Types Of Italian Cheeses And Their Uses
Italy has always occupied a place of pride in the ancient European culture due to various reasons and one of them is the Italian cheeses. Although Italy has never ranked among the best dairy industries of the world, its cheeses have always enjoyed a high status in the world in terms of quality and variety. Italian cheeses have been a part of the rich cultural heritage of the nation when they were relished by the famous Julius Caesar, devoured by the invincible Roman armies and served as important constituents of many of the traditional dishes.
The most popular culinary delights which are associated with Italy are the pizzas and the lasagna preparations both of which make use of the legendary mozzarella cheese. This cheese is white in color since it is a product of buffalo’s milk and its soft and chewy texture is one of the main reasons for the immense popularity of the dishes in which it is used.
Gorgonzola is unique in the list of Italian cheeses because it is blue in color and also alters its taste on acquiring maturity by becoming sharper with regards to taste. This variety comes from a region named Lombardy and is popular throughout the world in two forms namely the gorgonzola mountain, which serves as an excellent accompaniment to the Italian white wines, hot stews, soups and gorgonzola dolce which is served with fruits and desserts due to its sweet taste.
Mascarpone is a rich, creamy and mild-flavored Italian cheese which is often used as a replacement for whipped cream in many dessert preparations likes cake, rolls and pastries not only in Italy but throughout the world.
Parmesan is counted among the full flavored Italian cheeses and can be consumed in form of slivers or after being grated although both forms are incomparable in taste to the fresh piece of this cheese. This variety of cheese is distinct due to the presence of a hard rind and should be subjected to maturation for a couple of years before being considered fit for consumption.
Scamorza belongs to the category of Italian cheeses which are served with fruits and prepared from unpasteurized cow%u2019s milk. They can be easily distinguished due to the shape which they acquire due to the process of maturation when the milk is hung by a string and left for a considerable period of time.
The Pecorino is the only one among the Italian cheeses which is prepared from ewe’s milk and therefore salty to taste. This cheese comes in a number of varieties namely the Pecorino Romano, the Pecorino Toscano, the Pecorino Sardo and the Pecorino Siciliano and it is served as an accompaniment with desserts after having gained maturity.
The list of Italian cheeses would be incomplete with the mention of Grana Padano which is pale yellow in color and faintly reminiscent of a pineapple with regards to taste. This is one of the traditional Italian cheeses which are prepared from unpasteurized milk and it is distinguished by its thick, hard and smooth outer covering.
Want to find out more about Italian cheeses, then visit Chris Perry’s site on how to choose the best Italian imports for your needs.
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