Cabrales Cheese vs Queso Ibores

Cabrales Cheese is a unctuous, compact, no eyes cow-milk cheese from Spain, while Queso Ibores is slightly hard, moist, creamy, crumbly to spongy and made from goat milk.

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 Queso Ibores?

Queso Ibores is a raw goat's milk cheese from southeast Cáceres, Spain, with a protected designation of origin. It is known for its paprika-rubbed or oil-rubbed rind and a tangy, moderately piquant paste made from Serrana, Verata and Retinta goat milk.

What's the Difference Between Cabrales Cheese and Queso Ibores?

• Milk type: Cabrales Cheese (cow's milk), Queso Ibores (Goat)
• Milk treatment: Cabrales Cheese (unpasteurized), Queso Ibores (Raw)
• Texture: Cabrales Cheese (unctuous, compact, no eyes), Queso Ibores (Slightly hard, moist, creamy, crumbly to spongy)
• Rind: Cabrales Cheese (Natural), Queso Ibores (Smooth, medium-hard, coated in pepper or oil)
• Aging: Cabrales Cheese (2 to 3 months), Queso Ibores (Minimum 60 days (100 days for "Artesano" variety))
• Taste: Cabrales Cheese (Intense, piquant), Queso Ibores (Strong, slightly tart, tangy, and salty)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Cabrales Cheese Taste Like Queso Ibores?

Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Queso Ibores brings strong, slightly tart, tangy, and salty character. On the nose, Cabrales Cheese offers strong, contrasted with Queso Ibores's sweet to mild, characteristic of raw goat’s milk cheese. More specifically, Cabrales Cheese shows hints of hazelnuts, dark cocoa, sharp, metallic finish; intensely acid curd, while Queso Ibores leans toward raw goat’s milk aftertaste. Aging plays into this as well. Cabrales Cheese at 2 to 3 months develops a different profile than Queso Ibores at minimum 60 days (100 days for "artesano" variety).

Can You Substitute Cabrales Cheese for Queso Ibores?

Cabrales Cheese can stand in for Queso Ibores 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 slightly hard, moist, creamy, crumbly to spongy. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant while Queso Ibores brings strong, slightly tart, tangy, and salty notes.

Which Is Better, Cabrales Cheese or Queso Ibores?

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 slightly hard, moist, creamy, crumbly to spongy profile, Queso Ibores is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Cabrales Cheese suits recipes that want intense, piquant notes, while Queso Ibores fits dishes calling for strong, slightly tart, tangy, and salty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cabrales Cheese the same as Queso Ibores?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Cabrales Cheese is made from cow milk; Queso Ibores uses goat. Aging also differs: Cabrales Cheese is typically aged 2 to 3 months, Queso Ibores minimum 60 days (100 days for "artesano" variety).

Is Cabrales Cheese similar to Queso Ibores?

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

Can I substitute Cabrales Cheese for Queso Ibores?

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

Does Cabrales Cheese taste like Queso Ibores?

Cabrales Cheese reads as intense, piquant, while Queso Ibores is strong, slightly tart, tangy, and salty. Aromas also diverge. Cabrales Cheese leans strong, and Queso Ibores is closer to sweet to mild, characteristic of raw goat’s milk cheese.

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 Queso Ibores made of?

Queso Ibores is made from goat milk (raw), using animal rennet. It's typically aged minimum 60 days (100 days for "artesano" variety).

Which should I choose, Cabrales Cheese or Queso Ibores?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Cabrales Cheese is unctuous, compact, no eyes, while Queso Ibores is slightly hard, moist, creamy, crumbly to spongy.