Formaggi sauce is a cheese-based sauce, typically served on pasta. As the name implies, it has its origins in Italian cuisine, although other cultures have variants on the sauce as well. In addition to being served on pasta, this sauce may be used as a garnish on an assortment of other dishes. Many companies make commercial versions in jars or fresh, and it can also be made at home.
The distinguishing feature of formaggi sauce is cheese, as formaggio means “cheese” in Italian. It may be made with one or many cheeses, depending on the taste of the cook and what is available. Once classic form is quattro formaggi, which is made with four cheeses. When a blend of cheeses is used, it is not uncommon to mix hard and soft cheeses for a variety of textures and flavors in the finished sauce.
Because cheese itself is dense and rich, the sauce tends to be very filling, and it can get very intense. It is typically served over strong pasta shapes, or very flavorful filled pasta, such as ravioli and tortellini. Mildly flavored filled pasta will simply disappear under the cheese.
Some common choices of cheese in a formaggi sauce include Romano, Pecorino, Parmesan, Gouda, Gorgonzola, Emmentaler, Cheddar, Ricotta, Gruyere, Mozarella, and Provolone. Cooks are by no means limited to this list, and they should take advantage of regionally and seasonally available specialty cheeses for a unique sauce. They may also want to consider how the cheeses in the sauce will pair with the pasta, other dishes on the table, and any additional ingredients. Some of these cheeses have very strong flavors that are best used in a cheese blend, especially with milder cheeses.
A very basic recipe is made with cheese melted in cream or a roux and poured over pasta, as is the case with the sauce used to make traditional macaroni and cheese. Cheese may also be the basis of a more complex sauce, like a tomato sauce, however. Herbs like basil can also be added, along with some meats. These other ingredients make the cheese flavor somewhat less overwhelming, and may result in a more mild, delicate sauce that is suitable for a wider range of foods.
