Baku Kitchen! An independent reference of traditional food

Casu marzu

Sardinian sheep cheese deliberately colonised by live cheese-fly larvae

Italy Cheese & dairy One for the adventurous

Your guide, Chef Baku
Drawn, not photographed Updated September 2026
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A full recipe for this dish has not been written yet.

History

A Sardinian pecorino left to the fly Piophila casei, whose larvae digest the fat; EU hygiene rules bar its sale, so it circulates informally.

Frequently asked questions

What is Casu marzu?

Casu marzu is a cheese & dairy from Italy: sardinian sheep cheese deliberately colonised by live cheese-fly larvae. A Sardinian pecorino left to the fly Piophila casei, whose larvae digest the fat; EU hygiene rules bar its sale, so it circulates informally.

Made with

cheesemilkinsect

Cooked

fermented

Nutrition facts

Nutrition has not been calculated for this dish yet.

The atlas would have to match every ingredient to a food-composition database before it could publish a figure, and an estimate is not worth having if someone is counting on it.

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