Bel Paese Cheese. Jon Sullivan / wikimedia / 2006 / Public Domain
Bel Paese is a mild, Italian semi-soft cheese/
It is a creamy, ivory-coloured cheese with a bit of a tang to it.
It is usually sold in small wheels, though larger ones are available.
Varieties flavoured with herbs are available for use on cheese boards.
The cheese is now also made in the US.
See also: Port du Salut Cheeses
Substitutes
Use Monterey Jack as a substitute when cooking
History Notes
Bel Paese was invented in Lombardy, Italy in the 1920s. It was developed to be an Italian version of Port du Salut style cheeses from France.
Literature & Lore
“Bel” in Italian means beautiful, and “paese” means country or countryside.