Stracciatella Cheese
A very soft, creamy fresh cheese made by mixing shredded fresh cheese curds with cream. The filling inside burrata; consumed fresh.
What Is Stracciatella Cheese?
Stracciatella cheese is a fresh cheese from Southern Italy (especially Puglia); its name means "little shreds/strips." It's made by hand-pulling mozzarella-type fresh cheese curd into thin strands and mixing it with fresh cream (panna).
The result is a very soft, flowing, and creamy filling. It shouldn't be confused with the egg soup or ice cream of the same name; this cheese is exactly the creamy filling that flows out when burrata is cut.
Stracciatella's Nutritional Values
Like other creamy fresh cheeses, stracciatella contains about 290 kcal of energy per 100 grams, moderate protein, and high fat (from the cream); it's a source of calcium. Values vary with the cream ratio and are approximate.
How Should Stracciatella Be Consumed?
Since stracciatella is a fresh dairy product, it should be consumed very fresh; due to the fat from the cream, it should be used in moderation. Among fresh cheeses, pregnant women and those with weakened immunity should prefer products made from pasteurized milk.
This information is general; stracciatella is a food, not a substitute for medical treatment.
How to Choose Stracciatella?
Good stracciatella is bright white, shiny, creamy-flowing, and smells fresh-milky. Examples that have yellowed, smell sour, or have separated liquid have lost their freshness.
- Color should be bright white, texture creamy
- The smell should be fresh-milky
- Sour smell and separation are undesirable
How Is Stracciatella Stored?
Stracciatella is stored in the refrigerator, sealed in its own liquid/container, and should be consumed within a few days. It's a fresh product; freezing is not recommended as it ruins the texture.
Using Stracciatella in the Kitchen
Stracciatella is most used fresh — on bread, with tomato and olive oil, drizzled over pizza and pasta right at serving. Since it's delicate with heat, it's usually added raw, at the last moment, on top of a hot dish.
What's the Difference Between Stracciatella and Burrata?
Burrata is a cheese with a mozzarella pouch on the outside and a stracciatella filling on the inside; stracciatella itself is this creamy filling, also sold without being placed in a pouch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is stracciatella a cheese or a dessert?
The stracciatella described here is a cheese; there's also a soup and an ice cream flavor with the same name, but these are different products.
How is stracciatella eaten?
Best eaten raw with fresh bread, tomato, and olive oil; also added on top of pizza and pasta right at serving.
Why should stracciatella be consumed quickly?
Since it's a fresh, creamy dairy product, it spoils quickly; it's at its tastiest and safest when consumed very fresh.