Stromboli: Which Cheeses Melt And Stretch Best?

Stromboli is a fun twist on a classic pizza, with pizza dough stuffed with cheese, meat, and other ingredients. The type of cheese used in stromboli can vary, but mozzarella is a popular choice, as it has a good cheese pull and is mild enough to not overpower other flavours. Other cheeses that can be used include provolone, parmesan, havarti, and Romano.

Mozzarella

When making stromboli, shredded mozzarella is recommended over sliced, as it provides a better melt and stretch. A good ratio for shredded mozzarella in stromboli is 1 to 1.5 cups per stromboli, or 1/2 cup if it's one of several cheeses.

When assembling a stromboli, it's important to leave a gap of about 1 inch on the bottom and sides, and 3 inches at the top, to prevent the cheese from spilling out. After rolling up the dough, brush the outside with an egg wash, which will help keep the stromboli sealed.

Bake the stromboli at around 400°F (200°C) for 20-30 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.

So there you have it! Mozzarella is an ideal cheese for stromboli due to its mild flavour and excellent melting qualities, and it can be paired with a variety of other cheeses and meats to create a delicious, gooey treat.

Provolone

When assembling your stromboli, it is important to leave a gap around the edges of the dough and a larger gap at the top, as the fillings will be pushed forward when rolling. Brush the edges with egg wash to help keep everything sealed, and then slowly roll the dough into a tight log, folding in the ends as you go.

Stromboli is typically baked at around 375-400°F (190-204°C) for 20-30 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. It is a versatile dish that can be served as a meal, appetizer, or game-day snack and is a fun twist on the classic pizza.

Parmesan

A recipe for a stromboli that includes Parmesan in the filling suggests using 1/2 a cup of the cheese, grated, alongside 2 cups of shredded mozzarella and 1/2 a pound of thinly sliced provolone. The Parmesan is sprinkled over the other ingredients, which include meats, vegetables, and herbs, before the dough is rolled up and baked.

Another recipe uses Parmesan as a topping, sprinkling it over the stromboli after brushing with olive oil, and before baking. This recipe also includes Parmesan in the filling, but in a smaller quantity—just 1 tablespoon of grated cheese, alongside 16 slices of provolone, 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella, and other ingredients.

A third recipe also sprinkles Parmesan on top of the stromboli before baking, but this time alongside another cheese—mozzarella. This recipe also includes Parmesan in the filling, but again, in a smaller quantity than the mozzarella.

Havarti

A Three Cheese Stromboli recipe by Gaby Dalkin includes Havarti as one of the three cheeses. The recipe suggests using 6 slices of deli-style Havarti, along with mozzarella, prosciutto, roasted red peppers, and Parmesan. The dough is rolled out into a rectangle, filled, and then rolled up, with the ends pinched together to seal. The Stromboli is then baked in the oven until golden brown.

Another recipe for a Ham & Cheese Stromboli also includes Havarti as one of the cheeses, along with honey-roasted ham, onion, and oregano. This recipe also uses pizza dough, which is rolled out and filled, then rolled up and baked.

A more unusual option for a Stromboli is to use Castello Jalapeno Havarti, which adds a kick of heat to the dish. This recipe is for a Southwest Chicken Stromboli, which includes chicken, red bell pepper, black beans, and cumin, along with the Jalapeno Havarti.

Pepper Jack

A kicked-up version of a stromboli could include Pepper Jack cheese, jalapeno peppers, and spicy pork sausage. You could also add diced bell peppers and mushrooms to this combination.

If you want to make a vegetarian stromboli, you could combine Pepper Jack with roasted red peppers, red pepper flakes, and basil.

For a meat-based stromboli, you could try Pepper Jack with Italian sausage, garlic, and red peppers.

Stromboli is a versatile dish, and you can put almost whatever you want in it. You can also use whatever type of dough you prefer, whether that be frozen bread dough or homemade pizza dough.

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