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A pear-shaped cheese with a small head and a cut portion showing ivory pasta filata on a plain board.

Caciocavallo di Agnone

Caciocavallo di Agnone is a pear-shaped stretched-curd cheese from Molise.

Shape
Pear with a small head
Milk in Di Nucci’s recipe
Raw milk from Molise

Two Di Nucci maturations

Semistagionato

Producer’s maturation
Up to 3 months

Stagionato

Producer’s maturation
4–8 months
SemistagionatoStagionato
Producer’s maturationUp to 3 months4–8 months

Agnone, seen through the dairy

A familiar pear-shaped cheese becomes more interesting when you follow the hands that shape it.

Di Nucci’s Caciocavallo di Agnone belongs to a dairy craft connected with Molise and its pastoral culture. Start in Agnone for a visit or a conversation with a cheesemonger, then compare the different maturations available.

Curd worked by hand

Di Nucci uses raw milk, rennet, whey starter and salt, with manual work shaping the pasta filata. Compare the producer’s different maturations and look at the cut surface as well as the silhouette: the firm skin and the interior offer different views of the cheese.

Let maturation lead the tasting

Compare the producer’s semistagionato and stagionato in small pieces, starting with the younger cheese. Add plain bread after the first taste. For a second serving, try a little cheese beside warm roasted vegetables, keeping the seasoning simple. Grating or shaving an older portion is another way to explore it, but taste before adding salt to the dish.

The right tools for it

Picked for this food.

  • Microplane Premium Zester

    For finely grating a firm, mature piece over pasta or into a filling.

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  • Cuisipro Surface Glide Fine Rasp

    A fine rasp for citrus zest and hard cheese.

    Amazon

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Choose a maturation, not just a shape

Ask who made the cheese and how long it has matured. Compare Di Nucci’s semistagionato and stagionato, then tell the cheesemonger whether you want a tasting portion or cheese for cooking. Choose the cut for that use rather than by size alone.

Keep the maturation details

Retain the label that identifies the producer and maturation, and follow its storage instructions. When buying a cut portion, ask the cheesemonger to include those details.

Questions worth asking

Do Di Nucci’s maturation ranges apply to every Caciocavallo di Agnone?

No. The ranges presented here are explicitly that producer’s examples. Ask the maker about the wheel you buy.

What does pasta filata mean here?

It refers to the worked, stretched curd. Di Nucci describes manual shaping as part of its production.

Which ingredients does Di Nucci list?

The producer lists raw milk, rennet, whey starter and salt for its Caciocavallo di Agnone. Check the label of the cheese you choose for its own ingredients.

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