Saturday 4 July 2009

Taleggio

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Do you ever find that you've never heard of something and then once you have it crops up everywhere?!

Well that happens to me quite often. The last occasion was when Abel & Cole sent me some Taleggio cheese to try. I had never heard of it before or seen it anywhere as far as I was aware, but since I got some a couple of weeks ago I've seen it at the cheese monger, which might be because now I am aware of it and looked out for it, but I even found it on the breakfast buffet at the hotel I stayed at in Brighton this week.



Taleggio is an Italian soft cheese with a washed orange rind, named after a Val Taleggio near Bergamo in Lomabardy. It definitely has quite a pong to it, especially after a couple of days in the fridge, but it is generally mild with a fresh and fruity taste. The rind has a somewhat stronger flavour, but if you don't like it you can cut it off. I do like the stronger flavour though and just like with brie or camenbert I eat it just as it is, rind and all.

It was gone too quickly for me to try using it in cooking, but I have since found out that it is great for melting over vegetables and polenta or used in risottos.

17 comments:

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

I'll have to check our local Italian market becasue I would love the opportunity to give it a try:D

Gloria Baker said...

This cheese look sooooo tasty!I love cheese!!! xxGloria

Marie Rayner said...

Sounds good Sylvie!!

J.L. Danger said...

sounds so good!

Jaime said...

what an interesting cheese - have never heard of it but it sounds delicious

Sam said...

Coincidently I had Tallegio risotto only a couple of days ago. It's a delicious cheese but you're right, it certainly has a pong to it!

aforkfulofspaghetti said...

thoroughly endorse melting it over stuff - it works superbly for that, as it melts very easily, and has (as you rightly note!) great flavour, too

thepassionatecook said...

i love taleggio and have been struggling to find good ones here... they used to have them at waitrose a long time ago and when i got home with it, i discovered it was mouldy. i took it back, they said it's naturally mouldy. nope, not really. (they're better now, i do buy it there occasionally and all of a sudden it's not naturally mouldy anymore ;-)
i will try the A&C one with my next order, it looks delicious and, being organic, i bet it has twice the taste as well ;-) mmmh!

Anonymous said...

I found some in Somerfield the other day. I had never come across it before but the words Italian and soft cheese meant I just had to buy it. Had it some with biscuits and loved it! Been desperately looking for recipes I could use it in. I know it goes well with Spinach. Any other suggestions? I would agree with Sam on the smell, mind you, dont think I could do a risotto lol

James said...

Or on pizza. Or in cannelloni. Goes well with mushrooms. Try mushrooms, parma ham, taleggio and rocket on top of polenta and baked in the oven - an italian feast. Or a toasted sandwich..... Also good in moussaka.

I tried your lemon drizzle cake recipe a couple of weeks ago - so nice.

♥Rosie♥ said...

Yes it does happen when you find out a new product up it pops time and time again ;0)

I have never tried Tallegio cheese but it really sounds so good. I need to try to source this one out to buy.

Nic said...

I bought some in Waitrose and it was quite expensive - but very good!

Jan said...

Yum! I like Nic got some in Waitrose.

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

I know what you mean! But, on this occassion I am the opposite, I have heard about this one plenty, but not seen it anywhere. It does look good :)

Maggie said...

They have it in Sainsbury's sometimes. It really is a great cheese for melting.

Jan said...

There is an award over at my blog for you!

Chef Basket said...

Thanks for the post about Taleggio cheese. I think it would taste great melted over vegetables.