Melted deliciousness from Puglia…
Most people associate Raclette with the Swiss alps, where melted wheels of cheese are scraped off onto boiled potatoes with a side of gherkins, pickled onions, and dried meat. While this is one of the most popular dishes in the alps that has spread to other parts of the world, few have heard of the Italian version, Caciocavallo Impiccato. It simply means ‘hanging’ Caciocavallo, named such because you set it up with a sort of curved arm or wire over your barbeque. Once the cheese is partly melted, you scrape it off onto a piece of bread and then you can top it with some Italian honey or just enjoy it as it is.
Over the horseback cheese
The shape of the Caciocavallo cheese makes it perfect for hanging, with its small ‘head’ and bigger body. This also explains the name, Caciocavallo literally translates to the “Horse Cheese” or even “over the horseback cheese.” This shape made it easy to transport the cheeses to markets by tying them in pairs and hanging them over the horse’s back, as well as hanging them to age.
The Caciocavallo Podolico
The variety we prefer at Especially Puglia is the more exclusive Caciocavallo Podolico – made from a specific breed of cattle that are pasture raised and live their lives roaming free in the beautiful landscapes of Puglia. The Podolica cows travel for several kilometers a day in search of wild herbs. For this reason, they do not accumulate fat and they produce little milk – but the milk they do produce gives a unique flavor and intensity to one of the world’s most loved gourmet cheeses, the Caciocavallo.
Caciocavallo Podolico is a slow food worthy of its name. The cheese is handmade using traditional methods, and aged for at least three months to reach a full and intense flavor. Due to its low milk production, one Podolica cow can produce a limited number of cheeses per month and it is recognized as a Prodotto Agroalimentare Tradizionale (traditional regional food product).
Ready to taste it?
Join our Adopt a Cow Program to get your own slice of this exclusive gourmet cheese! Learn more here
