Provolone Valpadana Cheese vs Scamorza Cheese
Provolone Valpadana Cheese is a compact, may have slight and rare holes cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Scamorza Cheese is semi-soft and made from cow milk, originating in Italy.
What Is Provolone Valpadana Cheese?
Provolone Valpadana is an Italian semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk by the pasta filata method. It holds protected designation of origin status in the European Union and comes in a mild dolce version and a sharp piccante version, some of them smoked.
What Is Scamorza Cheese?
Scamorza is a southern Italian pasta filata cheese, usually made from cow's milk. It is tied with string and hung to dry into a pear-like shape, sold unsmoked or smoked, and works as a substitute for mozzarella in most dishes.
What's the Difference Between Provolone Valpadana Cheese and Scamorza Cheese?
- Texture: Provolone Valpadana Cheese (Compact, may have slight and rare holes), Scamorza Cheese (semi-soft)
- Rind: Provolone Valpadana Cheese (Smooth, thin, light yellow, golden, or sometimes yellow-brown (smoked version allows for paraffin use)), Scamorza Cheese (natural)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Provolone Valpadana Cheese | Scamorza Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | Italy |
| Specific Origin | Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Province Of Trento | Apulia And Calabria, Southern Italy |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized or thermized | — |
| Texture | Compact, may have slight and rare holes | Semi-soft |
| Rind | Smooth, thin, light yellow, golden, or sometimes yellow-brown (smoked version allows for paraffin use) | Natural |
| Aging | Two to three months for Dolce, minimum of three months to more than a year for Piccante | — |
| Taste | Delicate for sweet cheeses, pronounced with longer maturation for sharp cheeses | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Provolone Valpadana Cheese Taste Like Scamorza Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct.
Can You Substitute Provolone Valpadana Cheese for Scamorza Cheese?
In most recipes, Provolone Valpadana Cheese and Scamorza Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect compact, may have slight and rare holes bite and body where the recipe calls for semi-soft.
Which Is Better, Provolone Valpadana Cheese or Scamorza Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a compact, may have slight and rare holes cheese, go with Provolone Valpadana Cheese. For a semi-soft profile, Scamorza Cheese is the better fit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Provolone Valpadana Cheese the same as Scamorza Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses.
Is Provolone Valpadana Cheese similar to Scamorza Cheese?
Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.
Can I substitute Provolone Valpadana Cheese for Scamorza Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.
Does Provolone Valpadana Cheese taste like Scamorza Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
What is Provolone Valpadana Cheese made of?
Provolone Valpadana Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized or thermized), using calf rennet for dolce, kid or lamb rennet for picca rennet. It's typically aged two to three months for dolce, minimum of three months to more than a year for piccante. It originates in Italy.
What is Scamorza Cheese made of?
Scamorza Cheese is made from cow milk. It originates in Italy.
Which should I choose, Provolone Valpadana Cheese or Scamorza Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Provolone Valpadana Cheese is compact, may have slight and rare holes, while Scamorza Cheese is semi-soft.