What is Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP
ORIGIN: Central and Southern Italy
FLAVOUR PROFILE: Creamy, sweet, hint of saltiness
IDEAL PAIRINGS: Feudi Di San Gregorio Greco Di Tufo white wine or a refreshing tomato and basil water
Mozzarella di Bufala Campana holds a special place in our culinary repertoire, an indispensable ingredient in our summer dining rituals. Picture a classic Caprese salad with slices of this creamy delight interspersed with slices of freshly harvested tomatoes, a drizzle of olive oil, and a sprinkle of sea salt. It’s a quintessential dish that could quickly be deemed a desert island delicacy.
This cheese belongs to the esteemed category of ‘pasta filata,’ commonly known as ‘stretched curd‘ cheeses. Varieties like Burrata, Scamorza, and Quesillo share this characteristic. Crafting Mozzarella involves immersing curds in hot water to achieve the desired softness, facilitating stretching. Precision is key in the acidification stage of Mozzarella production, ensuring the optimal dissolution of calcium for proper stretching. As the curds are stretched, the protein structure aligns into strands, creating a cheese with distinct pockets of fat and whey.
While ‘Mozzarella‘ is broad and can encompass various stretched-curd cheeses of differing quality, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana adheres to strict standards. It must be crafted using fresh buffalo milk, processed within a tight timeframe of 60 hours from arrival at the dairy, employing whey starter cultures and calf rennet.
Freshly made Mozzarella di Bufala Campana exhibits a tight, elastic texture with an ivory sheen. Its flavor profile is characterized by creaminess, sweetness, and a subtle hint of saltiness, with each bite releasing a burst of juicy goodness. During transportation, its texture softens with time, unveiling a creamier consistency. For the most exquisite experience, it is best savored when impeccably fresh, preferably without ever encountering the chill of a refrigerator.
If Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP is a favorite, you might also appreciate Buffalicious Mozzarella from Somerset, England, offering a delightful twist on this beloved classic.
