Mozzarella Recipes

Whether adorning Caprese salads or pizza, mozzarella is a perennial favourite in Italian recipes. Mozzarella originates from the Campania region in Italy and dates back to the 12th century when the monks of San Lorenzo produced cheese from buffalo milk.

Over the centuries, production methods have evolved, but the original Italian Mozzarella di bufala is still the best. Buffalo mozzarella is produced from buffalo’s milk and has a stringy texture and unique flavour.

The string cheese was traditionally made through acid curdling processes by adding lemon juice or vinegar to the milk. The curdled milk is heated and stretched to get the stringy texture that can be moulded into ball shapes. Aside from buffalo mozzarella, other types of mozzarella include:

Fresh mozzarella: If you want creamy and milky cheese for your dishes, fresh mozzarella is your go-to cheese. It is mild-flavoured, making it versatile.

Fresh mozzarella should be used within a few days and is often sold in mozzarella balls. Bocconcini cheese is usually available in slightly smaller balls, while Ciliegine mozzarella is the size of a cherry.

Mozzarella cheese has a milky and creamy sweetness that is great in lasagna and tomato salads. Here are seven dinner recipes with mozzarella cheese to try out:

Risotto: Want to make your risotto decadent for your dinner? Top it with a slice of mozzarella cheese just before serving. The cheese elevates the taste and adds a creamy flavour.

Rigatoni pasta bake: Whether you use a beef rigatoni recipe or prepare a pasta bake, both are easy weeknight dinners.

If you're making a pasta bake, toss the tender rigatoni in flavourful meat sauce and bake it to perfection with parmesan and mozzarella cheese.

Mozzarella-stuffed arancini balls: Add mozzarella-stuffed arancini balls to your dinner buffet. The arancini morsels are made from little morsels of risotto and stuffed with melty mozzarella.

Croquettes: Croquettes are the best comfort foods for dinner nights. Upgrade your mozzarella sticks by mixing mozzarella with mashed potatoes and bread crumbs. The sticks are fried until they are crispy.