Mascarpone

simple sandwich, grilled pizza, pasta, and dessert

Mascarpone is creamy soft cheese from Lombardy, so mild in flavour, and so versatile!
It is famous as the main ingredient of many great desserts and sauces including Tiramisu, which I have previously mentioned on this blog.
Also, some tasty savoury creams and spreads can be made with mascarpone if combined with truffles, smoked salmon etc..
And do not forget favourite Italian kid's treat, loved also by my kids (and adults) - Mascarpone sandwich. It's made with Mascarpone and Chocolate spread over ciabatta bread. A gourmet version would be to add some seasonal fruits, like raspberries or strawberries. Note to all those taste perfectionists: in order to create that perfect mascarpone sandwich, bread should be fresh and crunchy, possibly home-made, and fresh from the oven, but not too hot!

So here it is, the photo of finger licking breakfast or treat!

If you want more of mascarpone, here are the recipes for Grilled pizza, Pasta with mascarpone sauce and creamy dessert - Coppa Oreste:



Whole-wheat grilled pizza with Prosciutto, Portabelo mushrooms and Mascarpone

(with step by step process)

One of the fast and "clean" ways to make gourmet pizza is on the grill. With great ingredients, any pizza can be tasty!
I make whole wheat pizza dough, by adding whole wheat flour instead of using only unbleached white. Pizza dough is very easy to make and hardly can go bad, even if you're not sure if the consistency of your dough is good.

Steps for making Grilled Pizza are explained on my Food-Recipes page






Whole wheat Pizza dough:

2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 cups warm water
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoons fine sea salt
1 tsp olive oil

Pizza topping with Mascarpone:

1 tbsp pesto
100 g prosciutto sliced
1 portabelo mushroom chopped
3 tbsp fresh basil - chopped
1 tomato sliced
1/2 cup of grated romano cheese
1/4 cup mascarpone cheese


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Coppa Oreste

 

Coppa Oreste

Coppa Oreste preparation

Coppa Oreste


12 amaretto cookies
3 tbsp brandy
3 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup marscapone cheese (softened)
Dark chocolate Shavings (garnish)

You can make this dessert like a tiramisu in the bowl, by layering the ingredients or after making mascarpone cream, direct in a cups (coppa).
Put three amaretto cookies in the bottom of cups and drizzle with the Brandy. Beat the egg yolks together with the sugar until pale in color. Beat in the marscapone cheese until creamy and fold in the egg yolks. Separately, beat the egg whites and fold in mascarpone mix. Spoon the mixture into the glasses. Chill until firm and serve by sprinkling the chocolate shavings over the top.
Or layer amarettis than mascarpone cream and shaved chocolate last. Repeat and finish with shaved chocolate on top. Chill and serve in glasses.

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Pasta con Mascarpone salsa


It's a very simple but flavuorful pasta.
The best pasta to use with this type of sauce are fettucine or tagliatelle. This recipe is adapted from the book "Il Talismano della Felicita" by Ada Boni, the famous Italian food writer.

Mascarpone salsa (sauce):

150 g 2/3 cup mascarpone                                         
2 egg yolks
100 g prosciutto or pancetta, cut in thin strips
50 g 2/3 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

Cook the pasta and drain. In a heated serving bowl dilute mascarpone with few tbsp of pasta water. Add egg yolks, beating them with a spoon. Mix in prosciutto and half a grated cheese. Toss thoroughly. Top with a rest of the cheese.