Caciocavallo Cheese vs Formaggio di capra Cheese
Caciocavallo Cheese is a firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Formaggio di capra Cheese is soft when fresh, dry and brittle when well aged and made from goat milk, originating in Italy.
What Is Caciocavallo Cheese?
Caciocavallo is a stretched-curd cheese from southern Italy, made with sheep's or cow's milk and shaped like a teardrop. It has a hard edible rind and tastes much like the aged provolone of the same region.
What Is Formaggio di capra Cheese?
Formaggio di capra is a cheese made by transforming goat's milk. It is sold fresh or ripened, sometimes rolled in ash, and it carries the tangy, goaty taste that comes from the fatty acids in goat milk.
What's the Difference Between Caciocavallo Cheese and Formaggio di capra Cheese?
- Milk type: Caciocavallo Cheese (cow's milk), Formaggio di capra Cheese (goat's milk)
- Texture: Caciocavallo Cheese (Firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly), Formaggio di capra Cheese (soft when fresh, dry and brittle when well aged)
- Rind: Caciocavallo Cheese (Smooth, thickens with age), Formaggio di capra Cheese (sometimes ash-coated)
- Taste: Caciocavallo Cheese (Slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex), Formaggio di capra Cheese (tangy)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Caciocavallo Cheese | Formaggio di capra Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | Italy |
| Specific Origin | Apennine Mountain Range | — |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Goat's milk |
| Milk Treatment | — | Raw |
| Texture | Firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly | Soft when fresh, dry and brittle when well aged |
| Rind | Smooth, thickens with age | Sometimes ash-coated |
| Aging | 2 to 12 months, up to 5 years | — |
| Taste | Slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex | Tangy |
Taste Comparison: Does Caciocavallo Cheese Taste Like Formaggio di capra Cheese?
Caciocavallo Cheese reads as slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex, while Formaggio di capra Cheese brings tangy character. On the nose, Caciocavallo Cheese offers earthy, contrasted with Formaggio di capra Cheese's goaty. More specifically, Caciocavallo Cheese shows sweet when young; intensifies and becomes piquant and complex with age, dotted with small crystals, while Formaggio di capra Cheese leans toward characteristic goat taste from caproic, caprylic and capric fatty acids.
Can You Substitute Caciocavallo Cheese for Formaggio di capra Cheese?
Caciocavallo Cheese can stand in for Formaggio di capra Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly bite and body where the recipe calls for soft when fresh, dry and brittle when well aged. Flavor-wise, Caciocavallo Cheese reads as slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex while Formaggio di capra Cheese brings tangy notes.
Which Is Better, Caciocavallo Cheese or Formaggio di capra Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly cheese, go with Caciocavallo Cheese. For a soft when fresh, dry and brittle when well aged profile, Formaggio di capra Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Caciocavallo Cheese suits recipes that want slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex notes, while Formaggio di capra Cheese fits dishes calling for tangy.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caciocavallo Cheese the same as Formaggio di capra Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Caciocavallo Cheese is made from cow milk; Formaggio di capra Cheese uses goat.
Is Caciocavallo Cheese similar to Formaggio di capra Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Caciocavallo Cheese for Formaggio di capra Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Caciocavallo Cheese taste like Formaggio di capra Cheese?
Caciocavallo Cheese reads as slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex, while Formaggio di capra Cheese is tangy. Aromas also diverge. Caciocavallo Cheese leans earthy, and Formaggio di capra Cheese is closer to goaty.
What is Caciocavallo Cheese made of?
Caciocavallo Cheese is made from cow milk. It's typically aged 2 to 12 months, up to 5 years. It originates in Italy.
What is Formaggio di capra Cheese made of?
Formaggio di capra Cheese is made from goat milk (raw), using animal rennet. It originates in Italy.
Which should I choose, Caciocavallo Cheese or Formaggio di capra Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Caciocavallo Cheese is firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly, while Formaggio di capra Cheese is soft when fresh, dry and brittle when well aged.