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Scamorza | |
---|---|
Country of origin | Italy |
Region | |
Source of milk | Cow |
Pasteurized | Yes |
Texture | Elastic, stringy |
Certification | Prodotto agroalimentare tradizionale (PAT): 1996 |
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Scamorza (Italian: [skaˈmɔrtsa]) is a southern Italian cow's milk cheese. It can also be made from other milk, but that is less common. It is a pasta filata (‘stretched curd’) cheese, in which the fresh curd matures in its own whey for several hours to allow the acidity to develop through the conversion of lactose to lactic acid. Artisanal cheese makers generally form the cheese into a round shape, then tie a string around the mass one-third of the distance from the top, and hang it to dry. The resulting shape is pear-like. This is sometimes referred to as "strangling" the cheese. The cheese is usually white unless smoked. When smoked, the colour is almond with a lighter interior.
Scamorza can be substituted for mozzarella in most dishes.[1]