Caciocavallo Cheese vs Goat Cheese
Caciocavallo Cheese is a firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Goat Cheese is soft, semihard or hard and made from goat milk.
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 Goat Cheese?
Goat cheese, also called chèvre, is cheese made from goat's milk. It is produced around the world in styles ranging from fresh and soft to aged and hard, and is known for the tart, goaty flavor that comes from the milk's medium-chain fatty acids.
What's the Difference Between Caciocavallo Cheese and Goat Cheese?
- Milk type: Caciocavallo Cheese (cow's milk), Goat Cheese (goat)
- Texture: Caciocavallo Cheese (Firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly), Goat Cheese (soft, semihard or hard)
- Taste: Caciocavallo Cheese (Slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex), Goat Cheese (tart, goaty)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Caciocavallo Cheese | Goat Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | — |
| Specific Origin | Apennine Mountain Range | Worldwide |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Goat |
| Texture | Firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly | Soft, semihard or hard |
| Rind | Smooth, thickens with age | — |
| Aging | 2 to 12 months, up to 5 years | — |
| Taste | Slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex | Tart, goaty |
Taste Comparison: Does Caciocavallo Cheese Taste Like Goat Cheese?
Caciocavallo Cheese reads as slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex, while Goat Cheese brings tart, goaty character. More specifically, Caciocavallo Cheese shows sweet when young; intensifies and becomes piquant and complex with age, dotted with small crystals, while Goat Cheese leans toward tart goat character from caproic and caprylic fatty acids.
Can You Substitute Caciocavallo Cheese for Goat Cheese?
Caciocavallo Cheese can stand in for Goat 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, semihard or hard. Flavor-wise, Caciocavallo Cheese reads as slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex while Goat Cheese brings tart, goaty notes.
Which Is Better, Caciocavallo Cheese or Goat 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, semihard or hard profile, Goat Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Caciocavallo Cheese suits recipes that want slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex notes, while Goat Cheese fits dishes calling for tart, goaty.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caciocavallo Cheese the same as Goat Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Caciocavallo Cheese is made from cow milk; Goat Cheese uses goat.
Is Caciocavallo Cheese similar to Goat Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Caciocavallo Cheese for Goat Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Caciocavallo Cheese taste like Goat Cheese?
Caciocavallo Cheese reads as slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex, while Goat Cheese is tart, 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 Goat Cheese made of?
Goat Cheese is made from goat milk.
Which should I choose, Caciocavallo Cheese or Goat Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Caciocavallo Cheese is firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly, while Goat Cheese is soft, semihard or hard.