Ask three different people what stracciatella is, and you might get three different answers. But thats okay because this tongue-twister of a word really is the name of three different — yet equally delicious — Italian foods. When you place an order for stracciatella, you might be served a savory soup, a rich and creamy cheese, or a silky-smooth gelato. Yes, the same word is used to name three seemingly very different things. But why are there so many different forms of stracciatella?
The one thing all of these foods have in common is a certain textural quality for which they are named. The word stracciatella (pronounced stra-chuh-teh-luh) means “little rags” in Italian. Additionally, stracciatella is derived from the Italian word “stracciare,” which means “to rip or tear.” In their own ways, the soup, the cheese, and the gelato have a torn texture and appearance. This appearance comes from the processes by which they are made.
What is stracciatella soup?
Egg drop soup, most commonly known in its Chinese version, is a staple dish in many cultures. Stracciatella, in one of its forms, refers to a type of Italian egg drop soup. While a similar Italian soup called zanzarelli dates originated around the 15th century, stracciatella soup is said to have been developed during the 19th century. According to tradition, thrifty cooks used leftovers from Christmas meals to make a hearty broth that they thickened with eggs and other ingredients at hand.
Flavorful and filling, stracciatella soup quickly spread from Rome across the country, where it took on regional variations. Over generations, it spread even further as immigrants brought this comforting taste of home to new lands. Today, it remains a familiar item during holiday feasts during Easter or Christmas, where it is often served as the first course, or made with leftovers. Due to its quick and easy preparation with ingredients that are usually on hand, it can be served whenever a quick, nourishing meal is wanted, or when you need a cozy dish to warm up on cold evenings.
How nutritious is stracciatella cheese?
This is a cheese that is literally sodden with heavy cream, so you wont be surprised to learn that, with 255 calories and 23 grams of fat per 100 grams of the stuff, it is not exactly a diet food. However, the fat in stracciatella comprises both saturated and unsaturated fats, with proportionately more of the healthier monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These fats, according to Mayo Clinic, can reduce levels of bad cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease.
Youll also find whey in stracciatella cheese, a complete protein that includes all essential amino acids. Whey can help you build muscle and stay satiated, among other potential benefits (per Healthline). Like most cheese, stracciatella is relatively high in sodium, with 500 milligrams per 100 grams or 22% of your daily recommended allowance. Excess sodium can be detrimental to health by increasing blood pressure, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Since it is particularly rich in lactose, this cheese may also cause digestive upset in lactose-intolerant individuals.
On the other hand, stracciatella cheese also provides 260 milligrams of calcium, a beneficial nutrient. All in all, stracciatella cheese is a fairly wholesome indulgence that should be enjoyed with gusto — and in moderation.
The Stracciatella Gelato – Ep.1
FAQ
What is the flavor of stracciatella?
What does stracciatella mean in Italian?
What does stracciatella cheese taste like?
What is Stracciatella cheese?
Stracciatella is a traditional Italian cheese made from pulled mozzarella curds mixed with fresh cream. This cheese is the inside of the burrata – if you’ve ever cut into a fresh burrata, the gooey interior that spilled out was stracciatella. As stracciatella is more liquid than solid, spooning it out of the container is usually the best method.
What does stracciatella mean?
Stracciatella can refer to a Roman soup, a cheese from Puglia, or a gelato flavor that originated in Lombardy. Meaning little rags, stracciatella is the name for three different Italian foods: soup, cheese, and gelato – the only thing they have in common is their name. Stracciatella soup originated centuries ago in Rome.
How stracciatella is made?
It was created at the beginning of the 20th century by mixing scraps leftover from mozzarella production with fresh cream. Burrata is stracciatella wrapped in a mozzarella casing. Today, stracciatella is made with cow’s milk, but Puglia’s province of Foggia is known for an excellent buffalo’s milk stracciatella.
Where does stracciatella come from?
While we make excellent stracciatella in Australia, the mother of all shredded cheese is stracciatella di bufala from Puglia in Italy. It came about as a way to use the leftover mozzarella and cream extracted from the whey.