Pallone di Gravina
Encyclopedia
The Pallone di Gravina is a firm, cow's milk cheese from the regions of Basilicata
and Apulia
in south-east Italy
. It is made in the pasta filata
style. The cheeses, which weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 kg, are shaped like a pear, ball or balloon (pallone) and were traditionally produced in the area of the city of Gravina
in the Murgia
area of the Province of Bari
. Today, however, production is centred on the Province of Matera
. The rind is hard, smooth and straw-coloured, becoming browner with age; the body, firm in texture, also starts out straw-yellow, but turns golden as the cheese matures. Pallone di Gravina is at its best after being aged for at least twelve months.
The basic ingredient is full cream cow's milk, which may be pasteurised or not, and may come from one or two milkings. The curdling agent agent can be liquid calves’ rennet
or a paste derived from the stomachs of kid goats or lambs. The third ingredient is salt.
The method of production is similar to that of caciocavallo
. The milk is warmed and curdled with the rennet and the curds are placed in a tompagno: a perforated basket similar to a colander. After two or three hours, when the required level of acidity has been reached, the coagulate is sliced up and ‘spun’ in hot water. (See pasta filata
.) The pieces are then moulded by hand into their characteristic shape. After salting in brine for 12 to 20 hours (depending on their size), the ‘balloons’ are set to dry for 15 days in the dairy where they were shaped, and then transferred to the cellar to mature.
In 2009 the comune
of Gravina
has applied in order to enroll the Pallone for the Protect Designation of Origin
.
Basilicata
Basilicata , also known as Lucania, is a region in the south of Italy, bordering on Campania to the west, Apulia to the north and east, and Calabria to the south, having one short southwestern coastline on the Tyrrhenian Sea between Campania in the northwest and Calabria in the southwest, and a...
and Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
in south-east Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It is made in the pasta filata
Pasta filata
Pasta filata is a technique in the manufacture of a family of Italian cheeses also known in English as stretched-curd, pulled-curd, and plastic-curd cheeses.The cheese-making begins in the normal way...
style. The cheeses, which weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 kg, are shaped like a pear, ball or balloon (pallone) and were traditionally produced in the area of the city of Gravina
Gravina in Puglia
Gravina in Puglia is an Italian municipality in the Southern Italian Province of Bari, site along a river of the same name in the Western Murgia geographical area of Apulia.It is the seat of the Alta Murgia National Park....
in the Murgia
Murgia
Murgia is a sub-region of Apulia in southern Italy, corresponding to a karst topographic plateau of rectangular shape, occupying the central area of the region. The name stems from the Latin murex, meaning "sharp stone"....
area of the Province of Bari
Province of Bari
The Province of Bari is a province in the Apulia region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Bari.It has an area of 5,138 km², and a total population of 1,594,109 . There are 48 comuni in the province, see Comuni of the Province of Bari...
. Today, however, production is centred on the Province of Matera
Province of Matera
The Province of Matera is a province in the Basilicata region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Matera.It has an area of 3,447 km², and a total population of 203,837 . There are 31 comunes in the province . The main comunes by population are:- External links :* **...
. The rind is hard, smooth and straw-coloured, becoming browner with age; the body, firm in texture, also starts out straw-yellow, but turns golden as the cheese matures. Pallone di Gravina is at its best after being aged for at least twelve months.
The basic ingredient is full cream cow's milk, which may be pasteurised or not, and may come from one or two milkings. The curdling agent agent can be liquid calves’ rennet
Rennet
Rennet is a complex of enzymes produced in any mammalian stomach to digest the mother's milk, and is often used in the production of cheese. Rennet contains many enzymes, including a proteolytic enzyme that coagulates the milk, causing it to separate into solids and liquid...
or a paste derived from the stomachs of kid goats or lambs. The third ingredient is salt.
The method of production is similar to that of caciocavallo
Caciocavallo
Caciocavallo is a type of stretched-curd cheese made out of sheep's or cow's milk. It is produced throughout Southern Italy, especially mostly on the Apennine Mountains...
. The milk is warmed and curdled with the rennet and the curds are placed in a tompagno: a perforated basket similar to a colander. After two or three hours, when the required level of acidity has been reached, the coagulate is sliced up and ‘spun’ in hot water. (See pasta filata
Pasta filata
Pasta filata is a technique in the manufacture of a family of Italian cheeses also known in English as stretched-curd, pulled-curd, and plastic-curd cheeses.The cheese-making begins in the normal way...
.) The pieces are then moulded by hand into their characteristic shape. After salting in brine for 12 to 20 hours (depending on their size), the ‘balloons’ are set to dry for 15 days in the dairy where they were shaped, and then transferred to the cellar to mature.
In 2009 the comune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of Gravina
Gravina in Puglia
Gravina in Puglia is an Italian municipality in the Southern Italian Province of Bari, site along a river of the same name in the Western Murgia geographical area of Apulia.It is the seat of the Alta Murgia National Park....
has applied in order to enroll the Pallone for the Protect Designation of Origin
Protected Geographical Status
Protected Geographical Status is a legal framework defined in European Union law to protect the names of regional foods. Protected Designation of Origin , Protected Geographical Indication and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed are distinct regimes of geographical indications within the framework...
.