figs
Figs brings fruit sweetness and acidity that lift cheese, provolone's character and keep the pairing lively.
cheese, provolone
+ Add to WorkbenchAbout this ingredient
A southern Italian pasta filata cheese — stretched and molded into large forms, then aged from mild (dolce) to sharp (piccante) — with a smooth texture, butter…
9 pairings
Editorial
Flavor profile
Provolone is a stretched-curd (pasta filata) cheese like mozzarella but made on a larger scale and aged. Provolone dolce (2–3 months) is mild, smooth, and buttery — a good table cheese and excellent for melting. Provolone piccante (aged 6 months to several years) develops sharply as lipases break down the fat into pungent free fatty acids, creating a tangy, somewhat sharp flavor that approaches the intensity of aged Pecorino. Provolone Valpadana and Provolone del Monaco are the two DOP versions. In American Italian-American cooking, provolone is standard in Philadelphia-style cheesesteaks, Italian deli sandwiches, and as a pizza cheese where the slow-melting texture and mild to medium flavor complement the other toppings. The traditional hanging form — large sausage-shaped or pear-shaped provoloni suspended from rafters — is both a preservation method and a visual emblem of southern Italian delicatessens.
Pairings
Flavor relationships
Pairs well with
figs
grapes
lime, juice
olive oil
olives
pasta
pears
pizza
prosciutto
figs
Figs brings fruit sweetness and acidity that lift cheese, provolone's character and keep the pairing lively.
grapes
Grapes brings fruit sweetness and acidity that lift cheese, provolone's character and keep the pairing lively.
lime, juice
Lime, juice brings acidity that cuts through cheese, provolone's character, making the pairing taste brighter and more focused.
olive oil
Olive oil adds richness and carries the aromatic side of cheese, provolone's character, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
olives
Olives adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives cheese, provolone's character more structure and balance.
pasta
Pasta gives cheese, provolone's character a sturdy, comforting base that absorbs flavor and makes the pairing feel complete.
pears
Pears brings fruit sweetness and acidity that lift cheese, provolone's character and keep the pairing lively.
pizza
Pizza complements cheese, provolone by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to cheese, provolone's character.
prosciutto
Prosciutto reinforces the savory side of cheese, provolone's character, building a deeper and more satisfying base.
Grapes brings fruit sweetness and acidity that lift cheese, provolone's character and keep the pairing lively.
lime, juice
Lime, juice brings acidity that cuts through cheese, provolone's character, making the pairing taste brighter and more focused.
Olive oil adds richness and carries the aromatic side of cheese, provolone's character, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
Olives adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives cheese, provolone's character more structure and balance.
Pasta gives cheese, provolone's character a sturdy, comforting base that absorbs flavor and makes the pairing feel complete.
Pears brings fruit sweetness and acidity that lift cheese, provolone's character and keep the pairing lively.
pizza
Pizza complements cheese, provolone by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to cheese, provolone's character.
Prosciutto reinforces the savory side of cheese, provolone's character, building a deeper and more satisfying base.