Tre Stelle® Tomato and Bocconcini Cheese Pizza Recipe

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 450º F (230ºC). If using a pizza stone, place stone in cold oven, then preheat oven. Dust a work surface with flour or cornmeal and press dough into a desired pizza shape. Place on a baking mat or parchment lined baking sheet. Spread pizza crust with tomato sauce and place sliced tomatoes, top with Bocconcini Cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until crust is browned and cheese is melty. Lessen baking time for premade cooked crust. Once baked sprinkle with fresh basil leaves, slice and serve.

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Created by: Tre Stelle Kitchen

Cheese: Bocconcini

Bocconcini cheese recipes FAQs  

What is bocconcini cheese used for?

Bocconcini is an Italian cheese ball that tastes very similar to mozzarella cheese. Additionally, both mozzarella and bocconcini cheese have a similar, semi-soft, sponge-like texture that absorbs the flavor. Traditionally, bocconcini cheese is made from buffalo milk. However, the bocconcini you purchase from your local grocery store will likely be made from cow’s milk. As it tastes similar to mozzarella cheese, you can create several bocconcini cheese recipes using this Italian cheese, including Caprese salad, lasagna, fried bocconcini balls, and other pasta dishes. The options for bocconcini cheese recipes are endless.  

Do you have to rinse bocconcini?

Like feta and ricotta cheese, to ensure your bocconcini remains fresh for a long time in its container, it is best to keep it covered in the brine it comes packaged with. The brine is typically made of whey, salted brine, or water. As the sponge-like texture of the cheese absorbs the salts from the liquid, it is packaged; if you would like a little more flavor when creating your bocconcini cheese recipes, do not wash your cheese. However, it is okay to pat dry your bocconcini with a paper towel to remove some of the liquid while maintaining the salty flavoring. 

Is bocconcini cheese the same as mozzarella?

Yes, bocconcini and mozzarella cheese are similar as they are both soft cheese balls that absorb a lot of flavors and are known for their mild taste. However, bocconcini are no bigger than a cherry tomato, while mozzarella is typically the size of an orange. Furthermore, both bocconcini and mozzarella cheese are made from cow’s milk. However, in Italy, both kinds of cheese are made from water buffalo milk. Regardless, because these cheeses are so similar, you can swap one for the other in any mozzarella and bocconcini cheese recipes you make if you have one over the other in your fridge.