Why are Mozzarella balls called Perlini?

Answer 1

Perlini mozzarella balls are tiny mozzarella balls, between 3/4-inch to 1-inch in diameter. One of the companies that makes them is Palazzini. They are usually packaged in water and are fairly perishable. They are excellent in salads. They also work beautifully in pasta recipes that call for mozzarella because they will soften slightly when tossed when mixed with the hot pasta, but will still hold their shape fairly well. nancy@foolacarnivore.com

Answer 2

Perlini may mean small pearl as the balls are shaped like pearls. Note that only the smaller mozzarella balls are referred to as perlini.