2. Gorgonzola – This Italian cheese comes from region of Lombardy. The Gorgonzola is a creamy blue cheese that comes in two kinds. The first one has that sharper flavor called the Gorgonzola mountain while the other one has that sweeter taste – the Gorgonzola dolce.
These types of cheeses actually have a mild flavor when they are still younger but they later become stronger as they mature. A good way to enjoy this kind of cheese is to use them as fillings on celery sticks, together with cream cheese. It can also be placed on top of grilled polenta and enjoyed with some hot soup.
3. Mascarpone – This Italian cheese is widely used as an alternative to whipped cream. This rich cheese has that mild flavor.
4. Parmesan – This is a full flavored cheese, which has hard rinds. It’s actually a very famous variety of cheese and popularly being used all over the world. It would usually take around 2 to 3 years for a wheel of Parmesan cheese to mature and get the perfect flavor but it’s definitely worth the entire wait as it comes in a very mouthwatering taste great for adding flavor to many dishes.
5. Scamorza – This type of Italian cheese comes from an unpasteurized cow’s milk. It actually comes in a unique shape since it’s hung on a string during the aging process. The Scamorza is usually served with fruits at the end of a meal.
6. Pecorino – This type of cheese comes in two varieties: the Pecorino Romano and Pecorino Toscano. They come from ewe’s milk and they are commonly used for grating or eating with desserts.
These famous and delicious Italian cheeses are, of course, not only limited for eating and dining. In fact, they make a good gift in time for the holidays or for special occasions. You can place these in cheese gift baskets and place in other ingredients as well or a recipe book. You can even find them online making gift giving easier!