Randy Chandler
Stracciatella is a traditional Italian cheese made from pulled mozzarella curds mixed with fresh cream. It is the inside of the burrata—the gooey interior that spills out when you cut into it. As stracciatella is more liquid than solid, it is usually best to spoon it out of its container. It has a silky, buttery, and creamy texture, and its flavour is similar to that of mozzarella—mild and a little sour and acidic. Due to its mild flavour, stracciatella is very versatile and pairs well with many foods. It can be used in a variety of dishes, such as bruschetta, pasta, pizza, and even mac and cheese. It can also be served as an appetizer with toppings such as olive oil, pistachios, honey, and sea salt.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | Andria, Apulia, Italy |
| Texture | Silky, buttery, creamy, thick cream with some stringiness |
| Taste | Mild, a little sour and acidic, incredibly rich |
| Type | Traditional Italian cheese |
| Made from | Pulled mozzarella curds mixed with fresh cream |
| Pairing | Balsamic vinegar, roasted vegetables, pasta, bruschetta, crostini, honey, olive oil, pistachios, avocado, prosciutto, anchovies, balsamic peppers, wine |
| Substitutes | Burrata cheese, fresh mozzarella |
| Use in recipes | Mac and cheese, dip, bruschetta, toast |
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What You'll Learn
Stracciatella on toast
Stracciatella is a traditional Italian cheese made from pulled mozzarella curds mixed with fresh cream. It has a silky, buttery, and creamy texture and a mild, slightly sour and acidic taste. Its versatility makes it a great addition to many dishes.
The Classic: Tomato and Balsamic Toast
Spread some stracciatella on a slice of toasted bread. Top it with fresh tomatoes and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. You can also add some basil leaves and a drizzle of olive oil for extra flavour.
Avocado Toast
For a creamy and indulgent twist on the classic avocado toast, spread some stracciatella on a slice of toasted bread and top it with avocado slices. You can also add a drizzle of olive oil and some balsamic vinegar to taste.
Prosciutto Toast
Spread stracciatella on a slice of toasted bread and top it with prosciutto, fresh tomato slices, and a sprinkle of fresh parsley leaves. You can also add some pesto for an extra burst of flavour.
Sweet and Savoury
For a unique flavour combination, spread some stracciatella on a slice of toasted bread and top it with crushed pistachios, a drizzle of honey, and a sprinkle of sea salt. You can also add some fresh fruit, such as thin orange slices, and a few ribbons of mint for a refreshing twist.
Arugula Lemon Basil Salad Toast
This refreshing option involves spreading stracciatella on a ciabatta demi baguette and topping it with an arugula, lemon, and basil salad. Add a garlic spread and some sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavour.
With its mild flavour and creamy texture, stracciatella is a versatile cheese that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. These are just a few ideas to get you started, but feel free to experiment with different combinations of ingredients to create your own unique stracciatella on toast.
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Stracciatella with pasta
Stracciatella is a traditional Italian cheese made from pulled mozzarella curds mixed with fresh cream. It is typically used as the filling of burrata. The cheese is more liquid than solid, so it's best to spoon it out of the container.
Stracciatella Mac & Cheese
This recipe involves adding garlic and onion powder to milk, then adding prosciutto pieces, parmesan, and stracciatella with the liquid and more solid strands of cheese. Stir to heat through and taste for seasoning. In the meantime, cook the pasta, drain, and rinse it under cold water so that it doesn't stick together. Add the pasta to the pot with the sauce and stir to coat. Serve with chives or parsley, smoked paprika, and parmesan, checking again for seasoning.
Spaghetti with Tuna, Lemon, and Creamy Stracciatella Cheese
This recipe involves draining the pasta and transferring it to a pan. Turn on the heat, and toss the pasta in a tuna and lemon sauce until coated, for a minute or two. Remove the clove of garlic and serve in bowls along with one or two tablespoons of stracciatella. Sprinkle with parsley and stir in the stracciatella with a fork to create a creamy sauce.
Shells with Cherry Tomatoes and Stracciatella
Brown the tomatoes with agretti in a pan with oil, salt, and pepper for one minute. Drain the al dente pasta and saute it in the pan with the tomatoes and agretti, along with a tablespoon of stracciatella and a handful of basil leaves. Transfer the pasta to plates.
Stracciatella with Fresh Pasta
Try adding a dollop of stracciatella to spaghetti bolognese or gnocchi with marinara sauce. It also goes well with a cherry tomato butter sauce or with a no-cook pesto.
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Stracciatella with roasted veggies
Stracciatella is a traditional Italian cheese made from pulled mozzarella curds mixed with fresh cream. It has a silky, buttery, and creamy texture and a mild, slightly sour and acidic taste. It is incredibly versatile and pairs well with many foods.
Ingredients:
- Stracciatella cheese
- Root vegetables of your choice (e.g. carrots, onions, celery, leeks, tomatoes, garlic)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- White wine vinegar
- Salt
- Nuts (optional)
- Fresh herbs (basil)
- Bread
Instructions:
Wash and cut the vegetables into chunks or eighths, keeping the carrots separate from the rest. Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables and season with salt. Place the vegetables on a baking sheet and roast them in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for about 45 minutes, or until they are soft and slightly browned.
While the vegetables are roasting, prepare the vinaigrette by mixing the extra virgin olive oil and white wine vinegar in a 60:40 ratio. You can also add some crushed nuts to the vinaigrette for a crunchy texture.
Once the vegetables are done, plate them with the stracciatella cheese in the center, surrounded by the roasted veggies. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the vegetables and sprinkle with fresh basil leaves and sea salt. Serve with a side of bread to enjoy the delicious flavors!
You can also try a variation of this recipe by making a roasted vegetable broth. Cut the vegetables into chunks and follow the roasting instructions. Then, simmer the roasted vegetables in water with herbs to create a flavorful broth. Finally, whisk egg yolks and slowly drizzle them into the swirling broth to create egg ribbons. Serve the soup immediately with a spoonful of stracciatella cheese on top.
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Stracciatella with pistachios
Stracciatella is a traditional Italian cheese made from pulled mozzarella curds mixed with fresh cream. It is the inside of the burrata—the gooey interior that spills out when you cut into it. The cheese is more liquid than solid, so it is best to spoon it out of the container.
Stracciatella can be difficult to find in the United States, but some cheesemakers, such as Wisconsin-based Belgioioso, produce it. If you can't find stracciatella, burrata is a great alternative. Simply break apart the burrata into a bowl.
One way to serve stracciatella is with pistachios, olive oil, and sea salt. Top the cheese with crushed pistachios, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with pink Himalayan salt to taste. For a sweeter take, add some ribbons of honey. Serve with toasted crostini and pair with a classic Pinot Grigio. This combination is a crowd-pleaser that feels elevated and unexpected.
Another way to enjoy stracciatella with pistachios is in a sandwich with mortadella and arugula pistachio pesto. This combination is inspired by a sandwich from Il Paradiso by All'Antico Vinaio in Florence, Italy. To make the sandwich, spread arugula pistachio pesto on one side of a crusty ciabatta loaf and spread stracciatella on the other. Top with thinly sliced mortadella, chopped pistachios, and a handful of arugula. Slice the sandwich into four pieces. You can also cut the sandwich into smaller pieces for entertaining.
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Stracciatella mac and cheese
Stracciatella is a traditional Italian cheese made from pulled mozzarella curds mixed with fresh cream. It is the gooey interior of burrata. The cheese has a silky, buttery, and creamy texture and a mild and slightly sour and acidic flavour. It is very versatile and pairs well with many foods.
To make Stracciatella Mac and Cheese, start by preparing the sauce. Add chicken stock cubes to a creamy sauce to enhance the seasoning. You can also add garlic and onion powder to the sauce. For a more flavourful sauce, you can add vegetables like peas or carrots.
Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Use macheroncetti, which is similar to short rigatoni pasta, or any other tube pasta such as rigatoni or mostaccicoli. Remember not to overcook the pasta. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to prevent it from sticking together.
Combine the pasta with the sauce and stir well. Add the stracciatella cheese to the sauce and gently mix it. You can also add Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes for an extra kick.
Serve the Stracciatella Mac and Cheese with a garnish of fresh herbs such as chives or parsley. Enjoy it as a comforting and indulgent meal.
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Frequently asked questions
Stracciatella is a traditional Italian cheese made from pulled mozzarella curds mixed with fresh cream. It is the inside of the burrata—the gooey interior that spills out when you cut into it.
Stracciatella is made from fresh mozzarella curds – the same curds used to make mozzarella balls. The curds are soaked in hot water to make them pliable and then stretched into long ropes and thinner strands. To make stracciatella, you can shred the mozzarella with your hands, add the cream, and let the mixture sit covered in the fridge for at least 4 hours.
Stracciatella is very versatile and pairs well with many foods due to its mild flavour. You can spread it on toast drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkled with flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. You can also add it to pasta, pizza, or salads. For a sweet and salty combination, serve it with roasted root vegetables glazed with honey or balsamic vinegar.
