Asiago Cheese Adds Bite to Every Board in 2025
Asiago cheese comes from the northwestern Alps of Italy and has been winning people over for centuries. It starts mild and creamy when young, then turns crumbly and bold as it matures. Some know it shaved onto pasta, others keep it front and center on a cheese board. No matter how you use it, Asiago has a way of standing out. If you're wondering what it's called in different regions, how to use it in the kitchen or where to find the real stuff, this guide has you covered.
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- What Is Asiago Cheese?
- What Does Asiago Cheese Taste Like?
- How to Use Asiago Cheese
- Asiago Cheese Pairings
- Health Benefits of Asiago Cheese
- Can You Make Asiago Cheese at Home?
- Where to Buy Asiago Cheese
- Asiago Cheese FAQs
What Is Asiago Cheese?
More than a thousand years ago, in the Alpine highlands of northern Italy, a cheesemaker turned sheep’s milk into what we now know as Asiago — the nutty, slightly sweet cheese that shows up on just about every great charcuterie board. (It’s pronounced ah-see-ah-go, by the way.)
Today it’s made with cow’s milk but still packs that bold flavor that made it famous. So much so that real-deal Asiago can only be made in its birthplace: the Asiago Plateau in Italy’s Veneto foothills. Yep, the authentic stuff is still made in the mountains, which honestly just makes it cooler.
What Does Asiago Cheese Taste Like?
The flavor of Asiago cheese depends on the type, and there are two main ones: Fresco (fresh) and Stagionato (aged). Tangy yet buttery, Asiago Fresco, also known as Asiago Pressato, has more depth than many other young cheeses. It’s the youngest in the family, aged for just about 20 days. The texture is smooth, the taste mild, often described as milky and semi-sweet. Think provolone or a rich mozzarella.
As it ages, Asiago gets nuttier and sharper. The texture changes, too. Asiago Stagionato develops a hard rind after at least four months, and the flavor deepens. That earthiness somehow makes the sweet notes stand out even more, which is when people start saying it tastes “pineappley.” From there, after four months, it matures into Asiago Mezzano (medium-aged), then Vecchio (old), and finally Stravecchio (very old), becoming harder, then crumbly, as it goes.
How to Use Asiago Cheese
From salads to sauces, bagels to paninis, straight-up to melted-on, Asiago is easy to use and incorporate into your favorite dishes. Enjoy it simply as part of your charcuterie board ideas, surrounded by other delicious finger foods, or add it to your favorites and make a showstopping Asiago cheese recipe.
1. Asiago and Prosciutto Flatbread
Asiago and prosciutto flatbread is the perfect midweek meal for when you crave something delicious but lack the energy to spend hours in the kitchen. Use naan bread or buy a flatbread base from your grocery store and layer it with a splash of oil, Asiago and prosciutto. And voilà! You have yourself an Asiago and prosciutto flatbread. Toss on some fresh peach slices for an extra hit of sweetness.
2. Asiago Focaccia
Asiago cheese is a popular addition to everyone’s favorite fluffy, salty bread. Sprinkle Asiago over the top before popping it in the oven. As far as making bread goes, focaccia is one of the easiest variations to master, making it a fun and forgiving recipe to try with kids.
3. Walnut, Quinoa and Asiago Salad
Combine arugula, quinoa, walnuts and Asiago Stravecchio. Drizzle with a balsamic vinaigrette and enjoy a savory, sweet and crunchy bite of Asiago goodness. You can throw Asiago cheese into any salad and it’ll instantly be a hit.
4. Asiago Cheese Bagel
This one’s a no-brainer! An Asiago cheese bagel makes the perfect savory breakfast treat. Smear on some plain or veggie cream cheese and enjoy. Asiago cheese bagels also make the perfect base for a Nova lox bagel (smoked salmon and cream cheese). Don’t believe it? Try it. Once you learn how to make your own bagels, you’ll never want to stop. It’s fun, hands-on and easy to do once you get the hang of it.
5. Asiago and Spinach Frittata
Here’s where Asiago cheese enters the breakfast chat. Eggs, fresh sautéed spinach and onions are covered in a sprinkle of Asiago cheese and baked until warm, fluffy and oh-so-good. This breakfast dish is full of vitamins and protein. Could you ask for a more nutritious way to start off the morning?
If you’d like to dabble in any of these recipes but don’t feel you have the chops, try a cooking class! From online cooking classes to cooking classes in Austin, Charlotte and Houston, you can learn to cook from anywhere. You don’t have to be a cheesemaker living in the Northeastern Alps of Italy to appreciate the uses of Asiago cheese, but you can at least honor the grind by cooking with it well.
Asiago Cheese Pairings
What doesn’t Asiago cheese pair well with? Some might say spicy or mustardy foods, but they’d be wrong. Asiago works with just about everything. It all depends on the flavor profile you’re going for.
6. Beverage Pairings
Every good cheese needs a good beverage companion. When it comes to wines, you'll want something that's high in acidity with strong aromatics like a Chianti, Zinfandel or Sauvignon Blanc, as they all bring out Asiago’s nutty side.
For beer, aim for something a little bitter, a little sweet, but still refreshing. Pale ales, Belgian Dubbels and crisp Pilsners strike that balance. They’re lightly carbonated and won’t overpower the cheese, which, let’s be honest, deserves the spotlight.
Cocktail-wise, go with something that mirrors Asiago’s own sweet-savory duality. A Negroni or Aperol Spritz hits the mark. And since they’re both Italian? Even better.
7. Vegetable pairings
Again, Asiago cheese pairs well with loads of different vegetables. The nutty, salty and slightly sweet nature of Asiago lends itself to be a good partner to sweet and earthy vegetables. Some of the most popular Asiago cheese pairings include caramelized onions, broccoli, kale, spinach, mushrooms and bell peppers (both cooked and raw).
8. Fruit Pairings
Any fruit that leans more on the sweet, acidic and juicy side of things pairs perfectly with Asiago cheese. Think crisp apples, juicy pears, crunchy grapes or soft figs. Dried fruits that tend to be meatier in nature pair well with Asiago as well, like dried apricots or mango.
9. Meat Pairings
From cured meats to meats straight off the grill, Asiago cheese works with all kinds of meat. When it comes to cured meats, prosciutto, salami and soppressata never fail to impress. However, chicken and pork work just as well, especially when combined in a creamy pasta.
Health Benefits of Asiago Cheese
Asiago cheese is full of protein and calcium, so when enjoyed in moderation, it can be a great addition to your healthy meal prep. If you’re looking for keto-friendly ingredients or you’re lactose intolerant but just can’t help it, turn to Asiago cheese! That’s right — aged Asiago contains a low amount of lactose, making it more gentle on a sensitive stomach than many other cheeses. Not only that, but it’s also a great source of vitamin A and vitamin D.
Can You Make Asiago Cheese at Home?
Are you tired of searching “Asiago cheese where to buy”? If you’re interested in cheesemaking, try Asiago cheese! Who knows, maybe one day you’ll find yourself in the Northeastern Alps of Italy, but until then, practice at home. You will need specific ingredients and tools, so it’s important to learn from reliable sources. Luckily, the New England Cheesemaking Supply Company not only has a recipe, but they also have the supplies. Since 1978, they’ve been a trusted and helpful source for cheesemaking guides and quality materials.
Where to Buy Asiago Cheese
You can buy Asiago cheese from plenty of sources — just search “Asiago cheese near me” or “Asiago cheese where to buy.” But if you’re wondering where to start, try an officially designated Asiago from Italy. Look for cheeses with a DOP label (Denominazione di Origine Protetta), which guarantees that the cheese was produced, processed and packaged in its original region using traditional methods.
Authentic Asiago tends to cost more, typically ranging from $29 to $50, but it’s worth seeking out at local or online Italian markets like Frank and Sal’s or Sweetaly.
If you’re not looking to splurge, there are budget-friendly options that still taste great. Try an Asiago from Grandpa’s Cheese Barn. Grandpa’s Cheese Barn started with Grandpa Yarman, who in the early 1900s sold his only possession — a portable RCA radio — for his first wheel of Ohio Swiss and opened Yarman’s Cheese House in West Salem, Ohio. The aging never stopped. Today, you can grab a solid Asiago from Grandpa’s for just $7.99.
Asiago Cheese FAQs
Is Asiago the Same as Parmesan?
No! Although the Asiago cheese vs Parmesan debate is real, they’re not the same. Asiago cheese is more on the nutty and creamy side of the cheese spectrum. Parmesan cheese has more of a bite that some may describe as pungent. However, a caveat to mention in the Asiago cheese vs Parmesan debate is that the latter can be used as a great substitute for aged Asiago cheese.
What Does Asiago Cheese Taste Like?
Asiago cheese tastes both nutty and sweet. Its flavors intensify as it ages from fresco to stravecchio. Some say as it grows and hardens, it takes on a “pineappley” note.
What Cheese Is Equivalent to Asiago?
If it’s a young Asiago cheese substitute you’re looking for, try provolone, fontina, young Gouda or even a Monterey Jack. If it’s an aged Asiago cheese substitute you’d like instead, go for a pecorino romano cheese, parmesan, grana padano or piave vecchio.
Is Asiago Cheese Good on Pizza?
The honest answer to that is… what isn’t good on a pizza? Yes, Asiago cheese makes for a wonderful pizza topping and it melts just like mozzarella does. Plus, Asiago pairs well with any variation of vegetable or meat, so it’s the perfect addition to any pizza-making party.
Asiago is a must-add to your cheese board ideas. Choose a soft, younger Asiago or a nuttier, crumblier – yet still sweet – aged Asiago and take your meal or party snacks to the next level.
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