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Not surprisingly, mascarpone (mahs-car-POH-nay) is renowned for being one of the best Italian dairy
products in the world. It is a light and creamy soft cheese similar to cream cheese, only much better. Not only is it extremely versatile in cooking but it’s generally created with only two ingredients – cream and/or milk and tartaric or citric acid to thicken the cream.
Mascarpone is believed to have emerged from the Lombardy region of Italy. The Italian cream cheese dates back to around the late 1500s or early 1600s. Known as an essential ingredient for many Italian recipes, mascarpone is frequently used in dessert recipes, particularly tiramisu. It is exceptionally smooth and faintly sweet – ideal for many desserts. It is also added to many savory dishes for a touch of creaminess without being overpowering.
Selecting the ideal mascarpone cheese brand can be a little tricky. Oftentimes, mascarpone is rich in butterfat ranging from 60% to 75%. Rendering to Livestrong, two thirds of mascarpone cheese is saturated fat. When there is an overabundance of saturated fat in your diet, you can increase heart disease, blood cholesterol and atherosclerosis.
As a dietary guideline, two tablespoons of mascarpone cheese have 8 grams saturated fat which is 35 percent of your DA*. However, this amazing Italian cream cheese is a must in many delicate and luscious dishes. It is a worthy treat, especially on noteworthy occasions.
*DA or daily allowance is based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
For optimum results, it is best to use high quality and fresh mascarpone in your recipes. Likewise, choosing the healthiest mascarpone cheese brands is imperative.
Cello Mascarpone Cheese
Cello Mascarpone is an award-winning cheese. It is made with both cream and milk giving it a smooth, thick and buttery texture. Some of their renowned achievements include a silver medal in the World Cheese Awards (2014) numerous medals from the American Cheese Society and the Wisconsin State Fair Cheese contest.
Moreover, this healthy mascarpone cheese has just 7g saturated fat per 1 ounce serving. The smooth yet sweet flavor of Cello Mascarpone is perfect for sauces such as in pasta dishes. It also goes well with many sweet treats like tiramisu, cheesecake and other baked goods. Moreover, Cello Mascarpone pairs well as a dip served with pears, figs, apples, grapes or other fruity delights.
BelGioioso
BelGioioso is an awarding winning mascarpone cheese crafted in Wisconsin. It is one of the healthiest mascarpone cheeses on the market. All-natural ingredients, kosher certified, rBST (hormone) free plus 1 tablespoon has a total of only 60 Calories and 3.5g of saturated fat.
In addition, there are three different selections to choose from:
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Classic Mascarpone – is light (1/2 the calories of butter) with a natural sweetness. It is made from the premium fresh cream for a creamy and soft texture.
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Tiramisù Mascarpone – combined with coffee and sugar for ultimate flavor. It is perfect for Tiramisù and other desserts.
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Crema di Mascarpone– it is sweeter than the classic version with a more whipped body. It is ideal for frostings or sweeter type recipes.
Established in 1978, the four brothers Charles, George, Thomas, and Mark successfully launched a dairy business on a rented piece of land with 57 cows. Today the company has 1,500 Holsteins on their own land. In addition, all their cattle are fed homegrown forages with the use of sustainable farming practices.
Since 2001, the Crave Brothers have been making a variety of cheeses including mascarpone. Crave Brothers Mascarpone is a high quality and very healthy version of Italian Cream cheese. It is creamy, sweet and unsophisticated. Ii is ideal for both savory and sweet dishes. To top it off, the mascarpone has only 7g of saturated fat in a one ounce serving.
Ambrosi Mascarpone
Ambrosi Mascarpone may not be as well-known as other brands but it is a mascarpone definitely worth trying. However, Ambrosi Mascarpone has several credentials and noteworthy awards:
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BRC Certified (Grade A)
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Higher level in the IFS Food Standards
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Won the Super Gold in the World Cheese Awards in 2017-2018
This healthy Italian cream cheese is not only certified organic but it is low is saturated fat (9g per ounce). Ambrosi Mascarpone is velvety smooth and very soft, making it perfect for both sweet and savory recipes.
Result
With a wide variety of mascarpone cheeses on the market, it is easy to select the ideal Italian cream cheese to fit your needs. In fact, the large variety of mascarpone cheeses makes cooking or baking adventurous and fun. Moreover, the high quality of many brands helps you create a mouth-watering dish that you can count on.