Kamil Perry
Feta is a popular Greek cheese with a tangy, salty flavour and a crumbly texture. It is often used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, adding a sharp flavour to salads, pastries, and grilled dishes. If you're looking for a substitute for feta, there are several options that can provide a similar flavour and texture. These include halloumi, ricotta, goat cheese, blue cheese, paneer, and parmesan. For those who are vegan or lactose intolerant, tofu marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs can mimic the tangy and crumbly qualities of feta.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Texture | Crumbly, soft, creamy or harder |
| Taste | Tangy, slightly sour, salty, nutty |
| Type of milk used | Sheep's milk or a combination of sheep's and goat's milk |
| Production | Pasteurized milk, curdled using rennet or microbial rennet, cut into small pieces, separated from whey, pressed into molds, salted, and submerged in brine solution |
| Substitutes | Halloumi, ricotta, cottage cheese, parmesan, blue cheese, buffalo mozzarella, paneer, tofu feta, almond cheese, cashew cheese, chevre, queso fresco, panela cheese, goat cheese |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Halloumi
The earliest known surviving descriptions of halloumi were recorded in the mid-16th century by Italian visitors to Cyprus, where it is often said to have originated. However, there is some debate as to whether the recipe was born in Cyprus and then travelled to Lebanon and the rest of the Levant, or whether the techniques for making cheese that resists melting evolved over time in various parts of the Eastern Mediterranean. Halloumi is popular throughout the Eastern Mediterranean and demand for it in the United Kingdom has surpassed that of every other European country except Cyprus.
Is Cava Feta Cheese Pasteurized?
You may want to see also
Ricotta
While ricotta has a crumbly texture similar to feta, its taste is much milder and less salty. It is also sweeter than feta, which tends to be salty and slightly bitter. If you are using ricotta as a substitute for feta, you may want to adjust the amount used and add extra salt to compensate for the difference in flavour.
Some other substitutes for feta cheese include halloumi, paneer, cottage cheese, queso fresco, and goat cheese. For those following a vegan or dairy-free diet, tofu feta, almond cheese, and cashew cheese are also options.
Feta Focus: Silani Cheese and Pasteurization
You may want to see also
Goat's cheese
Feta cheese is a staple in Greek cuisine, often used in salads, pastries, and as a topping for dishes like spanakopita. It is also commonly used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, adding a sharp flavour to salads, pastries, and grilled dishes. Feta has a tangy, slightly sour flavour with a hint of sweetness and is known for its crumbly texture.
Goat cheese, also known as chèvre, is a popular substitute for feta cheese. It has a similar tangy and salty flavour profile and crumbly texture. Goat cheese is a good option for those who want to avoid the "barnyard taste" that some people associate with feta. It is a perfect substitute for feta in salads, wraps, and other dishes that call for feta.
Goat cheese, or chèvre, is made from goat's milk, as the name suggests. It can be fresh or aged, and its flavour can range from mild and creamy to tangy and sharp, depending on the type and ageing process. Fresh goat cheese is usually soft and spreadable, with a mild and slightly tangy flavour. Aged goat cheese, on the other hand, has a firmer texture and a more intense, sharp, and tangy flavour.
Goat cheese can be used in a variety of dishes, just like feta. It can be crumbled over salads, melted into warm dishes, or used as a topping or filling for pastries and sandwiches. Its tangy flavour adds a nice kick to dishes, similar to feta.
In addition to goat cheese, there are several other cheeses that can be used as substitutes for feta. These include halloumi, ricotta, cottage cheese, blue cheese, paneer, and various vegan alternatives such as tofu feta, almond cheese, and cashew cheese. These substitutes can be used depending on personal preference, availability, and dietary restrictions.
Feta Cheese Tariffs: What's the Deal?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Blue cheese
There are many different types of blue cheese, each with its own unique characteristics. Some popular varieties include Danish Blue, which has a strong, sharp flavour and a creamy texture, and Roquefort, which is made from sheep's milk and has a more pungent flavour and crumbly texture. Other types of blue cheese include English Blue, Italian Blue, and American Blue, each with their own distinct flavour and texture profiles.
Feta Cheese Price Surge: Why the Sudden Increase?
You may want to see also
Parmesan
If you are looking for cheeses that are similar to Parmesan, you might want to try provolone valpadana and comté. Comté is quite different but it's in the same family of cheese and might be a gateway to more similar cheeses. Another option is pecorino Romano, an Italian aged sheep's milk cheese with a similar texture to Parmesan but a more intense and salty flavour. Manchego, a Spanish sheep's milk cheese that can be aged anywhere from 3 to 24 months for varying intensities, is also texturally similar to Parmesan. Locatelli pecorino Romano, often referred to simply as locatelli, is a brand of pecorino Romano that is similar to a saltier version of Parmesan.
For those who enjoy the tanginess and saltiness of feta, there are other options that might appeal to your taste buds. Sheep's milk cheeses, such as pecorino Romano and Manchego, can provide similar characteristics. Goat cheese is also a popular substitute for feta due to its crumbly texture and tangy, salty flavour. Cottage cheese, while having a different texture, can be used as a substitute in certain recipes, especially if you are looking for a milder taste.
If you are looking for a cheese to sprinkle on top of dishes, Cotija cheese, often called "Mexican Parmesan," might be a suitable option. It has a crumbly, salty texture similar to feta and is commonly used in Mexican cuisine in the same way that feta is used in Greek cuisine. Another cheese that can be sprinkled on dishes is ricotta salata, which has a similar crumbly texture and salty taste.
Feta Cheese and Daniel Fast: What's Allowed?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Some alternatives to feta cheese include halloumi, ricotta, cottage cheese, parmesan, blue cheese, paneer, and goat cheese.
Some vegan alternatives to feta cheese include marinated tofu, almond cheese, and cashew cheese.
Feta is often used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. It is commonly added to salads, pastries, grilled dishes, pizza, and sandwiches.
