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Stracchino is a soft, creamy Italian cheese made from cow's milk. It is typically produced in Lombardy, Tuscany, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Liguria. This cheese is eaten very young and fresh, and has a mild, slightly acidic flavour. It is believed that the name 'stracchino' comes from the Lombard adjective 'strach', meaning 'tired', referring to the cows that return tired from summer grazing.
What You'll Learn
Stracchino is a soft, rindless, cow's milk cheese
The cheese is usually square in shape and has a very soft, creamy texture and a mild, slightly acidic flavour. It is normally eaten when young and fresh, and it has a delicate, fresh flavour. Its soft texture means it can be spread on bread or croutons and is also used in more complex recipes. It is often used to fill 'piadina', a thin flatbread, and is added to risotto for a light creaminess.
Stracchino is a very versatile cheese and can be used in a variety of recipes. It is delicious with bitter vegetables like radicchio, artichokes, and chicory, and it pairs well with intense cold cuts like speck. It can also be added to desserts, such as cheesecakes. Its creamy texture means it melts well and can be used on pizzas, in sandwiches, or on flatbreads.
Stracchino is a relatively healthy option compared to mature cheeses, as it provides a lower caloric intake. However, it does have a high percentage of saturated fat, so other fresh cheeses like ricotta or quark are lighter alternatives.
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It is made in Lombardy, Tuscany, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Liguria
Stracchino is a soft Italian cheese made with cow's milk. It is native to the northern Italian regions of Lombardy, Tuscany, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Liguria. The name 'Stracchino' is derived from the Lombard adjective 'strach' or 'stracca', meaning 'tired'. This refers to the cows that were herded up and down the Alps with the changing seasons and were tired from the journey. The milk from these cows was richer in fats and more acidic, which is ideal for making stracchino.
The cheese is typically made in small batches with milk gathered daily from local farmers. It is a rindless, white, soft cheese with a creamy texture and a mild, slightly acidic flavour. It is usually eaten very young and fresh, and it has a delicate flavour and aroma. It is often square-shaped and has a uniform, pure white colour.
Stracchino is a versatile cheese and can be used in a variety of dishes. It can be eaten on its own, spread on bread, or used as an ingredient in recipes. It is commonly used as a filling for bread, such as focaccia or cascione, and is also used in piadina, a thin flatbread. It can be added to risotto for a light creaminess or paired with vegetables like radicchio, artichokes, and chicory. Stracchino is also used in desserts, such as cheesecakes, and can be melted onto pizzas, flatbreads, and sandwiches.
In terms of nutritional properties, stracchino provides a lower caloric intake than mature cheeses and can be suitable for low-calorie diets when consumed in the right quantities. However, it has a high percentage of saturated fat, so other fresh cheeses like ricotta or quark are lighter alternatives.
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The name derives from cows being 'tired' from alpine journeys
Stracchino is a soft, Italian cow's milk cheese. It is typical of the regions of Lombardy, Tuscany, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Liguria. The name of the cheese, according to legend, derives from the cows being tired from their alpine journeys.
The process of making stracchino begins with milk from cows that have been moved seasonally up and down the Alps to different pastures. The cows are said to be 'tired' from these journeys, and the milk they produce is richer in fats and more acidic. This gives the cheese its characteristic flavours. The name likely comes from the Lombard adjective "strach" or the local dialect word "stracch", both of which mean 'tired'.
Stracchino is usually eaten on its own, but it can also be used as an ingredient in various recipes. It is a very soft, creamy, rindless cheese with a mild, slightly acidic flavour. It is typically eaten very young and fresh, and it has a delicate flavour and texture. When allowed to age, it develops a tangy and creamy softness.
Stracchino is quite versatile in the kitchen due to its delicate, fresh flavour. It can be spread on bread or croutons and served with vegetables like radicchio, artichokes, and chicory, or with cold cuts of meat such as speck. It can also be added to a risotto for a light creaminess or used in a piadina, a thin flatbread. In addition, stracchino is a common filling for cascione, a type of flatbread made in Romagna and nearby regions.
With its soft and spreadable texture, stracchino can also be used as a filling for tarts, cheesecakes, or other desserts. It melts well and can be baked into savoury dishes like pizzas, flatbreads, sandwiches, and burgers. It can also be paired with sweet accompaniments like honey, fruit spreads, and chutneys.
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It is eaten fresh or aged for a couple of weeks
Stracchino is a soft, Italian cow's milk cheese. It is typically eaten fresh, when it has a very soft, creamy texture and a mild, slightly acidic flavour. It is usually square in shape and has no rind.
Stracchino is made with whole cow's milk and has a raw curd. It is a delicate cheese with a uniform colour and pure white appearance. Its texture should be delicate but firm and it should have a fresh aroma of milk.
When eaten fresh, stracchino is a versatile ingredient. It can be eaten on its own, spread on bread or croutons, or used in more complicated recipes. It is often used in Italian dishes such as risotto, piadina, and focaccia. It can also be added to salads, melted into pasta or casseroles, or used as a filling for tarts or cheesecakes.
Stracchino can also be aged for a couple of weeks. During this time, it develops a pleasant tanginess and becomes even creamier. Aged stracchino is delicious melted onto pizzas, flatbreads, sandwiches, or burgers. It can also be baked into cheesecakes or used in other sweet dishes.
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It is versatile and can be used in many recipes
Stracchino is a very versatile cheese that can be used in a wide variety of recipes. It is a soft, creamy cow's milk cheese with a very thin rind, a mild flavour, and a pleasant smell. It is usually eaten fresh, but can also be aged briefly for up to two weeks.
Stracchino is a great addition to many savoury dishes. It can be melted onto pizzas, flatbreads, sandwiches, and burgers for a creamy, tangy flavour. It can also be baked into cheesecakes and tarts, or used as a filling for pastries and breads such as focaccia and piadina. It pairs well with vegetables like radicchio, artichokes, chicory, celery, escarole, and radishes, as well as cold cuts or sausages with intense flavours, such as speck and salame.
Stracchino can be used to make a variety of finger foods and appetisers. For example, it can be served with warm polenta, or spread on bread or crostini and served with salami or fresh fruit. It also goes well with honey, fruit spreads, and chutneys.
In terms of more substantial meals, stracchino is a key ingredient in several Italian dishes. It is used to make risotto, pasta bakes, and casseroles, and can be added to piadina with speck and radicchio. It can also be used in place of fresh mozzarella in many recipes.
Stracchino can even be used in desserts. In addition to cheesecakes, it can be used in sweet dishes such as a cheesecake with pumpkin spice, or sweet crescenza turkey sliders.
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Frequently asked questions
Stracchino is a soft, creamy cow's milk cheese from Italy. It has a very thin rind and a tart, fruity flavour. It is usually eaten when it is young and fresh.
Stracchino has a mild, slightly acidic flavour. It is known for its characteristic milk flavour.
Stracchino is made from whole cow's milk. It has a raw curd and a soft, buttery texture. It is typically aged for a brief period, between 2-4 weeks.