The Most Popular Italian Cheeses

By Jack Hanley

Italy is famous for its artisan cheeses. Some of the best cheeses in the world are imported from Italy. We use Italian cheeses on pizza, lasagna, and many more scrumptious dishes. There are many different varieties and flavors and these cheeses are a delicious favorite of many. The making of cheese is considered an art and it has been perfected in Italy.

Refrigeration was not available in the early years of cheese making. The villagers were very creative and used caves to store and age the cheese. The caves stayed at a constant temperature that was perfect for this process. Very few ingredients are needed to manufacture cheese and many villagers became cheese artisans.

Milk is a necessary ingredient in making cheese. Farmers use the milk from goats and sheep to make certain types of cheese and others used buffalo milk. Cows are very valuable because they provide the milk that is needed for many types of cheeses and their meat is also used in many Italian dishes.

The most popular cheese import from Italy is mozzarella. This type of cheese is made from cows milk and comes in two forms. True mozzarella cheese is stored in water and is shaped in a ball form. It is truly fresh and by storing it in water, it keeps its freshness. The second type is a mass produced form that is usually shredded or in blocks. Mozzarella is delicious on pizza and in many different Italian dishes.

Provolone cheese also comes from cows milk and has a mild, smoky flavor. This type of cheese is usually aged slightly for up to one year and the more yellow its color is, the more flavorful it tastes. This type of cheese tastes really good on sandwiches. Many delicatessens offer this type of cheese as a topping choice for their sandwiches. This type of cheese usually comes in slices.

Ricotta cheese is actually whey from other cheeses that is recooked. It has a grainy texture and is used in many Italian dishes such as lasagna, rigatoni, and manicotti. This is also an important ingredient in classic Italian cheesecake. This versatile cheese can be used in sweet dishes as well as, hearty Italian favorites.

Asiago cheese is another popular cheese from Italy. It is also made from cow's milk and can be aged up to one year. This type of cheese is usually shredded and served in Italian dishes or in risotto soup. It can also be used as a table cheese similar to Parmesan. It is best when it is fresh and it is a versatile cheese.

Italian cheeses are loved by millions of people and are a vital ingredient in many dishes. They are popular with young and old alike and are consumed all over the world. Cheese lovers everywhere rely on Italy for some of the finest cheeses in all the land. Cheese is a very popular ingredient in many meals such as pizza and lasagna. We definitely love our cheese and would not know what to do without it. - 30210

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