Provoleta facts for kids

Provoleta is a special kind of provolone cheese that's very popular in Argentina and Uruguay. People often call it "Argentine pulled-curd Provolone cheese." It's usually eaten grilled, either outdoors on a barbecue or indoors in a cast-iron pan. This cheese needs to be firm enough to keep its shape when it gets hot on the grill.

Provoleta was first brought to Argentina by Natalio Alba. He was from a region in Italy called Calabria. Natalio Alba got the idea for Provoleta from cheeses typical of his home region, like provola silana and caciocavallo. He combined these ideas with Argentina's famous tradition of asado, which is a type of barbecue.

What is Provoleta?

Provoleta is made into small, round discs. These discs are usually about 10 to 15 centimeters (4 to 6 inches) wide and 1 to 1.5 centimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) thick.

How Provoleta is Eaten

People often enjoy Provoleta at the start of an asado, even before the grilled meat is served. The cheese is placed directly on the grill. Sometimes it's put on small stones or in a foil plate to cook. It's grilled until it becomes partly melted and gooey inside, but still has a nice crust on the outside.

Provoleta is often seasoned with a little bit of chili and oregano. It can also be topped with chimichurri, which is a tasty sauce made from oil and spices. Provoleta is usually shared among friends and family, and it's often eaten with bread.

Different Kinds of Provoleta

Sometimes, Provoleta is made with different fillings inside. This is called provoleta rellena in Spanish. These fillings can include things like ham, barbecue sausage, or even morcilla (blood sausage). Other popular fillings are extra cheese, vegetables, peppers, and onions.