Bushra Griffith
Basket cheese is a kind of cheese that originates from the Mediterranean region. It is traditionally formed inside a basket, which leaves a woven imprint on its surface. Basket cheese is a speciality item that is usually only found in a few select markets and is most commonly purchased around Easter. It is a soft, smooth, and delicate cheese with a very faint curd flavour. It is made with fresh cow's milk and whey, and is typically served with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of salt and pepper.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | Mediterranean regions, especially Italy |
| Ingredients | Milk (cow, sheep, or goat) and rennet |
| Texture | Soft, smooth, delicate |
| Taste | Mild, faint flavor of curds |
| Similar cheeses | Ricotta, mozzarella |
| Salt content | Fresh basket cheese: no salt; dry basket cheese: mildly salty |
| Serving suggestions | Drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper; served with crusty Italian bread or crostini with fresh herbs |
| Use in cooking | Italian Easter Pie, Holy Saturday Frittata |
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What You'll Learn
Basket cheese is a traditional Italian cheese
Basket cheese is a speciality item that is usually only available around the Easter holiday. It is a key ingredient in several savoury pies traditionally served during Easter, such as the Italian Easter Pie, a rich meat-and-cheese pie. The cheese is also delicious on its own, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper, or served on crusty Italian bread.
The cheese is formed inside a basket, which can be made of reed or plastic. Fresh basket cheese has no salt taste, while dry basket cheese is mildly salty. It has a low melting point and melts into something dense in the oven, making it unsuitable as a substitute for ricotta in baked dishes. However, it can be used as a cooking ingredient in other ways, similar to ricotta, or crumbled onto a salad.
Basket cheese is a hard-to-find delicacy, but it freezes well, so it is worth stocking up to enjoy throughout the year. It is a traditional Italian holiday favourite and can be a beautiful addition to any Easter brunch table.
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It's made and served in a basket
Basket cheese is a kind of cheese originating from the Mediterranean region. As its name suggests, the cheese is traditionally made and served in a basket, which leaves a woven imprint on its surface. It is a fresh Italian cheese, reminiscent of both ricotta and mozzarella, and is typically made in a small basket. It is a hard-to-find Easter favourite, often used as an ingredient in several savory pies traditionally served during Easter.
The cheese is made from fresh cow's milk and whey. It is smooth, soft, and delicate, with a very faint flavour of curds. It is not salted and resembles tofu in texture. Like tofu, it takes on the flavours of which it's paired. However, this cheese is a standout on its own. All it needs is a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkling of salt and pepper. It is often served with crusty Italian bread.
In Italy, basket cheese is known as "Primo Sale" or "first salt". It is an ingredient in several savory pies, including the traditional Italian Easter Pie, a rich, meat-and-cheese pie served by many Italian Catholics to celebrate the end of Lent. The cheese is also used in other Italian dishes, such as frittatas and Easter pies made with eggs and diced meats.
In Turkish, basket cheese is called "sepet peyniri", and it originates from the Aegean Region. It is traditionally made from goat milk, but sheep's and cow's milk are also used. The cheese is most associated with seaside towns, where it is generally made from sheep's milk and known as "kelle cheese". Commercial "sepet peyneri" is often shaped in plastic containers.
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It's a soft, smooth, mild cheese
Basket cheese is a soft, smooth, and mild cheese. It is a fresh Italian cheese, traditionally formed inside a basket, which leaves a woven imprint on its surface. It is usually sold in the basket it is made in, and it is a rare find, available only in select markets. It is a specialty item that most stores carry only around the Easter holiday.
Basket cheese is made with fresh cow's milk and whey. It is not salted and has a very faint flavor of curds. It is similar to ricotta and mozzarella in taste and texture, and it is often used as a cooking ingredient, similar to ricotta. It can be crumbled onto a salad or drizzled with olive oil and eaten on its own with a grind of pepper and a sprinkle of salt. It is also served on crusty Italian bread or crostini with fresh herbs.
Basket cheese is a key ingredient in several savory pies traditionally served during Easter, such as the Italian Easter Pie, a meat-and-cheese pie served by Italian Catholics to celebrate the end of Lent. It is also used in frittatas and double-crusted Easter pies with eggs and diced meat.
Basket cheese is a hard-to-find Easter favorite, and it is said to be quite versatile, as it can be paired with various ingredients that bring out its flavor. It is a delicate cheese with a simple yet magical presentation, capturing the true flavor of spring in Italy.
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It's made from cow's milk and rennet
Basket cheese is a kind of cheese that originates from Mediterranean regions. It is traditionally formed inside a basket, which leaves a woven imprint on its surface. It is a fresh Italian cheese, reminiscent of both ricotta and mozzarella, and is typically made in a small basket. It is a soft, smooth, and delicate cheese with a very faint flavour of curds. It is often drizzled with olive oil and eaten on its own or served on crusty Italian bread. It is also used as a cooking ingredient, similar to ricotta, or crumbled onto a salad.
Basket cheese is made using only two ingredients: milk and rennet. The milk used is typically cow's milk, although goat's milk and sheep's milk are also used in some regions. Rennet is an enzyme that coagulates the milk. The absence of any culture in the cheese-making process contributes to its mild, smooth taste and texture, allowing the taste of the milk to shine through.
Fresh basket cheese has no salt taste, while dry basket cheese is mildly salty. It is usually sold in the basket in which it is made and only keeps for a few days in the fridge. It is a hard-to-find Easter favourite, often used in Italian Easter pies, which are traditionally served by Italian Catholics to celebrate the end of Lent.
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It's used in Italian Easter pies
Basket cheese is a kind of cheese that is traditionally formed inside a basket, which leaves a woven imprint on its surface. It is a fresh Italian cheese, similar to ricotta and mozzarella, and is usually made with cow's milk and whey. It is smooth, soft, and delicate, with a very faint curd flavour. It is often drizzled with olive oil and served with a sprinkle of salt and pepper and crusty Italian bread.
Basket cheese is a speciality item that is typically only found in a few select markets and is mostly available around the Easter holiday. It is used in several savoury pies traditionally served during Easter, including the Italian Easter pie, also known as Pizza Rustica, Pizza Ripiena, Torta Pasqualina, or Pizzachino. This pie is a rich, quiche-like dish with a buttery pastry crust and a decadent meat-and-cheese filling. It is traditionally served by Italian Catholics at noon the day before Easter to celebrate the end of Lent and the breaking of the fast.
The Italian Easter pie has many variations, but it typically includes a variety of meats, cheeses, and eggs. One version includes pepperoni, double Abbruzese, sopressata, Genoa salami, mozzarella, Romano cheese, prosciutto, and fresh basket cheese. Another variation, called Torte Pasqualina, has 33 layers of crust (representing the 33 years that Christ lived) and is filled with greens, ham, cheese, and hard-boiled eggs.
Basket cheese is a key ingredient in the Italian Easter pie, and its soft and mild flavour complements the rich and savoury filling. It is a traditional and festive dish that brings families and friends together to celebrate the holiday.
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Frequently asked questions
Basket cheese is made of fresh cow's milk and whey. It is a soft, smooth, and delicate cheese with a very faint flavour of curds.
Basket cheese originates from the Mediterranean, particularly Italy and Turkey. It is a traditional Easter cheese in Italy, where it is known as "Primo Sale" (first salt).
Basket cheese has a very mild flavour, resembling a cross between ricotta and mozzarella. It is not salted and is known for its simplicity, often served with just a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of salt and pepper.
