Savory Pumpkin Fritters
Fresh pumpkin, Parmesan and parsley come together in six savory fritters, pan-fried until golden and crisp.
The Turkish pantry
Parmesan Cheese
A firm aged grating cheese with a savory, nutty flavor, used in small pieces, shavings or fresh gratings.
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This guide covers hard Parmesan cheese bought as a wedge or block and grated when needed. Parmesan sold by different producers can vary in milk treatment, aging and composition. Parmigiano Reggiano is a protected designation for cheese made to its own production rules; the general word Parmesan alone does not identify every cheese as that PDO product.
Types & forms
Wedge or block
The firm cheese can be finely grated, shaved or broken into small pieces. Buying a piece lets you prepare the texture the recipe asks for.
Freshly grated
Fine gratings from the hard cheese mix through a batter. For our pumpkin fritters, grate the cheese first and then measure the stated volume.
Packaged grated cheese — comparison
Some packaged grated cheeses contain added starches or cellulose to prevent clumping. A dry shaker-style powder is a different form from the freshly grated hard cheese specified in our fritters; read the label rather than assuming all grated products are alike.
What to look for when buying
- Choose a hard Parmesan wedge or block for a recipe that asks for freshly grated cheese.
- Read the ingredients and producer information. Packaged grated products vary: some are just cheese, while others include anti-caking ingredients.
- If you specifically want Parmigiano Reggiano PDO, look for that name and its identifying marks; do not rely on the word Parmesan alone.
Prepare & cook
- Use the small holes of a grater or a rasp-style grater for fine gratings. Shavings are a different cut and are not the measured form used in our fritters.
- Grate the cheese before measuring a freshly grated volume. Use the quantity and preparation state named in the recipe.
- Mix the fresh gratings into the fritter mixture as directed, rather than substituting a dry shaker-style powder.
Store it well
- Keep hard Parmesan refrigerated.
- After opening, wrap the remaining wedge or block securely or keep it in a tightly sealed food-storage container to limit drying.
- Keep freshly grated cheese covered in the refrigerator and follow the package storage directions and date for the product you buy.
Substitutions depend on the dish
Parmigiano Reggiano PDO
A hard wedge of Parmigiano Reggiano can supply the freshly grated Parmesan called for here. Its protected name identifies a particular product; it does not mean that all other Parmesan cheeses have the same flavor or composition.
Shaker-style grated topping
Do not substitute it automatically when the recipe specifies freshly grated hard Parmesan. Its texture and possible anti-caking ingredients differ; use the stated form for our fritters.
Nutrition
Hard Parmesan cheese [1]
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Energy | 392 kcal |
| Protein | 35.75 g |
| Total fat | 25 g |
| Saturated fat | 14.85 g |
| Carbohydrate | 3.22 g |
| Total sugars | 0.11 g |
| Dietary fiber | 0 g |
| Sodium | 1,175 mg |
| Calcium | 1,184 mg |
Representative values for hard Parmesan cheese. Aging, producer and product formulation can change the values; check the label for your cheese.
Nutrition values come from the reference source named above. They are published reference values, not our own measurements. Actual products and cooking methods may change the values.
Cook with Parmesan Cheese