Provolone has always been one of the European and American people’s favorite Italian cheeses along with Mozzarella cheese, Pecorino and Parmesan cheese. We are used to including it in lots of cooking recipes. But what makes the Provolone cheese so special and so loved? American cheese society? Let’s talk about everything you need to know about Provolone Italian cheese. Let’s go!
What are the origins of Provolone?
Provolone comes from the name ‘prova’ in Italian, which refers to a round shaped cheese in the campanian language. This popular cheese comes from Italy, and it is made with cow’s milk. There are 2 types of Provolone, depending on the taste you are looking for. There is the spicy one and the sweet one. This difference of flavor is due to the time required for the affinage. The spicy provolone needs a 16 months affinage whereas the sweet one requires only 4 months.
You can find this singular cheese in the form of a sausage or in the form of in bunches. When you go to cheese stores, you can find many sizes of Provolone cheese. In some cheese exhibitions, versions of this cheese called ‘provolissimi’ can weigh up to 88 lbs. It is not over! There has also been a version of this cheese called ‘provoloncini’ which can weigh up to 440 or 660 lbs. We recommend you to eat provolone between June and October, right after the affinage is over.
It is also known by other names that recall the products whose shape it follows. The cylindrical variants are called salami or pancettoni, and the spherical ones are called meloni.
What are Provolone’s flavors and aromas?
The sweet provolone has lactic aromas while the spicy type has smoky aromas. The taste of this Italian cheese becomes stronger with age and texture. These 2 types of provolone are perfectly complementary. They can be used to accompany dishes or eaten individually.
Is provolone a stinky cheese?
What does provolone cheese smell like?
Typically, provolone cheese does not have a strong, uncomforting smell. Some people reported that it is quite stinky, but just at the mild level. Therefore, if your provolone cheese has a stronger, more pungent odor than normal, like the smell of sewage or ammonia, then something must be wrong. Throw it out right away. 2. No Elasticity
What does smoked provolone taste like?
The slightly smoky, slightly nutty taste lends a bit of pizzazz to ordinary cheese and crackers. The mild, smoky flavor of Smoked Provolone also adds interest to fruits like tart apples or green grapes.
What is provolone cheese?
Rather than served fresh, like mozzarella or burrata, these elasticized strings of curd are then formed into wheels, brined in a salty bath, and aged. Provolone, like all pulled curd cheeses, is great — and more intense in flavor — when melted. Think hoagies, casseroles, panini, pizza, and baked pasta dishes.
How to make provolone?
The first step in provolone making ( rea d how to homemade provolone) starts with converting lactose (the milk sugar) into lactic acid with the help of starter culture. This process changes the pH of milk – making it more acidic thus aiding in thickening of milk.