Kitchen Dictionary: fontina cheese

A semifirm creamy cow's milk cheese. Fontina has a dark golden brown rind with a pale yellow interior dotted with tiny holes. A mild, nutty flavor with a hint of mild honey. Made in countries other than Italy, but those fontinas tend to be blander and softer than the Italian original. When melted, the flavor is earthy with a taste of mushrooms and a fresh acidity. Fontina is the primary ingredient of Italian fonduta and is a wonderful table or dessert cheese. Fontina takes approximately three months to ripen.

plural: Fontina Cheese

Ethnicity: Italian Ingredient

Season: available year-round