What is Mascarpone Cheese?
Mascarpone cheese is an italian cheese characterized by its rich, creamy texture and mild, somewhat sweet taste. It is a very italian ingredient and is used in many savory and sweet dishes.
Key Characteristics:
- Texture: Mascarpone has a velvety, smooth, and creamy texture. It is soft and spreadable, almost like cream cheese, but denser.
- Flavor: It has a very subtle buttery sweet flavor to it though, so it can be used in many different kinds of cooking.
- Fat Content: It’s full fat cream cheese and full fat cream cheese is usually full of fat which is why it feels like such a delicious luxury.
How It’s Made:
Mascarpone is made by adding some sort of acid like lemon juice or vinegar to cream and letting it curdle. This cream is then strained and occasionally whipped to reach its unique texture.
Uses in Cooking:
- Desserts: Mascarpone, which is used in desserts such as tiramisu and cheesecake. Its creamy texture enhances the richness of these treats.
- Savory Dishes: It can also be used in more salty fare like risottos, pasta sauces, spreads.
- Frosting and Fillings: Mascarpone is a type of cheese that is often used in frostings and as a filling for pastries and cakes, it gives the dessert a nice creamy and rich taste.
Storage:
Mascarpone cheese must be refrigerated and once opened is only good for a few days. Should be kept in a sealed jar to keep fresh.
Summary:
Mascarpone cheese is a rich, creamy cheese with a delicate taste, good for sweet and savory dishes alike. It has a smooth texture and a really rich flavor and it can be used in just about everything.