Cabrales Cheese vs Monte Enebro Cheese
Cabrales Cheese
Monte Enebro Cheese
Cabrales Cheese is a unctuous, compact, no eyes cow-milk cheese from Spain, while Monte Enebro Cheese is smooth, dense and made from goat milk, originating in Spain.
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 Monte Enebro Cheese?
Monte Enebro is an artisanal goat cheese from Avila, Spain, created by cheesemaker Rafael Baez and his daughter Paloma. It has a distinctive ash-covered rind with a creamy, slightly acidic interior that features strong, tangy blue mold flavors developing towards the center of the cheese. Monte Enebro is highly regarded for its complex flavor profile and creamy texture.
What's the Difference Between Cabrales Cheese and Monte Enebro Cheese?
- Milk type: Cabrales Cheese (cow's milk), Monte Enebro Cheese (goat's milk)
- Texture: Cabrales Cheese (unctuous, compact, no eyes), Monte Enebro Cheese (Smooth, dense)
- Rind: Cabrales Cheese (Natural), Monte Enebro Cheese (Charcoal-colored)
- Aging: Cabrales Cheese (2 to 3 months), Monte Enebro Cheese (Matured for 30 days after spraying with Penicillium roqueforti)
- Taste: Cabrales Cheese (Intense, piquant), Monte Enebro Cheese (Bold, goaty, tang, pleasing spice)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Cabrales Cheese | Monte Enebro Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Spain | Spain |
| Specific Origin | Asturias | Avila, Southwest Of Madrid |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Goat's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Unpasteurized | Unpasteurized |
| Texture | Unctuous, compact, no eyes | Smooth, dense |
| Rind | Natural | Charcoal-colored |
| Aging | 2 to 3 months | Matured for 30 days after spraying with Penicillium roqueforti |
| Taste | Intense, piquant | Bold, goaty, tang, pleasing spice |
Taste Comparison: Does Cabrales Cheese Taste Like Monte Enebro Cheese?
Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Monte Enebro Cheese brings bold, goaty, tang, pleasing spice character. On the nose, Cabrales Cheese offers strong, contrasted with Monte Enebro Cheese's bold, goaty. More specifically, Cabrales Cheese shows hints of hazelnuts, dark cocoa, sharp, metallic finish; intensely acid curd, while Monte Enebro Cheese leans toward bold goaty aroma, distinct tang, and pleasing spice notes imparted by the penicillium roqueforti rind. Aging plays into this as well. Cabrales Cheese at 2 to 3 months develops a different profile than Monte Enebro Cheese at matured for 30 days after spraying with penicillium roqueforti.
Can You Substitute Cabrales Cheese for Monte Enebro Cheese?
Cabrales Cheese can stand in for Monte Enebro Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect unctuous, compact, no eyes bite and body where the recipe calls for smooth, dense. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant while Monte Enebro Cheese brings bold, goaty, tang, pleasing spice notes.
Which Is Better, Cabrales Cheese or Monte Enebro 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, dense profile, Monte Enebro Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese suits recipes that want intense, piquant notes, while Monte Enebro Cheese fits dishes calling for bold, goaty, tang, pleasing spice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cabrales Cheese the same as Monte Enebro Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Cabrales Cheese is made from cow milk; Monte Enebro Cheese uses goat. Aging also differs: Cabrales Cheese is typically aged 2 to 3 months, Monte Enebro Cheese matured for 30 days after spraying with penicillium roqueforti.
Is Cabrales Cheese similar to Monte Enebro Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Cabrales Cheese for Monte Enebro Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Cabrales Cheese taste like Monte Enebro Cheese?
Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Monte Enebro Cheese is bold, goaty, tang, pleasing spice. Aromas also diverge. Cabrales Cheese leans strong, and Monte Enebro Cheese is closer to bold, goaty.
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 Monte Enebro Cheese made of?
Monte Enebro Cheese is made from goat milk (unpasteurized). It's typically aged matured for 30 days after spraying with penicillium roqueforti. It originates in Spain.
Which should I choose, Cabrales Cheese or Monte Enebro Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Cabrales Cheese is unctuous, compact, no eyes, while Monte Enebro Cheese is smooth, dense.