We've compiled a great list covering some of the best choices if you're in a pinch and looking for a great kasseri cheese substitute.
If you're craving a dish of saganaki and your fridge is lacking kasseri, one of the most popular Greek cheeses, you can still enjoy the meal you're looking for. There are several options available if you need a kasseri cheese substitute, including mozzarella or caciocavallo.
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What is Kasseri Cheese?
Known best for its salty and buttery flavor with a sweet aftertaste, kasseri cheese is a yummy choice if you're looking for a cheese that can melt beautifully. This popular Greek cheese is made from unpasteurized sheep milk as well as 20% or less goat's milk and has a delicious salty, sharp, tangy flavor profile with a sweet aftertaste.
It can be cooked in several different ways, including sauteed, fried, or grilled. One of the most popular ways to serve this Greek cheese is by first brandy flaming it to make the infamous saganaki. You can even serve kasseri cheese in an omelet or sandwiches, or with appetizers as a table cheese.
Kasseri cheese is quite a versatile cheese and can be cooked in many different ways. It can be eaten sliced right off of the block or you can cook it by grilling, frying, or sauteeing. The flavor is best described as salty and sharp with delicious sweet undertones.
Kasseri cheese is a member of the pasta filata family of cheeses and usually consists of 80% unpasteurized sheep's milk and 20% goat's milk, although it is often made with cow's milk in the United States. Originally, it was made with only unpasteurized milk, but over time the production process has been modernized and most the producers make it with pasteurized milk.
Kasseri cheese has a rubbery, spongy texture and is a popular addition to many Greek and Turkish meals. One of the most popular ways it is prepared is by flaming it in brandy, which turns it into the Greek dish Saganaki.
In Turkey, it is commonly served at breakfast with pastries, as tiny appetizers, or with wine and mezes. The sweet flavor allows it to go well with fruit. In the United States, kasseri cheese is a common substitute for both mozzarella and provolone cheeses.
Where Can I Buy It?
Unlike most the substitutes for kasseri cheese, kasseri cheese is not as easy to find in your local supermarket. In most cases, you're more likely to find it in specialty cheese shops or other markets that have a higher amount of international food options, especially if they tend to carry a lot of Greek imports.
6 Kasseri Cheese Substitutes
Are you looking for a Kasseri Cheese Substitute? In this comprehensive list you'll learn 6 ideas for an alternative.
This cheese is also a member of the pasta filata family and is made in southern Italy from cow’s milk or sheep’s milk. Traditionally, it is aged in cheese forms that are hung in pairs over a wooden board. This traditional way of aging is what inspired the name, which translates to “cheese on horseback”.
It is probably one of the closest kasseri cheese substitutes, as it has the springy texture and tangy, sharp, salty flavor that kasseri cheese is so well known for. Caciocavallo is shaped like a teardrop and has a hard, edible rind. The flavor compares best to an old Southern Italian provolone cheese.
Caciocavallo is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a cheese that can be melted into pastries, grated into pasta dishes, or included in an antipasto platter.
When you’re looking for a mild, melty cheese, mozzarella is a wonderful substitute for kasseri cheese. It has a creamy, milky, mild taste and has a similar spongy texture to kasseri cheese.
Because mozzarella melts easily, it is a good choice for dishes such as the traditional Greek pie kasseropita. Because both mozzarella and kasseri melt so nicely, they are a yummy topping for pasta bakes and pizzas.
When compared side by side, kasseri certainly has a stronger, salty flavor, while mozzarella has a much more mild flavor. If you want a cheese substitute that mimics the texture and meltiness of kasseri with a much more toned-down flavor, mozzarella may be the right choice for you.
This tangy, salty cheese is a flaky sheep's milk cheese that is super tasty when grilled. When kefalotyri is cooked, it becomes much more creamy, making it a good choice for flaming with brandy or frying. It is known for its particular flavor and pungent aroma.
Because of the texture, it is a good substitute if you're interested in making saganaki, but don't have access to kasseri. It can also be used in place of halloumi cheese if you're in a pinch.
When you're interested in an excellent melting cheese that can be used in soups, casseroles or melted on top of pizza, asiago is a wonderful option. It has a sharp flavor with nutty undertones and can replace kasseri cheese in several dishes.
The downside is that asiago may be hard to find in some areas, so if you aren't able to find it in your local supermarket, you may have better luck in a specialty cheese shop. It does have particularly strong flavors so use with care.
This semi-hard pasta filata cheese originates from Southern Italy and is sharp with a buttery flavor once aged. Generally, it is aged for at least 4 months and has a pale yellow color. It is considered a semi-hard cheese.
Provolone does have a different texture than kasseri cheese, usually described as grainy, but when cooked, it is an ideal replacement and you can't tell the difference in texture.
This is a common replacement in the United States because it is easily found in most grocery stores and supermarkets. It is most commonly found prepackaged in individual slices.
This substitute is very similar to kasseri cheese in many ways, including the flavor profile, which is quite tangy and salty. The umami flavor makes it a smart choice to add to soups, sauces, and other dishes that call for a bolder cheese.
This sharp cheese does differ in the texture, as pecorino romano is firm and chalky while kasseri is more spongy and springy. Once it is cooked into dishes, the texture variances are less obvious and the flavor shines through.
Recipes That Use Kasseri Cheese
- Moussaka - This classic Greek comfort food is incredibly rich and creamy, while also being a very hearty and filling dish. It’s essentially a Greek lasagna that incorporates Kasseri cheese, lamb, and aubergine in a relatively simple dish to make.
- Saganaki - This delicious cheese dish can be had as an appetizer or a full meal depending on how you make it and portion it. If you want to get really fancy, you can set it alight, browning the cheese to absolute perfection.
- Simple Baked Kasseri Spread - The seriously melty nature of kasseri makes it ideal to use in dips and spreads, as well as incredibly easy to do. With a little kasseri, some red pepper, and chopped kalamata olives, you could be dipping pita or french bread in this creamy, silky smooth cheese spread.
Susan L Moore Vault
I can't wait to try the baked kessari spread. Just reading about it makes my mouth water.