6 of the best cheeses you can put on your pizza
As we all know, cheese is often one of the most fundamental components of a good pizza. Despite the fact that there are a few traditional cheese-less pizzas (pizza marinara from Naples, for example), you will still find cheese on most pizzas, which is why we wanted to help you decide which cheese you should put on yours! So, let’s get into it…
Bufala Mozzarella
We have to start with the most traditional, classic choice. Mozzarella di Bufala or Buffalo Mozzarella. Mozzarella di bufala is produced with the milk of domestic Italian Water Buffalo. This milk is higher in calcium and protein, and lower in cholesterol than cow's milk. Buffalo Mozzarella is creamier, softer, and far more flavorful than the cow-milk stuff, with a tanginess and depth of flavour that's all its own.
This is one of the most common cheeses you will find on any pizza, as it melts beautifully and has a delicious flavour that goes well with most pizza toppings!
Mature Cheddar
If you’re craving that delicious tang of Mature Cheddar, why not add it to your pizza? This cheese works beautifully as part of a four cheese pizza (paired well with Mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Parmigiano Reggiano). You may find that Cheddar doesn’t melt as well in comparison to Mozzarella, however it definitely adds another dimension to the flavour and is rich enough to qualify as a dominant pizza topping. Add a rich, Mature Cheddar to your pizza and it’ll be the star of the show!
Gorgonzola
Gorgonzola is made using unskimmed cows milk. It is a blue cheese from Italy and this cheese has some bite to it! The heavy, creamy texture and saltiness with a hint of sweetness works extremely well alongside other toppings such as mushrooms, spinach and red onion. This is definitely one for the blue cheese lovers to take their pizza making to another level! If you try Gorgonzola on your pizza, you’re in for a real treat.
Vegan Cheese
Vegans/plant based eaters don’t have to miss out on great pizza. If you’re avoiding dairy, there are still multiple great options you can try. If you just want to grab something easy, try Violife Mozzarella. This can be found in most supermarkets. Another great option that may be a little less widely available, is the Miyoko’s Creamery Vegan Pizza Mozzarella. Both of these cheeses have a slightly different texture to your traditional mozzarella, and vegan cheese tends to go slightly liquidy when melted, however if you cook it right, it is a great option!
The other two options are for the people who are taking their pizza making more seriously. If you’re willing to take a trip down to London or order online, La Fauxmagerie is an excellent vegan cheese shop (they used to be in the dairy cheese business, so these guys know what they’re doing!). They have a wide variety of delicious handmade vegan cheeses that are extremely close to their dairy opponents. You could even have a vegan Gorgonzola pizza!
If you’re into making things from scratch, you could also try making your own cashew based vegan cheese for your pizza. Here’s a recipe we found: https://eatplant-based.com/cashew-cheese-mozzarella/
Parmigiano Reggiano
On a rustic pizza in Italy, you’re likely to find Parmigiano Reggiano. One of the most classic cheeses of them all, Parmigiano is wonderful grated over pasta, salads, soups, and of course, pizza. It is a hard cheese with a very poignant flavour, and one you’ll be glad you involved in your pizza making once you try it!
It’s best grated onto the pizza once you have removed it from the oven. Consider it a garnish rather than a cheese you’d use to melt like Mozzarella. Some people even add it to their pizza dough to infuse their crust with some extra umami!
Goats Cheese
The tart and tangy flavour of Goats Cheese is hard to beat, which makes it a popular choice for pizza. It pairs exceptionally well with caramelised red onions, spinach, mushrooms and winter squash.
You won’t find the stringy texture of Mozzarella when you melt Goats Cheese onto a pizza, although it will melt into a smooth, creamy texture that will leave you wanting more!
So, which of these cheeses are you going to try on your next pizza? Will it be one of the classics like Bufala Mozzarella and Parmigiano Reggiano, or will you experiment with one of the more unique choices like Gorgonzola or Goats Cheese? Send us photos of your pizzas and tell us your favourite cheeses! We love to see your creations here at the Homemade Pizza Club.
Don't forget to order your sourdough pizza dough that gives you the ultimate blank canvas to try out some new cheeses.
