Crack the Cheese Code, the Italian Way
Cheese,
the magical ingredient was invented centuries ago in Poland. A fortunate
accident changed the face of the culinary world and ever since, cheese has been
a revolutionary ingredient in our kitchens, no doubt. What was once considered
an ingredient that was most appreciated only by the elite, is now a go-to
supplement. Its taste, texture, nutrient values and usage is an outcome of the
type of milk used, environment conditions, breed of animal that has produced the
milk and its dietary routine.
The
most common base used to make cheese is the cow’s milk which is due to its
abundance. The world’s favourite Cheddar and Parmesan are the byproducts of
cow’s milk. Apart from cow’s milk, buffalo, sheep, goat and yak’s milk is used
in the process of cheesing depending on the availability in the region.
Of
all the cheeses this world has been a home to, cheeses of Italy steals a
significant space in the chart in terms of popularity and authenticity.
Italians and their absolute love for cheese:
Italians are serious about their food, and cheese is the crown jewel of the
Italian preparations and the heart giver to every dish. Food being an integral
part of Italy’s culture, Italians’ love for fresh homemade food aspires quality
ingredients. Their cheeses go beyond the cheddar and mozzarella! The country’s
cheese making tradition dates back to prior the Roman empire, and the variety
of cheeses are directly factored on the history, geography, and culture of
every region of Italy. Italians are proud locavores, and your visit to
different parts of the country offers you cheeses that are locally produced.
Let’s
decipher the Italian cheese code of some of their best they offer to the world
–
Asiago:
Italian’s
dearest cheese is made of cow’s milk from the Asiago plateau at foothills of
Veneto, Italy. This is a smooth and mild
cheese at the beginning of its life cycle and used in making sauces and omelets.
Its age only adds to its beauty as it gets hard in its texture and stronger in
its flavour. The aged cheese is commonly used to grate over pasta, salads and
soups. If you lay your hand on Asiago cheese with a stamp of ‘product of the
mountains’, just know that it’s a treasure produced at an altitude higher than
600 meters.
Fontina or Fontella
cheese:
The
rich grass the cows feed on gives a distinctive and pungent aroma to this
semi-soft and nutty flavoured cheese. With a natural rind in the shades of
orange and brown, this variety is used mostly in making a fondue and the
choicest pick of the Alps dwellers.
Mozzarella cheese:
Mozzarella
is the cheese of choice for most dishes simply because of its low melting
point, which is a result of its freshness. The traditional Mozzarella is white
in colour, high on moisture content which makes it one of the smoothest variety
of cheese and also perishable. However, with progression in technology, vacuumed
packets can preserve it for over 6 months. It is commonly used in pizzas, pasta
and lasagnas.
Ricotta:
Ricotta
is a white, smooth and sweet cheese made of cow, buffalo or goat’s milk. It is
a dream cheese with high protein content and less fat. It sees a wide variety
of uses from being a simple dip for your pitas to adding the right bite to
those cheesecakes. Ricotta is sure a star.
Parmigiano – Regiano:
Better
known as Parmesan to the rest of the world,
it receives its name from its place of origin – Parma, Reggio Emilia,
Bologna and Modena of Italy. This 900 YO invention is a hard flaky cheese
that’s preservative free and a result of prolonged aging.
Parmigiano
– Regiano is a nutty and fruity flavored cheese with a tinge of Umami to it.
Its rind in infused into soups, cubes are paired with jams and dry fruits,
ribbons are used in salads, while grated cheese is used to make Raviolis. Its
versatile usage and multi layered flavors makes Parmigiano – Regiano deserving
winner of the title - King of cheeses.
Burrata:
Finding its roots in the Southern regions of
Italy, the term Buratta translates itself to Butter. A well deserved title,
Buratta has a thick layer of Mozzarella on the outside and creamy textured
cheese on the inside. Its sweet flavor compliments the acidic notes of citric
fruits, tomatoes etc, Thus, best relished with salads and appetizers. This
fresh, perishable cheese is best consumed within 24 hours after its
preparation.
Provolone
A
seasoned provolone is aged for over 4 months to give it a grainy and semi-hard
texture. This pale yellow colored cheese hails from the Po valley in southern
Italy. The texture and taste of Provolone changes as it ages. What’s initially a
sweet and smooth transforms to a hard and spicy cheese, making it a unique type
in itself.