What should you know about mozzarella cheese? Complete information in one place

Are you interested in what mozzarella cheese is made from?

Do you want to find out the nutritional values and the possibilities of how to use it in the kitchen?

Then you’ve come to the right place!

Read on to learn all about this cheese, how it is made and other interesting facts.

What exactly is mozzarella?

Fresh mozzarella is a sliced cottage cheese that originates from Italy. It is traditionally made from water buffalo milk (not North American buffalo or bison as many mistakenly believe) and has a very mild milky taste.

Fresh mozzarella is considered one of the healthier cheeses, due to its low fat and sodium content. Water buffalo mozzarella is more nutritious than cow’s milk mozzarella, with a higher concentration of calcium, protein and iron and lower cholesterol.

Unlike many types of cheese, it is not aged and is instead eaten immediately after it is made. It should be eaten at room temperature to fully enjoy its delicate and fresh taste. Fresh mozzarella is easily available in supermarkets and specialty stores.

Prices vary slightly from producer to producer and milk source, with buffalo milk being more expensive than cow mozzarella.

Comparison of nutritional values of selected mozzarella

Vitamins

Minerals

How is mozzarella made?

The process of making mozzarella is called pasta filata. The milk is incubated with a whey starter containing thermophilic bacteria and then rennet is added to make the curd. The curd is heated in water or whey until it forms strings with an elastic structure. The cheese is stretched, kneaded until smooth, and then they are formed into round balls, which make fresh mozzarella cheese.

Historical window: Legend has it that mozzarella was actually created by mistake, when a clumsy Neapolitan cheesemaker got a lump of curd into a bucket of hot water.

What to replace mozzarella with?

Fresh mozzarella is unique and hard to replace. You can replace it with another sliced cheese, but its taste will never be the same.

Can mozzarella be heat treated?

If you know the basics of Italian cooking, you know that mozzarella is the basis of Italian pizza. There is therefore no doubt about the heat treatment of this cheese. It can be baked with pasta, potatoes, on pizza and other savory pies, and even included in soups.

Is mozzarella healthy?

This Italian cheese is suitable for healthy eating and especially for weight loss . Of course, you mustn’t overdo it with mozzarella and you have to think about your daily energy intake and expenditure. One package of mozzarella (125 g) contains 1591 kJ, 26 g of protein, 29 g of fat and 3 g of carbohydrates. Nutritionists recommend mozzarella in a light version, i.e. without fat, or with a reduced fat content.

It is also suitable for a healthy diet because it contains enough water and therefore a lower proportion of salt and phosphorus. It supplies you with enough calcium – about 100 g of mozzarella covers 80% of your daily calcium needs.

Types of Mozzarella

Hard mozzarella – in the Czech Republic, a brick of cow’s milk cheese with 45% fat in dry matter is often sold under the name mozzarella.

Mozzarella light – lower fat content, made from low-fat milk and usually contains about 30% fat in dry matter.

Mozzarella di bufala (buffalo mozzarella) – not only is it made from buffalo milk, but it is also noticeably more expensive and with a more pronounced taste. Compared to ordinary mozzarella, it contains more fat. After cutting this mozzarella, more liquid flows from it.

Pizza mozzarella – the name is only commercial. These are large packages of mozzarella that are sold in gastronomy in the shape of a long cylinder without pickle.

Using mozzarella in dishes

You probably know this cheese on pizza and baked Italian dishes. Mozzarella is used in many recipes. It is used in a variety of fresh and cooked dishes. You can layer it in a caprese salad or in a good sandwich or panini .

You can enjoy it simply, drizzled with olive oil or as a side dish with watermelon or tomatoes. Fresh mozzarella is also a wonderfully creamy and melty ingredient for fillings and fillings for meat and meatballs , chicken and vegetarian dishes.

How to make homemade mozzarella?

Making homemade mozzarella is easy. You only need rennet, citric acid, milk and water. You can find rennet and citric acid at health food stores or online. In 30 minutes you can have fresh mozzarella to enjoy and impress your family or guests.

Video recipe for homemade mozzarella from 4 ingredients:

30 Minute Homemade Fresh Mozzarella Cheese

You can enjoy your homemade mozzarella cheese in your favorite Caprese salad or on homemade pizza! Let us know how you like mozzarella and show off a good recipe. 🙂