Everything You Need To Know About Provolone

When it comes to cheese, there are a large number of varieties available, making it incredibly challenging to keep them all straight. Provolone is an Italian cheese that is white to yellow and has a firm texture to match its buttery flavor. Because of its mild texture and flavor, provolone is commonly found in sandwiches, cheese platters, and other cooked dishes.

History

Provolone cheese was first developed in Italy, specifically in the southern area of the country. The name of the cheese “Provolone” actually means “large Provola,” with Provola being another type of cheese from the area. Traditionally, provolone was semi-hard in texture and that is still true today.

Types Of Provolone

There are two different types of provolone cheese: Provolone Dulce and Provolone Piccante. Provolone Dulce is younger, being aged for two or three months. This cheese tends to be white to pale yellow in color and have a slightly sweet taste. The other type, Provolone Piccante, is aged for over four months, making it more aged. This extra time aging means that the cheese has a sharper taste, more pronounced flavor, and appears to have more yellow coloration.

If you see a cheese called Provolone Val Padana, then it can only be a specific type of cheese as the name and designation is protected thanks to the European Union. The Consorzio del Formaggio Tipico Provolone regulates the provolone with this name and it is a traditional version of the cheese. It is made in northern Italy and many of the cheesemakers who produce this type of provolone have been doing so for centuries. Provolone Val Padana frequently has a traditional rounded pear shape with a knob or it may have a longer sausage shape.

Suggested Pairings

It is very popular to use provolone cheese in cooking items such as pasta, grilled cheese, and macaroni and cheese. It also goes well with sandwiches when thinly sliced. The light smokey flavor tends to add a hint of flavor to a dish. It goes well with Italian meats, such as salami, pepperoni, and Italian sausage as well as chorizo. You can also pair it with pineapple, mangos, and berries. Beer lovers should try provolone with a stout, porter, or pale lager while wine lovers would like the combination with Riesling, Chianti, or Chardonnay.

Nutrition

In case nutrition is an important factor for you when selecting your cheese, a cup of diced provolone is around 132 grams and this includes around 463 calories and 35 grams of fat. Keep in mind that provolone sometimes has a large amount of sodium, but it makes up for this with protein and calcium.