Bocconcini

Bocconcini

Bocconcini (Italian pronunciation: [ˌbokkonˈtʃiːni]; singular Bocconcino, [ˌbokkonˈtʃiːno]) are small mozzarella cheeses the size of an egg. Like other mozzarellas, they are semi-soft, white and rindless unripened mild cheeses which originated in Naples and were once made only from milk of water buffaloes. Nowadays they are usually made from a combination of water buffalo and cow's milk. Bocconcini are packaged in whey or water, have a spongy texture and absorb flavours.

This cheese is described by its Italian name which means small mouthfuls. It is made in the pasta filata manner by dipping curds into hot whey, and kneading, pulling and stretching. Each cheese is about the size, shape and colour of a hardboiled egg: indeed an alternative name used is Uova di bufala, or “Buffalo eggs”. Baby ("bambini") bocconcini can also be purchased; these are a smaller version about the size of large grapes.

Bocconcini of water buffalo’s milk are still produced in the provinces of Naples, Caserta and Salerno, as bocconcini alla panna di bufala, in a process which involves mixing freshly made Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP with fresh cream. A Bocconcino di Bufala Campana DOP is also made, which is simply Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP, produced in the egg-sized format.

Bocconcini of whole cow's milk are also manufactured, where the higher liquid content, in comparison to standard mozzarella, lends them the soft consistency of fior di latte.

Bocconcini can be bought at most Italian supermarkets and is often used in tomato and basil salads and to accompany pasta or Italian water biscuits.

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Italian cheeses

PDO	Asiago Bitto Bra Caciocavallo Casciotta d'Urbino Castelmagno Fontina Formaggio di Fossa Formai de Mut dell'Alta Valle Brembana Gorgonzola Grana Padano Montasio Monte Veronese Buffalo mozzarella Parmigiano-Reggiano Pecorino Pecorino di Filiano Pecorino Romano Pecorino Sardo Pecorino Siciliano Pecorino Toscano Piave Provolone Spressa delle Giudicarie Ragusano Raschera Taleggio Valle d'Aosta Fromadzo Valtellina Casera

PAT	Bastardo del Grappa Bella Lodi Mascarpone Robiola d'Alba Scamorza Toma cheese Toma Piemontese

Non-protected varieties	Bel Paese Bocconcini Brös Burrata Cacio figurato Caciotta Caprino Casu marzu Crucolo Dolcelatte Galbanino Morlacco Mozzarella Paddraccio Pallone di Gravina Ricotta Robiola Rosa Camuna Sottocenere al tartufo Stracchino Stracciatella di bufala

Manufacturers	Auricchio Parmalat Sterilgarda

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/5/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.