It’s hard not find cheese, on an Italian table, actually… it’s quite impossible! See some of the best cheese of the Castelli Romani.
Cheese of the Castelli Romani
Canestrato cheese
The typical cheese in the Castelli Romani area are the ‘Roman Pecorino’, ‘Roman Caciotta’, ‘Ricotta Romana’ and the ‘Canestrato’. All these cheeses are made, totally or partially, from sheep’s milk. Sheep, in Italian, is ‘pecora’. From here the name ‘pecorino’. The roman pecorino, it’s one of the most ancient cheese made, very famous and highly appreciated, in Italy and throughout the world. This cheese is entirely made of whole sheep milk, and has a typical aroma and a spicy flavor, giving a particularly tasty flavor to first courses, especially on kinds of pasta.
The Canestrato cheese, it’s a direct derivate of the above-mentioned pecorino cheese. His name derives from the fact that it’s made by being pressed into a ‘canestro’ – the Italian word for wicker basket – of which pattern, will show on the cheese itself.
Caciotta Romana cheese
Another cheese of the Castelli Romani, Caciotta Romana is, usually, a fresh cheese, but it can also be sometimes seasoned, having a more marked flavor. This cheese presents itself quite compact, white in color, which can end up in a light straw-colored shade. One of the most popular cheeses, it sells over 30.000 Kg, it’s shaped as a cylinder, 7 Cm in height, from 1 to 3 Kg in weight. Excellent with ‘fave romanesche’ – roman broad beans – and over some pasta dish. Top of the line, thinly sliced on a nice, and rich, salad dish. One more hint: with potatoes or field mushrooms, makes an excellent, and light, second dish.
Mixed ‘Caciotta’, is made by mixing sheep and cow milk. They are tasty and spicy, typical of the Roman countryside. Its shape is low and round, not less than three kilos in weight.
Ricotta Romana cheese
The great demand is for the ‘Ricotta Romana‘ – Ricotta cheese – a firm, dry and compact cheese. Made from cow buffalo, sheep, goat, and/or mixed cheeses. It’s another highlight of the cheese of the Castelli Romani.
Never the less these products of the Roman countryside, produced with modern technologies, still retain all the fragrance of the old times past, and those characteristics such as: being natural, high quality, and, above all, nourishment.
About cheese of the Castelli Romani…
Cheese has always been found on most popular tables, mainly used for fast snacks and, also, for long trips – dried – since it’s simple to make, it goes well with bread, wine, and other local goodies. It’s a fast meal, complete and efficient and, above all… satisfying and filling! Can be preserved in a water solution, or spiced with thyme, pine seeds, and pepper. Excellent are the small ‘ricottine’ – same classic shape as ricotta, but smaller – usually eaten with grilled bacon, porcini mushrooms, and various salads.
Don’t miss these cheese of the Castelli Romani if you take a day trip from Rome to the Castelli Romani... enjoy!
– by Michael A. McCain –
