Delicious Food Pairings For Mascarpone Cheese

Mascarpone cheese is a soft Italian cheese with a creamy texture and a mellow, rich flavour. It is a versatile ingredient that can be used in both sweet and savoury dishes, from appetizers to main courses and desserts. With its high fat content, mascarpone is an excellent choice for no-bake cheesecakes, frostings, and mousses. It can also be used to finish pasta sauces, or as a thickening agent in soups and risottos. Mascarpone is a key ingredient in the famous Italian dessert, tiramisu, but it also pairs well with salmon, artichokes, and hazelnuts.

Mascarpone in savoury dishes

Mascarpone is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of savoury dishes. Here are some ideas for using mascarpone cheese in savoury recipes:

Pasta and Risotto

Stirring mascarpone into pasta or risotto just before serving adds a silky, creamy texture. For a simple pasta dish, toss your chosen pasta with olive oil, garlic, herbs, and a little pasta water. Then, add a few spoonfuls of mascarpone and let it melt to create a sweet and nutty sauce. You can also add vegetables or protein of your choice. Similarly, for risotto, stir in a dollop of mascarpone at the end to make it even creamier.

Scrambled Eggs

Adding mascarpone to scrambled eggs makes them incredibly rich and creamy. You can either whip the mascarpone into the eggs before scrambling or add it halfway through cooking for melty cheese pockets.

Soup

A spoonful of mascarpone added to pureed vegetable soups gives them a rich and creamy texture. It can also be used as a garnish for spicy soups, such as tomato soup, to balance out the heat.

Tarts and Gratins

Mascarpone can be used as a creamy layer in savoury tarts, especially those featuring blistered vegetables like eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes. It can also be added to gratins, such as a carrot and parsnip gratin, to create a creamy and decadent side dish.

Sandwiches and Bagels

Mascarpone can be used as a spread on sandwiches or bagels, providing a creamy base for toppings. Try it with smoked salmon and chives on a bagel or rye bread, or with roasted vegetables on an open-faced sandwich.

Pizza

Instead of a traditional tomato sauce, spread mascarpone onto your pizza dough for a creamy base. You can also add small spoonfuls of mascarpone to a freshly baked pizza for creamy, melty pockets.

Appetizers and Snacks

Mascarpone can be used as a topping or spread on crostini, crackers, or rye bread. For a savoury snack, try smoked mascarpone with anchovies and rye bread. Mix mascarpone with smoked paprika, extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper, and spread it on rye bread with anchovy fillets.

These ideas showcase the versatility of mascarpone in savoury dishes, adding creaminess and richness to a variety of recipes.

Mascarpone in sweet dishes

Mascarpone is a soft Italian cheese with a rich, mellow, and creamy texture and a subtly sweet and tangy flavour. It is a very versatile ingredient that can be used in both sweet and savoury dishes. Here are some ideas for using mascarpone in sweet dishes:

Desserts

Mascarpone is a key ingredient in the famous Italian dessert, tiramisu, where it is layered with espresso-soaked ladyfingers and dusted with cocoa. It is also used in cheesecakes, giving them a silkier and richer texture than when made with cream cheese. For a no-bake cheesecake, simply mix mascarpone with whipped cream and sugar. You can also make a savillum, an ancient Roman cheesecake, by mixing mascarpone with flour, egg, and honey.

Cakes and Tarts

Mascarpone can be used to make a variety of cakes, including a tre latte olive oil cake, a maple pear and pecan roulade, and a black-and-white pancake cake. It can also be used as a frosting, mixed with heavy cream and sugar, or as a filling for cakes and tarts, such as a strawberry mascarpone tart or a cherry, almond, and lemon mascarpone tart.

Fruit Dishes

Mascarpone is delicious served with fresh fruit. Try a summer fruit and mascarpone tart, a peach and raspberry fruit salad with mascarpone, or simply spread on bread with fruit and honey. For a more indulgent treat, make a crema al mascarpone by whipping mascarpone with eggs and sugar, and serve it chilled with cocoa powder or chocolate shavings.

Other Sweet Dishes

Mascarpone can be used to make a variety of sweet dishes, both baked and unbaked. Try a meringue roulade with a creamy mascarpone filling, or a cast-iron blackberry galette with whipped mascarpone. It can also be used in ice cream, such as a mascarpone and marmalade ice cream, or to make a sweet and creamy polenta.

Using mascarpone in baking

Mascarpone is a soft Italian cheese with a rich, mellow, and creamy texture and a sweet and tangy flavour. It is a very versatile ingredient that can be used in both sweet and savoury dishes. Here are some tips and ideas for using mascarpone in baking:

Frostings and Fillings

Mascarpone's creamy texture and slight tang make it an excellent choice for frostings and fillings. Its high fat content gives it more structure than other dairy products, so it's perfect for no-bake cheesecakes, frostings, and mousses. You can also use it as a filling for pies, tarts, and cakes. Try making a mascarpone mousse by whipping mascarpone with cream and sugar to create a soft and pillowy consistency. This can be used as a filling for a summer fruit tart or a layer cake.

Bakes

Mascarpone can be used to add richness and creaminess to baked dishes such as lasagne, pasta bakes, and cannelloni. It is also a great substitute for butter or cream in thick, creamy soups like mushroom soup or broccoli soup. When making a baked cheesecake, you can use mascarpone as a substitute for cream cheese or mix them at a 1:1 ratio for a silkier, richer texture.

Savoury Mains

Mascarpone can be used to make savoury sauces for pasta, such as a salmon and mascarpone sauce or a simple tomato and mascarpone sauce. It can also be used to make a creamy macaroni and cheese without needing to make a roux. Simply melt the mascarpone into the cooked pasta with some milk and cheese, and you're done! Mascarpone can also be used to stuff chicken or other meats, adding a creamy texture and rich flavour.

Desserts

Of course, one of the most famous uses of mascarpone is in the classic Italian dessert tiramisu. But there are many other ways to use mascarpone in desserts. You can make a simple yet impressive dessert by grilling slices of zucchini bread and topping them with a dollop of mascarpone and some berries. Mascarpone also works well in fruit salads, adding a creamy dimension to the fresh flavours. For a more indulgent treat, try making a mascarpone-filled cake with sherry-macerated berries.

Mascarpone as a spread

Mascarpone is a rich and creamy Italian cheese with a sweet and mild flavour. It is an ivory-coloured, exceptionally smooth, and easily spreadable fresh cream cheese with a buttery texture and a high butterfat content (up to 75%). It is more indulgent than salty cheeses and is often described as being like a dessert rather than a cheese.

Mascarpone is a versatile cheese that can be used in both sweet and savoury dishes. It can be spread on toast or bread and drizzled with honey. It can also be seasoned with a pinch of salt to be enjoyed on its own or topped with sliced tomatoes or grilled vegetables. For a dessert-style treat, mix in a bit of sugar and vanilla, and spread on a piece of toast before topping with fresh fruit.

Mascarpone can also be used as a spread in place of cream cheese on a bagel with smoked salmon, chives, and other toppings such as cucumbers, salt, and sesame seeds. It can even be used as a pizza base in place of tomato sauce.

For a simple dip, whisk fresh herbs and garlic into the mascarpone and serve with crackers or bread. A sprinkle of cocoa powder, chocolate shavings, or a drizzle of honey can also be added for a light dessert.

Mascarpone as a substitute

Mascarpone is a versatile ingredient that can be used as a substitute for other cheeses and dairy products in a variety of dishes. Its high fat content—typically over 60%—gives it a rich, creamy texture and flavour that can enhance both sweet and savoury recipes.

As a substitute for cream cheese

Mascarpone is often referred to as Italian cream cheese and can be used as a substitute for cream cheese in a variety of dishes. It has a higher fat content than American cream cheese, so it will add extra richness and body to dishes like cheesecakes, frostings, and mousses. For a true cream cheese flavour, it is recommended to tweak the mascarpone by whipping it with heavy cream to better imitate the texture of cream cheese.

As a substitute for crème fraîche, sour cream, or ricotta

Mascarpone can be used in place of crème fraîche, sour cream, or ricotta cheese in recipes. For example, adding a spoonful of mascarpone to an omelette or scrambled eggs instead of crème fraîche, or using it in mashed potatoes instead of sour cream or ricotta. It can also be added to a pan of frying mushrooms for extra creaminess.

As a substitute for butter

Mascarpone can be used as a substitute for butter, entirely or partially, in thick, creamy soups like cream of mushroom, cream of broccoli, or cream of potato. It can also be used in place of butter in risotto, adding a rich, fatty component to the dish.

As a substitute for heavy cream

Mascarpone can be used to enhance the flavour and texture of whipped cream. It adds more flavour and gives it a denser texture. To make a dollop of whipped cream with extra flavour and a richer texture, try adding some mascarpone to the heavy cream. A teaspoon of vanilla extract or a shot of brandy can also be added for a more well-pronounced flavour.

As a substitute for other cheeses

Mascarpone can be used as a substitute for other cheeses in dishes like pasta. It is an excellent pairing for salmon, similar to cream cheese and lox. It can also be used in place of other cheeses in a Quattro Formaggi pizza, as it is a type of creamy cheese that balances the other cheese textures on the pizza.

Frequently asked questions