Provolone: Smooth-Melting Italian Cheese
Semi-hard cow’s milk cheese with excellent melt. Comes as mild Dolce or sharper Piccante; great for sandwiches, pizza and baking.
What Is Provolone?
Provolone is a **semi-hard Italian cheese** (pasta filata style) made from cow’s milk. It’s known for a clean, slightly buttery flavor and **superb melting** performance.
Varieties
- **Dolce:** mild, creamy, aged **2–3 months**.
- **Piccante:** sharper, more savory, aged **6–12+ months**.
- **Affumicato:** smoked version with a golden rind and gentle smokiness.
Nutrition per 28 g (1 slice)
**~100–110 kcal**, **~7 g protein**, **~8–9 g fat** (mostly saturated), **~0–1 g carbs**, **calcium** and **sodium** present.
Benefits
- **Good protein** source for satiety.
- **Calcium** supports bones and teeth.
- **Great meltability** adds richness with small amounts.
Possible Downsides
- **High in sodium and saturated fat**—watch portions.
- Contains **lactose** (generally low, but can vary).
- **Dairy allergen**—avoid if allergic.
How to Use
- **Melt** on **sandwiches, panini, pizza, baked pasta**.
- **Gratin** vegetables or chicken cutlets.
- Cube for **antipasti** with olives and cured meats.
- Pair with **tomato, pesto, roasted peppers**.
Tip
For ultra-smooth melting, **grate/chop cold cheese**, layer thinly, and melt gently. Store wrapped, **airtight** to prevent drying.
- 1. Provolone
Provolone – polutvrdi talijanski sir od kravljeg mlijeka, odličan za topljenje; dvije glavne varijante: **Dolce** (blag, 2–3 mj) i **Piccante** (izraženiji, 6–12+ mj), postoji i **affumicato** (dimljeni)