Cabrales Cheese vs Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese

Cabrales Cheese is a unctuous, compact, no eyes cow-milk cheese from Spain, while Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese is a sheep-milk cheese.

What Is Cabrales Cheese?

Cabrales is a blue cheese made by rural dairy farmers in the Asturias mountains of Spain, from raw cow's milk alone or blended with goat and sheep milk. It is known for its strong, sometimes sharply acidic flavor and for ripening in limestone caves.

What Is Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese?

Erzincan Tulum Peyniri is a traditional Turkish cheese from the Erzincan province, made from sheep's, goat's, or cow's milk. It is a type of tulum cheese, aged in a goatskin casing, which gives it a distinctive flavor and texture. The cheese is crumbly, tangy, and slightly salty, often used in salads or served with bread as part of a Turkish breakfast.

What's the Difference Between Cabrales Cheese and Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese?

• Milk type: Cabrales Cheese (cow's milk), Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese (Raw Akkaraman sheep’s milk)
• Milk treatment: Cabrales Cheese (unpasteurized), Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese (Raw)
• Aging: Cabrales Cheese (2 to 3 months), Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese (3 to 6 months)
• Taste: Cabrales Cheese (Intense, piquant), Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese (Pungent, buttery, acidic)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Cabrales Cheese Taste Like Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese?

Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese brings pungent, buttery, acidic character. More specifically, Cabrales Cheese shows hints of hazelnuts, dark cocoa, sharp, metallic finish; intensely acid curd, while Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese leans toward turkey’s most popular tulum. Aging plays into this as well. Cabrales Cheese at 2 to 3 months develops a different profile than Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese at 3 to 6 months.

Can You Substitute Cabrales Cheese for Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese?

Cabrales Cheese can stand in for Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant while Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese brings pungent, buttery, acidic notes.

Which Is Better, Cabrales Cheese or Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese suits recipes that want intense, piquant notes, while Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese fits dishes calling for pungent, buttery, acidic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cabrales Cheese the same as Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Cabrales Cheese is made from cow milk; Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese uses sheep. Aging also differs: Cabrales Cheese is typically aged 2 to 3 months, Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese 3 to 6 months.

Is Cabrales Cheese similar to Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese?

Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.

Can I substitute Cabrales Cheese for Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.

Does Cabrales Cheese taste like Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese?

Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese is pungent, buttery, acidic.

What is Cabrales Cheese made of?

Cabrales Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized), using kid rennet. It's typically aged 2 to 3 months. It originates in Spain.

What is Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese made of?

Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese is made from sheep milk (raw). It's typically aged 3 to 6 months.

Which should I choose, Cabrales Cheese or Erzincan Tulum Peyniri Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The table above is the fastest way to decide based on your recipe.