7 Must Know Italian Cheeses

Even if you are not a big fan of Italian cuisine (we are trying our best to not judge you), there is no way you thought there was just one type of cheese. It comes as a shock to a lot of readers when they’re told that there are around 400 different varieties of cheese. Visit an authentic Italian restaurant in New York and you will practically experience the diversity in Italy through your taste buds.

Out of these 400 odd cheeses, we are going to have a look at the most famous and highly used variety of cheese that we believe a lot of you may already be familiar with.

Mozzarella

Starting with one of the most commonly used cheeses of all times. There is no way you call yourself a cheese lover if you don’t even know what mozzarella cheese is. Slightly on the soft side, mozzarella further has a variety of cheese in itself. Traditionally mozzarella was made from buffalo milk but producers these days have shifted to cow’s milk considering its lower cost. Not just that, the traditional mozzarella is soft, creamy, and light which may not be of similar consistency as your store bought bar of mozzarella cheese.

Parmesan

Another famous cheese that is an integral part of Italian cuisine. We all may know this cheese by the name ‘Parmesan’, it’s not its only or official name. Parmesan cheese is also known as Parmigiano-Reggiano. One of the hardest cheese varieties, parmesan is often used in grated form in almost any and every Italian dish. Known as the king of cheeses, parmesan is nothing less than Italy’s wines, when it comes to fame and flavors.

Mascarpone

Unlike other cheeses on this list, mascarpone is widely used in desserts. The creamy consistency of this cheese makes it the best option and ingredient for a variety of dishes such as tiramisu and cheesecake. Creamiest cheese on the list, mascarpone can actually be compared to cream when it comes to texture but of course there is a huge difference in the flavors that cannot be ignored.

Burrata

It is a delicate variety of mozzarella. Burrata is basically a cheese that has an outer covering of mozzarella and the inside is filled with cream which makes it creamier, softer, and rich in flavors. The cheese does not have a very long history like other varieties of cheese. It was introduced pretty recently but still has acquired enough popularity as the queen of cheeses.

Ricotta

Ricotta literally means re-cooked and this has everything to do with how the cheese is made. Ricotta is less of a cheese and more of a curd. It is made by reheating the whey, that is a residual of the whole cheese making process. It is a fresh variety of cheese with flavors that are slightly on the sweeter side, unlike a lot of other cheeses that are usually slightly sour and are considered to get better as they age.

Grana Padano

Grana Padano is another hard cheese, just like parmesan but it is different in both duration of preparation and the taste which can create significant difference in the flavors when substituted for one another.

Grana Padano takes at least 9 months to age properly and has subtle and smoother flavors when compared to parmesan cheese which is known for its strong pungent flavors.

Caprino

Unlike other cheeses that are usually made from buffalo and cow’s milk, this is made from goat’s milk. ‘Capra’, in Caprino, means goat. Made from raw milk, it is dry salted and left for at least two months to age. The outer side of the cheese is usually darker in color while the inside remains white and soft.