Eggs & dairy · Hard cheeses

Provolone

Italian stretched-curd cow's-milk cheese, mild (dolce) or sharp (piccante), for sandwiches and melting.

Also called: provolone cheese, mild provolone

A kind of cheese

What it is

Provolone is a pasta filata cheese, like mozzarella, but aged so it becomes firm and sliceable. Provolone dolce is mild and supple; provolone piccante is aged longer and is sharp and tangy. Wheels are often tied with string and hung, giving pear or sausage shapes, and some are lightly smoked.

How it’s used

Italian subs and cheesesteaks
Melted on pizza, burgers and baked pasta
Antipasto platters
Grilled as provoleta in Argentina

Characteristics

Taste: Mild and milky (dolce) to sharp and piquant (piccante).
Texture: Firm, smooth and slightly elastic.
When cooked: Melts smoothly with some stretch; thick slices can be grilled until crusty outside and soft inside.
Sold as: fermented, smoked
Cooking uses: Usually eaten raw, Commonly cooked, Suitable for grilling
Common in: Italian, American, Argentine