Scamorza


Scamorza is a South Italian cow's milk cheese. It can also be made from other milks, but that is less common. It is a stretched-curd cheese, in which the fresh curd matures in its own whey for several hours to allow acidity to develop by the process of lactose being converted to lactic acid. Artisanal cheese makers generally form the cheese into a round shape, and then tie a string around the mass one third of the distance from the top, and hang to dry. The resulting shape is pear-like. This is sometimes referred to as "strangling" the cheese. The cheese is usually white in color unless smoked. When smoked, the color is almond with a lighter interior.
Scamorza can be substituted for mozzarella in most dishes, but the resulting taste will be much stronger and more dominant. It is reputed to melt better in baking. Using the smoked variety adds a nice background flavor in replacement of mozzarella.

Etymology

The term may come from the Italian phrases capa mozza or testa mozzata, both meaning "severed head". This would also explain the use of "scamorza" in regional Italian to mean "fool" or "idiot".

Production areas

In Italy, scamorza is more commonly made in the south rather than the north. Strictly speaking, scamorza is a product of Apulia and Calabria. However, it is available across the country, both in the unsmoked and smoked forms. Mario Batali cites grilled scamorza as a traditional dish in Neapolitan cooking. Scamorza in Bari is made from sheep's milk. This is not necessarily true of cheeses called scamorza outside the EU.