Cabrales Cheese vs Havarti Cheese

Cabrales Cheese is a unctuous, compact, no eyes cow-milk cheese from Spain, while Havarti Cheese is smooth and made from cow milk, originating in Denmark.

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 Havarti Cheese?

Havarti is a semisoft Danish cow's milk cheese, mild and buttery with very small irregular eyes running through a rindless, cream to yellow paste. It slices, grills, and melts, and the EU reserved the name for Denmark in 2019.

What's the Difference Between Cabrales Cheese and Havarti Cheese?

• Origin: Cabrales Cheese (Spain), Havarti Cheese (Denmark)
• Milk treatment: Cabrales Cheese (unpasteurized), Havarti Cheese (pasteurized)
• Texture: Cabrales Cheese (unctuous, compact, no eyes), Havarti Cheese (Smooth)
• Rind: Cabrales Cheese (Natural), Havarti Cheese (rindless)
• Aging: Cabrales Cheese (2 to 3 months), Havarti Cheese (about 3 months)
• Taste: Cabrales Cheese (Intense, piquant), Havarti Cheese (Mild, buttery)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Cabrales Cheese Taste Like Havarti Cheese?

Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Havarti Cheese brings mild, buttery character. On the nose, Cabrales Cheese offers strong, contrasted with Havarti Cheese's buttery. More specifically, Cabrales Cheese shows hints of hazelnuts, dark cocoa, sharp, metallic finish; intensely acid curd, while Havarti Cheese leans toward mild, buttery, slightly acidic cheese known for its irregularly shaped small holes creating a lacy appearance. smooth and firm texture, can be complimented with herbs or jalapeño peppers. variants include creamy versions with up to 65% fat on dry matter basis. manufactured in denmark, united kingdom, canada, and the united states, including artisanal and mass-produced by arla foods and costello.. Aging plays into this as well. Cabrales Cheese at 2 to 3 months develops a different profile than Havarti Cheese at about 3 months.

Can You Substitute Cabrales Cheese for Havarti Cheese?

In most recipes, Cabrales Cheese and Havarti Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect unctuous, compact, no eyes bite and body where the recipe calls for smooth. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant while Havarti Cheese brings mild, buttery notes.

Which Is Better, Cabrales Cheese or Havarti Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a unctuous, compact, no eyes cheese, go with Cabrales Cheese. For a smooth profile, Havarti Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese suits recipes that want intense, piquant notes, while Havarti Cheese fits dishes calling for mild, buttery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cabrales Cheese the same as Havarti Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Cabrales Cheese originates in Spain, while Havarti Cheese comes from Denmark. Aging also differs: Cabrales Cheese is typically aged 2 to 3 months, Havarti Cheese about 3 months.

Is Cabrales Cheese similar to Havarti Cheese?

Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.

Can I substitute Cabrales Cheese for Havarti Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.

Does Cabrales Cheese taste like Havarti Cheese?

Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Havarti Cheese is mild, buttery. Aromas also diverge. Cabrales Cheese leans strong, and Havarti Cheese is closer to buttery.

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 Havarti Cheese made of?

Havarti Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged about 3 months. It originates in Denmark.

Which should I choose, Cabrales Cheese or Havarti Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Cabrales Cheese is unctuous, compact, no eyes, while Havarti Cheese is smooth.