Provolone cheese is an all-purpose Italian cheese used for grating and cooking as well as desserts It is a semi-soft cow's milk cheese. This cheese appears in various shapes. The thin, hard rind is golden-yellow and shiny. Sometimes waxed, Provolone cheese can be of various types including Dolce (mild Provolone) aged for two to three months, and it is supple and smooth with a thin waxed rind. Aged for six months to two years, it is darker with small holes and a spicy flavor.
The fat content of Provolone is about 45%. A good brand to look for is Auricchio, from Italy. Serve this cheese with a big Italian red wine of which Chianti Classico is a good choice.
This cheese is widely available but the better products tend to be sold in specialty Italian delis and cheese shops. You can buy "average" products at stores like Trader Joe's. You can also purchase from one of the many good vendors, such as iGourmet via Amazon.com: Auricchio Provolone Extra Sharp
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