Kamil Perry
Scamorza cheese is a popular Italian cheese with a sweet, nutty flavour and a similar texture to mozzarella. It is often grilled, baked, or melted and served with vegetables, meat, or bread. This versatile cheese can be used in a variety of dishes, from appetizers to pizza toppings, and is a great substitute for mozzarella in many recipes. In this article, we will explore the different ways to cook with scamorza cheese and highlight some delicious recipes to try. So, get ready to indulge in some cheesy goodness and expand your culinary horizons with this unique and flavourful ingredient!
How to cook scamorza cheese
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Oven temperature | 180°C (350°F) |
| Preparation | Slice the cheese, grease a casserole or line with parchment paper |
| Baking time | Until completely melted and a little crust forms on the surface |
| Grilling | Use a grill pan, brush with olive oil, grill for 30-60 seconds per side until golden brown |
| Serving suggestions | With prosciutto crudo, fresh tomato salad, crusty bread, green salad, grilled neutral-tasting vegetables (zucchini, eggplants, potatoes), crackers, toast |
| Freezing | Fresh scamorza freezes well, defrost 1-2 hours before using |
| Melting | Can be melted on a skillet pan, use mild heat and cover the pan to avoid a crunchy crust |
| Substitutes | Mozzarella, Provola, Caciocavallo |
| Use cases | Pizza, panini, pasta, gnocchi, rice arancini, meatloaf, potato pie gateau, risotto |
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Grilled Scamorza
To grill Scamorza, start by cutting the cheese into thick slices. Heat a griddle or heavy-bottomed non-stick skillet until very hot. Add the scamorza slices, keeping them well spaced, and sear one side, then the other, for no more than 1 minute per side. If you want to add a topping, do so when the second side is almost done. A slice of prosciutto or cooked ham is a great option, as the heat from the skillet will wilt it without actually cooking it. You could also add a fillet or two of anchovy to each slice of scamorza. Serve immediately, as scamorza can become unpleasantly rubbery if left to sit.
Another way to grill Scamorza is to cut it into chunks and wrap them in pancetta. Thread the chunks onto skewers and grill until the pancetta has browned on both sides. This can also be done by piercing the cheese cubes with skewers, each one rolled in a lemon leaf, and grilling them for 30-60 seconds on each side until golden brown. Serve this version hot with a fresh tomato salad.
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Baked Scamorza
To make baked scamorza, preheat your oven to 220°C. Cut the scamorza into slices about 1cm thick and arrange them in an oiled baking dish or ovenproof frying pan, ensuring they are in a single layer. Place the dish in the oven for around 10 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and the edges are browned. You can serve the baked scamorza in the pan, topped with salami and accompanied by salad and bread.
If you want to avoid a crunchy crust, you can melt the cheese at a low heat and cover the pan. You can also bake the scamorza without any toppings and serve it with slices of prosciutto crudo and salad.
Scamorza is a versatile cheese that can be used in many dishes. It can be grilled on a skewer with a lemon leaf, or used as a filling for pizza, arancini, or meatloaf. It pairs well with strong-flavoured vegetables like artichokes or mushrooms.
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Scamorza with polenta
Scamorza cheese is a versatile Italian ingredient that can be grilled, baked, or fried. It is a popular substitute for mozzarella, as it has a similar texture and flavour but does not release water when cooked. Here is a recipe for scamorza with polenta, as well as some additional serving suggestions.
This recipe combines fried polenta with scamorza cheese and prosciutto cotto, otherwise known as Polenta Cordon Bleu.
Ingredients:
- Scamorza cheese
- Polenta
- Prosciutto cotto
Instructions:
- Slice the polenta and fry or grill the pieces until crispy.
- Slice the scamorza cheese and prosciutto cotto.
- Assemble the fried polenta with the scamorza cheese and prosciutto cotto.
Additional Serving Suggestions
Scamorza is a versatile cheese that can be used in a variety of dishes. Here are some additional serving suggestions:
- Grilled scamorza with vegetables: Grill thick slices of scamorza and your favourite vegetables, such as zucchini, peppers, and eggplant. Arrange the grilled scamorza slices over the vegetables and let them melt slightly.
- Smoked scamorza salad: Add diced smoked scamorza to your favourite salad for a unique and flavorful dish.
- Baked pasta with scamorza: Cube the scamorza and add it to your cooked al dente pasta along with cubed cooked prosciutto. Finish with a creamy sauce and bake until the top is golden and crispy.
- Scamorza pizza: Top your favourite pizza dough with slices of scamorza, fresh mushrooms, and a sprinkle of dried oregano. Bake until the scamorza is melted and bubbly and the edges are golden and crispy.
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Scamorza pizza
Scamorza is a South Italian cow's milk cheese with a stronger flavour than mozzarella. It has a firmer consistency and a sweet nutty flavour. Its stretchy, gooey texture makes it a great cheese to use on pizza.
To make a scamorza pizza, you can follow these steps:
- Prepare the pizza dough by kneading flaked yeast, salt, oil, and lukewarm water until a soft and elastic dough is formed. Set this aside to rise for an hour, then punch down and work briefly on a pastry board, leaving it to rise for another hour or until it has doubled in volume.
- Divide the dough into four equal parts and stretch them out into thin discs.
- Top each disc with passata, pancetta, and radicchio. Add salt, pepper, and a drizzle of oil.
- Bake the pizzas in the oven at 475°F for approximately 15 minutes.
- Remove the pizzas from the oven and scatter with sliced scamorza cheese.
- Return the pizzas to the oven for an additional 5-6 minutes, until the cheese is melted and browned.
You can also make a Spicy Meat Pizza with scamorza by spreading a thin layer of tomato sauce, sprinkling grated parmesan, adding scamorza cheese, nduja sausage, and a drizzle of olive oil. Bake this in the oven at 400°C until the crust is puffed and charred in spots.
Another option for a scamorza pizza is to use a ready-made pizza base and top it with a pesto base, honey-glazed cherry tomatoes, and scamorza cheese. Bake this in the oven at 200°C for 12-15 minutes. Top with basil leaves and serve immediately.
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Scamorza pasta
Scamorza is a spun-paste cheese made with cow's milk. It is similar to mozzarella but with a firmer consistency and a sweet nutty flavour. It can be fresh, matured, natural or smoked. The smoked variety has a stronger flavour and is best used in rustic, decadent dishes. It is also a great cheese to use as a filling for rice arancini, pizza, or meatloaf.
Scamorza can be baked in the oven or grilled on a skillet pan. To bake it, preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a casserole dish or line it with parchment paper. Slice the cheese and place it in the dish, then bake until melted and a little crust forms on the surface.
To grill scamorza, cut the cheese into cubes and pierce them with skewers (you can roll each skewer in a lemon leaf for extra flavour). Heat a grill pan and brush it with olive oil. Grill the skewers for 30-60 seconds on each side until golden brown.
Scamorza can be served with crusty bread, a green salad, or a tomato and basil salad. It can also be added to a panini or served with eggs.
To make scamorza pasta, cook the pasta of your choice (maccheroni or paccheri are good options) according to the package instructions. In a separate pan, add a splash of olive oil and gently cook garlic until soft. Then, add chopped tomatoes and cook until they start to fall apart, about 15 minutes. You can also add basil at this stage.
Once the tomatoes are cooked, add the drained pasta to the sauce along with cubes of scamorza and torn basil leaves. Stir through and serve once the cheese has started melting. This simple dish combines the smoky flavour of scamorza with the sweetness of tomatoes for a delicious and addictive meal.
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Frequently asked questions
The best way to cook scamorza cheese is to grill it. You can grill scamorza slices on a stovetop pan or a grill pan until they form a brown crust and get gooey.
Grilled scamorza cheese goes well with neutral-tasting grilled vegetables such as zucchini, eggplants, and potatoes. It can also be served with crusty bread and a simple green salad or tomato and basil salad.
Yes, scamorza cheese can be baked. You can slice and bake the cheese in an oven and serve it with prosciutto crudo and a salad.
Yes, scamorza cheese can be used in pasta. You can shred the cheese and add it to pasta dishes with Sorrentina sauce, which is made with cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and a generous amount of melty cheese.
