Randy Chandler
Mizithra cheese is a traditional Greek cheese made with whey and milk from sheep or goats. It is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a range of recipes, including pasta, salads, and baked dishes. One of the most popular ways to cook with mizithra cheese is to pair it with pasta and browned butter. This simple yet delicious combination can be made in under 30 minutes and is a great option for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. To make this dish, cook pasta and brown butter in a skillet over medium heat until it turns golden brown and emits a nutty aroma. Then, add garlic and salt to the browned butter, and toss the cooked pasta in the mixture before topping with grated mizithra cheese.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Cheese | Mizithra is a dry, mild, salty, nutty, traditional Greek cheese made with whey and milk from sheep or goats |
| Common Pairings | Butter (salted or unsalted), garlic, parsley, mint leaves, cherry tomatoes, olives, zucchini, olive oil, oregano, thyme, lemon, ricotta, gnocchi, chicken, or eggs |
| Common Mizithra Cheese Recipes | Spaghetti, baked pasta, pan-seared gnocchi, chicken pasta, Kalitsounia with spinach, or pita bread |
| Nutritional Information per Serving | Calories: 310kcal, Carbohydrates: 42g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 30mg, Sodium: 104mg, Potassium: 125mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 355IU, Calcium: 15mg, Iron: 0.7mg |
| Substitutes | Parmesan, Asiago, Pecorino Romano, feta, or anthotyro |
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What You'll Learn
How to make mizithra cheese pasta
Mizithra cheese is a traditional Greek cheese made with whey and milk from sheep or goats. It is a versatile and delicious ingredient that can be used in a range of recipes. One popular dish is mizithra pasta, which is simple to make and can be ready in under 30 minutes.
To make mizithra cheese pasta, you will need the following ingredients:
- Mizithra cheese
- Spaghetti or your choice of pasta
- Butter (salted or unsalted)
- Garlic
- Parsley
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
You can also add additional ingredients such as cherry tomatoes, olives, zucchini, mint leaves, or eggs to customize your pasta.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Chop or mince the garlic.
- Melt butter in a separate pan over medium heat. Continue cooking until the butter turns a medium golden brown and emits a nutty aroma. This should take around 5 to 7 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and add the garlic and salt. Stir to combine.
- Cook your pasta according to the package instructions.
- Grate the mizithra cheese.
- Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and toss it with the browned butter.
- Top the pasta with the grated mizithra cheese and chopped parsley.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Your mizithra cheese pasta is now ready to be served! This dish is a simple yet flavorful meal that can be easily customized with additional ingredients of your choice. Enjoy!
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Mizithra cheese and browned butter
To make the pasta, you will need spaghetti, mizithra cheese, butter, and garlic. You can also add parsley and salt to enhance the flavour. The first step is to cook the pasta according to the package instructions. While the pasta is cooking, you can start browning the butter. Cut the butter into evenly sized pieces and melt it in a skillet over medium heat. Swirl the butter gently to ensure even cooking, and be careful not to burn it. As the butter melts, it will start to foam, and gradually turn brown, releasing a nutty aroma. This process should take about 3 to 7 minutes.
Once the butter has reached the desired golden brown colour and nutty fragrance, remove the pan from the heat. Add the finely chopped garlic and salt, stirring to combine. Set aside a small portion of the garlic butter for later use. Leave the remaining butter in the skillet to cool slightly but not harden. Grate the mizithra cheese, and if desired, you can also add some Pecorino Romano cheese for extra sharpness and tanginess.
Finally, toss the cooked pasta with the browned butter, coating it evenly. Then, add the grated mizithra cheese and mix well. Plate the pasta and garnish with freshly chopped parsley. You can also serve extra grated cheese on the side. This recipe creates a delicious and memorable dish, elevating the simple pasta with the unique combination of nutty, salty, and sharp flavours.
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Mizithra cheese as a topping
Mizithra cheese is a traditional Greek cheese made with whey and milk from sheep or goats. It is a versatile and delicious ingredient that can be used in a range of recipes. Mizithra has a salty and nutty flavour and is often used as a topping for pasta dishes, especially spaghetti.
One popular recipe for Mizithra cheese as a topping is to toss spaghetti with garlic browned butter and top it with grated Mizithra cheese. This simple recipe can be made in about 10 minutes and is a flavourful twist on the classic combination of parmesan and buttered noodles. To make the garlic browned butter, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat and cook until it turns a medium golden brown and emits a nutty aroma. Then, add garlic and salt, and toss the cooked spaghetti in this mixture before serving it with grated Mizithra cheese on top.
Mizithra cheese can also be used as a topping for other pasta varieties like orzo. It can be combined with other ingredients like olive oil, garlic, cherry tomatoes, olives, and eggs to create a more complex dish.
Additionally, Mizithra cheese is a key ingredient in the iconic ""Spaghetti Factory" recipe, where spaghetti is tossed in browned butter and topped with Mizithra cheese, creating a simple yet delicious meal. This recipe has inspired many home cooks to recreate it and has become a standby dinner for many families.
The versatility of Mizithra cheese makes it an excellent choice for those seeking a crowd-pleasing topping for their pasta dishes. Its dry and mild flavour profile elevates the dish, making it a "grown-up" version of buttered noodles.
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Mizithra cheese with chicken
Mizithra cheese is a traditional Greek cheese made with whey and milk from sheep or goats. It has a dry, salty texture and is often paired with pasta and browned butter.
To cook mizithra cheese with chicken, you can follow this recipe:
Ingredients:
- Chicken breasts
- Mizithra cheese
- Spaghetti noodles (or angel hair, linguine, or fettuccini)
- Butter (unsalted or regular)
- Salt
- Parsley
- Garlic
Method:
- Season and grill the chicken breast. A simply seasoned grilled chicken breast pairs perfectly with this pasta dish.
- Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil.
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, but do not rinse.
- While the pasta is cooking, brown the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. To brown the butter, melt the butter until it begins to foam. Continue cooking until it turns a deep golden brown and gives off a nutty aroma. Be careful not to burn the butter.
- Once the butter is browned, add the garlic.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss the cooked pasta with the browned butter and garlic until well coated.
- Grate the Mizithra cheese and add it to the pasta, tossing to combine.
- Plate the pasta and garnish with chopped parsley.
- Serve the pasta immediately with the grilled chicken breast on the side.
This dish is best enjoyed fresh, as it does not reheat well due to the congealing of butter. However, you can store cooked and cooled pasta separately from the sauce and chicken, and they will keep in the fridge for a couple of days.
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Mizithra cheese alternatives
Mizithra is a Greek whey cheese with a sweet-and-salty flavour. It is used in a variety of recipes, including pastas, pizzas, and baked desserts. However, if you cannot get your hands on mizithra cheese, there are several alternatives that can be used in its place.
One option is to use nutritional food yeast, which is often sold as a pale yellow powder or flakes. Nutritional yeast is a popular substitute for dairy among vegans and has a creamy, cheesy flavour.
Another alternative is Parmesan cheese, which can be purchased from most supermarkets. Parmesan is a hard, salty cheese with a light aroma that pairs well with tomato-based dishes. It can be used in the same way as mizithra, such as grated over pasta or sprinkled over salads.
Other suitable substitutes include Romano, which has a sharp flavour and crumbly texture, as well as Feta, Goat Cheese, and Ricotta Salata. For a softer, slightly sweet option, Mascarpone can be used, although it is commonly enjoyed as a dessert cheese.
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Frequently asked questions
Mizithra is a traditional Greek cheese made with whey and milk from sheep or goats. It is a dry, mild, salty and nutty cheese.
Mizithra cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a range of recipes. It is popularly used in pasta dishes, such as spaghetti with browned butter and mizithra cheese, baked lemon pasta, pan-seared gnocchi with browned butter and sage, and chicken pasta. It can also be used in recipes such as kalitsounia with spinach, zucchini slices, and potato slices.
To make spaghetti with mizithra cheese, start by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. Finely chop garlic cloves and cut butter into pieces. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat until it turns golden brown and has a nutty aroma. Add the garlic and salt, then toss cooked spaghetti into the browned butter. Finally, top the spaghetti with grated mizithra cheese.
Parmesan, asiago, pecorino romano, feta, or anthotyro cheeses can be used as substitutes for mizithra cheese.
