Bushra Griffith
Taleggio is a classic Italian washed-rind cheese with a rich history and a complex flavour profile. It is made from cow's milk and has a soft, spreadable texture and a creamy, fruity taste. Its mellow flavour and excellent melting qualities make it an ideal cheese for cooking and baking. It can be used in a variety of dishes, from appetizers to gourmet creations. In this article, we will explore the different ways to cook with Taleggio cheese, highlighting its versatility and unique flavour. We will also provide a step-by-step guide to making Taleggio cheese at home, allowing readers to discover the rich, tangy flavour of this aromatic cheese.
How to cook Taleggio Cheese
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Texture | Soft, elastic, doughy, crumbly |
| Rind | Pinkish-brown, sticky orange, grey mold |
| Flavor | Mild, fruity, creamy, tangy, nutty, buttery, meaty, savory, beefy, mellow |
| Aroma | Strong, Pungent |
| Taste | Robust, tangy aftertaste |
| Calories | High |
| Nutritional Properties | High protein value (19 grams), vitamins (especially B group), phosphorus, calcium |
| Melting Properties | Excellent |
| Substitutes | Brie, Camembert, Fontina, Limburger |
| Recipes | Melted on roasted potatoes, grilled zucchini, eggplant, potatoes, polenta, pasta, fondue, soufflé, quiche, soup, salad, pizza, risotto, gratin, toasted baguette |
| Preparation | Can be dry salted or soaked in brine |
| Aging | Minimum 25 days, preferably 50 days, in cool, damp, airy conditions |
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What You'll Learn
Use as a pizza topping
Taleggio cheese is a great choice for a pizza topping. It has a robust and complex flavour profile with forward notes of nuts and fruits and underlying creamy and buttery notes. It is also known for its excellent melting qualities, making it perfect for pizza. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cook Taleggio cheese as a pizza topping:
Prepare the dough
To make the pizza dough, mix flour, water, yeast, and salt in a bowl. Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic. Let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size. Once the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into two balls. Roll out each ball of dough on a floured surface until it is thin and flat. Place the dough on a baking sheet or pizza stone.
Prepare the toppings
For a classic combination, sauté mushrooms in olive oil with garlic, thyme, and a pinch of salt. You can also add other ingredients such as shallots, rosemary, parsley, sage, or white wine to enhance the flavour of the mushrooms. If you want to explore other topping options, potatoes, onions, and lardons or vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, and leafy greens go well with Taleggio cheese.
Assemble the pizza
Spread a layer of passata or tomato sauce on the dough, leaving a border for the crust. Sprinkle the sauce with oregano and a pinch of salt, and drizzle with olive oil. Top the sauce with a generous amount of Taleggio cheese, making sure to distribute it evenly. Add your desired amount of cooked mushrooms and any other toppings of your choice. If you're feeling indulgent, add some fresh mozzarella for extra cheesiness.
Bake the pizza
Preheat your oven to a high temperature, ideally around 500°F (260°C) or higher. Place the pizza in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on the pizza to ensure it doesn't burn. The pizza is ready when the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove the pizza from the oven and let it cool slightly before slicing and serving. Enjoy the delicious combination of melted Taleggio and your chosen toppings!
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Melt over roasted vegetables
Taleggio is a mild, fruity, tangy semisoft cow's milk cheese from Italy. It has a pungent aroma and a creamy texture, making it perfect for melting over roasted vegetables. Here is a step-by-step guide to melting Taleggio over roasted vegetables:
Prepare the Taleggio Cheese:
Start by removing the rind from the Taleggio cheese. Cut the cheese into small cubes and place them in a bowl. The amount of cheese you need will depend on the number of people you are serving and their cheese preference. As a guideline, allow for 50g to 100g of cheese per person.
Make the Taleggio Sauce:
- In a small saucepan, bring some cream to a boil. The cream forms the base of your Taleggio sauce and helps to create a smooth, rich texture when combined with the cheese.
- Pour the hot cream over the cubed Taleggio cheese and stir until the cheese melts. Keep stirring to ensure the cheese melts evenly and smoothly.
- Blend the sauce with an immersion blender to ensure a creamy, lump-free consistency.
- Allow the sauce to cool, then refrigerate it for 12 hours. This step is important for the sauce to thicken and set, creating the perfect melting consistency.
Prepare Your Roasted Vegetables:
While your sauce is setting, prepare your roasted vegetables of choice. Some suggested vegetables that pair well with Taleggio include chestnuts, potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, and pumpkin. You can also include fruits like pears for a touch of sweetness.
- Cook any firmer vegetables, such as chestnuts, by boiling them first and then frying them in a pan with a little oil until they are lightly browned.
- Sauté your vegetables over very low heat to enhance their flavour. Add a few sprigs of thyme, bay leaves, sage leaves, and marjoram to the pan for extra aroma and flavour.
- Cook the vegetables until they are tender and lightly browned, turning them occasionally to ensure even cooking.
Melt the Taleggio Sauce:
- Remove the Taleggio sauce from the refrigerator after it has set.
- Place your roasted vegetables on a heat-proof dish or plate.
- Generously spoon the Taleggio sauce over the roasted vegetables.
- Use a kitchen blowtorch to melt the sauce evenly over the vegetables. If you don't have a blowtorch, place the dish under a preheated grill for a few minutes until the sauce melts and becomes bubbly.
Serving Suggestions:
- Sprinkle chopped hazelnuts or walnuts over the dish for added crunch and flavour.
- Serve the melted Taleggio vegetables as a side dish or main course, pairing them with a crisp salad and a glass of Italian red wine.
- Enjoy the combination of melted Taleggio with the roasted vegetables, savouring the creamy, fruity flavours.
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Bake in a quiche
Taleggio is a classic Italian washed-rind cheese with a rich history, believed to date back to the 9th century. It is known for its pungent aroma and fruity, meaty, buttery, and oaky notes. With its soft texture and creamy character, Taleggio is a versatile cheese that can be used in a variety of dishes, including quiches.
When baking Taleggio in a quiche, it is essential to consider the cheese's melting properties and how it will complement the other ingredients. Here is a step-by-step guide to creating a delicious Taleggio quiche:
Prepare the Ingredients
For this recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
- Taleggio cheese
- Potatoes
- Butter
- Rosemary
- Salt and pepper
- Puff pastry
- Candied onions (optional)
Baking the Quiche:
- Preheat your oven to 180°C.
- Peel and finely slice the potatoes. Melt butter in a frying pan and add the potato slices, rosemary, and your desired seasoning. Gently fry for about 10 minutes until the potatoes are cooked through but not browned.
- In the same pan, melt more butter and add sliced onions (if using). Season and cook until they are candied and soft. You can also add a splash of wine and let it simmer until it is absorbed, creating a delicious glaze.
- Prepare your puff pastry base. You can use a pre-made pastry sheet or make your own.
- Layer the potatoes and candied onions (if using) on the pastry base. You can also add other vegetables or meats of your choice, such as roasted broccoli florets or cooked bacon pieces.
- Slice the Taleggio cheese and place it on top of the vegetables. The amount of cheese you use can vary depending on your preference, but a generous amount will create a creamy and indulgent quiche.
- Sprinkle the quiche with rosemary, salt, and pepper to enhance the flavours.
- Place the quiche in the oven and bake for approximately 25 minutes at 180°C. Keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn't overbake.
- Remove the quiche from the oven when it is golden and cooked through. Let it cool slightly, as it will be very hot.
Serving Suggestions:
Taleggio quiche is a delicious and indulgent dish, perfect for a cozy evening or a gathering of friends. It can be served warm or at room temperature. Accompany it with a fresh salad and a glass of wine, such as a Northern Italian red, to complement the rich flavours of the cheese.
This quiche is sure to impress, and the combination of melted Taleggio, potatoes, and candied onions creates a comforting and flavourful experience. Enjoy the wonderful aromas and flavours of this unique Italian cheese!
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Make a fondue
Taleggio is a soft, square-shaped cheese from northern Italy. It has a pungent aroma, a fruity, creamy, nutty flavour, and a doughy, elastic texture. It is an excellent melting cheese, and can be used in fondues, soufflés, quiches, gratins, polenta, pasta sauces, and soups.
To make a fondue with Taleggio, you will need the following ingredients:
- 300g Taleggio cheese, cut into small cubes
- 1 clove of garlic, peeled and halved
- 150ml dry white wine
- 1 tbsp cornflour
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- Freshly ground black pepper
- A pinch of ground nutmeg
- Crusty bread, cut into bite-sized cubes, and/or boiled potatoes, for dipping
The first step is to rub the inside of a medium-sized saucepan with the garlic clove. Then, add the wine to the pan and bring to a gentle simmer. Add the Taleggio cubes to the pan, stirring constantly until the cheese has melted. In a small bowl, mix the cornflour with the lemon juice to form a paste, and add this to the cheese mixture. Continue stirring until the mixture is smooth, thick, and bubbling. Add the nutmeg and a generous amount of black pepper, and stir well. Transfer the fondue to a fondue pot if you have one, otherwise keep it in the saucepan, and serve immediately with crusty bread and/or boiled potatoes for dipping.
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Create a creamy sauce
Taleggio is a soft, square-shaped cheese from Lombardy in Northern Italy. It has a fruity, creamy character and a pungent aroma. Its unique flavour and texture make it an excellent option for cooking, especially as a creamy sauce.
To create a creamy sauce with Taleggio, you can follow these steps:
First, prepare a béchamel sauce. Start by making a roux. Melt 80g of butter in a saucepan over medium heat, then add 80g of flour. Whisk the mixture until it forms a smooth, lump-free paste. In a separate saucepan, heat 800ml of milk with a teaspoon of nutmeg. Once the milk reaches boiling temperature, pour it over the butter and flour mixture. Whisk continuously until the mixture boils. Continue to cook for a few minutes, stirring, until you achieve your desired consistency.
Next, add 150 grams of Taleggio cheese to the béchamel sauce. Stir the mixture until the cheese has melted and combined with the sauce. Season with salt to taste.
Your Taleggio cream sauce is now ready to be used in a variety of dishes. You can try using it as a sauce for pasta, vegetables, or meat. For example, you can layer the sauce with pasta sheets and asparagus to create a delicious Taleggio lasagna.
Feel free to experiment with different ingredients and flavours to create your own unique Taleggio cream sauce. You can also try using Taleggio in other dishes such as quiches, gratins, polenta, soups, or even as a fondue. Its mellow flavour and excellent melting qualities make Taleggio a versatile cheese for cooking and baking.
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