What does asiago mean?
Asiago is an Italian cheese made from cow's milk that takes its name from the high plateau town of Asiago in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, where production has been centered since roughly the tenth century. It comes in two broad styles: fresher pressato versions, which are soft, pale, and mild, and d'allevo versions aged for months or years, which become firmer, grainier, and progressively more piquant. Genuine Asiago carries protected designation of origin status in the European Union, meaning authentic wheels must be produced in designated provinces of the Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige under regulated methods. Outside Europe, the name is used more loosely for similar cheeses, and in the United States asiago has become a familiar flavoring in breads, bagels, and crackers. In cooking it melts well and grates cleanly, making it a versatile stand-in for parmesan or provolone.
nounA firm Italian cow's-milk cheese originating from the Asiago plateau in the Veneto region, ranging from fresh and mild when young to hard, granular, and sharply tangy when aged.
- A semi-firm to hard Italian cow's-milk cheese from the Vicenza area of northern Italy, made in both fresh (pressato) and aged (d'allevo) styles.
"She grated a generous handful of asiago over the roasted asparagus before serving."
"The bakery's most popular sandwich features prosciutto, arugula, and melted asiago on ciabatta."
"For a sharper finish, swap the parmesan in your risotto for well-aged asiago."
Rarely used; asiago is normally an uncountable mass noun. A plural form appears only when counting distinct wheels, types, or servings of the cheese.
"The shop stocks several asiagos, from creamy fresh wheels to long-aged reserves."
Asiago isn't one cheese but two: the fresh version sold within weeks of making tastes nothing like the crumbly, piquant wheel aged for over a year under Italy's protected-designation rules.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of asiago
Asiago is named after the town and plateau of Asiago in the province of Vicenza, Veneto, where the cheese has been produced for centuries; the place name itself predates the cheese's wider fame and is of uncertain, likely pre-Latin origin. The word entered English through Italian during the twentieth century as the cheese gained international distribution. It belongs to the family of European cheese names derived directly from their place of origin, much like parmesan (from Parma) and gorgonzola (from the village of Gorgonzola).
How asiago is actually used
Usually treated as an uncountable mass noun when referring to the cheese itself ("some asiago"), though "an asiago" can denote a wheel or type. In American usage it frequently appears as a flavor descriptor in baked goods, especially breads and bagels.