Feta Cheese vs Provolone del Monaco Cheese

Q: Is Feta Cheese the same as Provolone del Monaco Cheese?

No. Feta Cheese and Provolone del Monaco Cheese are distinct cheeses from Greece and Italy respectively. See the side-by-side table for the specific differences in milk type, texture, and aging.

Q: Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Provolone del Monaco Cheese?

In most recipes you can swap Feta Cheese for Provolone del Monaco Cheese, though the result will shift in richness and milk character.

Q: Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Provolone del Monaco Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture and flavor rows in the table above are the best guide. Pick the one whose profile fits your recipe or board.

Feta Cheese

Provolone del Monaco Cheese

Feta Cheese is a soft goat or sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Provolone del Monaco Cheese is semi-hard and made from cow milk, originating in Italy.

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What Is Feta Cheese?

Feta is a Greek brined white cheese made from sheep's milk or a mix of sheep and goat's milk. It is crumbly and slightly grainy, tangy and salty, and it anchors dishes like Greek salad and spanakopita.

What Is Provolone del Monaco Cheese?

Provolone del Monaco is an Italian cheese made from the milk of the Agerolese cow in the hills behind Naples. It is named for the heavy cloaks its makers wore when they landed at the port of Naples, and it has held PDO status since 2010.

What's the Difference Between Feta Cheese and Provolone del Monaco Cheese?

Origin: Feta Cheese (Greece), Provolone del Monaco Cheese (Italy)
Milk type: Feta Cheese (Sheep's milk, sometimes with goat's milk), Provolone del Monaco Cheese (Cow's milk)
Milk treatment: Feta Cheese (Pasteurized, sometimes raw), Provolone del Monaco Cheese (Raw)
Texture: Feta Cheese (Soft), Provolone del Monaco Cheese (Semi-hard)
Rind: Feta Cheese (None), Provolone del Monaco Cheese (Thin and smooth pale-yellow)
Aging: Feta Cheese (2 months to longer), Provolone del Monaco Cheese (At least 6 months)
Taste: Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild), Provolone del Monaco Cheese (Sweet and buttery aroma with a pleasant spicy taste)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Feta Cheese	Provolone del Monaco Cheese
Country of Origin	Greece	Italy
Specific Origin	Mainland Greece And Lesbos Prefecture	Municipalities In The Metropolitan City Of Naples
Milk Type	Sheep's milk, sometimes with goat's milk	Cow's milk
Milk Treatment	Pasteurized, sometimes raw	Raw
Texture	Soft	Semi-hard
Rind	None	Thin and smooth pale-yellow
Aging	2 months to longer	At least 6 months
Taste	Sharp to mild	Sweet and buttery aroma with a pleasant spicy taste

Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like Provolone del Monaco Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Provolone del Monaco Cheese brings sweet and buttery aroma with a pleasant spicy taste character. On the nose, Feta Cheese offers ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt, contrasted with Provolone del Monaco Cheese's sweet and buttery. Aging plays into this as well. Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer develops a different profile than Provolone del Monaco Cheese at at least 6 months.

Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for Provolone del Monaco Cheese?

Feta Cheese can stand in for Provolone del Monaco Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft bite and body where the recipe calls for semi-hard. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild while Provolone del Monaco Cheese brings sweet and buttery aroma with a pleasant spicy taste notes.

Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or Provolone del Monaco Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft cheese, go with Feta Cheese. For a semi-hard profile, Provolone del Monaco Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese suits recipes that want sharp to mild notes, while Provolone del Monaco Cheese fits dishes calling for sweet and buttery aroma with a pleasant spicy taste.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Feta Cheese the same as Provolone del Monaco Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Feta Cheese originates in Greece, while Provolone del Monaco Cheese comes from Italy. Feta Cheese is made from goat or sheep milk; Provolone del Monaco Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Feta Cheese is typically aged 2 months to longer, Provolone del Monaco Cheese at least 6 months.

Is Feta Cheese similar to Provolone del Monaco Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Provolone del Monaco Cheese?

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

Does Feta Cheese taste like Provolone del Monaco Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Provolone del Monaco Cheese is sweet and buttery aroma with a pleasant spicy taste. Aromas also diverge. Feta Cheese leans ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt, and Provolone del Monaco Cheese is closer to sweet and buttery.

What is Feta Cheese made of?

Feta Cheese is made from goat or sheep milk (pasteurized, sometimes raw), using rennet. It's typically aged 2 months to longer. It originates in Greece.

What is Provolone del Monaco Cheese made of?

Provolone del Monaco Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using kid rennet paste or calf liquid rennet or a combination of both rennet. It's typically aged at least 6 months. It originates in Italy.

Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Provolone del Monaco Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Feta Cheese is soft, while Provolone del Monaco Cheese is semi-hard.