Feta Cheese vs Provolone Cheese
Feta Cheese
Provolone Cheese
Feta Cheese is a soft, white, aged in brine goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Provolone Cheese is semi-hard, artisan and made from cow milk, originating in Italy.
What Is Feta Cheese?
Feta is a brined curd white cheese from Greece, made traditionally from sheep's milk, or from a mixture of sheep and goat's milk. It is crumbly with a slightly grainy texture and has a salty, tangy flavor. Feta is commonly used in salads, pastries, and as a table cheese, and is central to Greek cuisine.
What Is Provolone Cheese?
Provolone is a well-known Italian cheese with a smooth, firm texture and a mild, slightly tangy flavor that becomes sharper and more robust with age. Made from cow's milk, this stretched-curd cheese can be aged from a few months to a year or more. Provolone is excellent for slicing, grating, or melting.
What's the Difference Between Feta Cheese and Provolone Cheese?
- Origin: Feta Cheese (Greece), Provolone Cheese (Italy)
- Milk type: Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), Provolone Cheese (cow's milk)
- Texture: Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine), Provolone Cheese (semi-hard, artisan)
- Taste: Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild), Provolone Cheese (tangy)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feta Cheese | Provolone Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Greece | Italy |
| Specific Origin | Throughout Greece | — |
| Milk Type | Goat's and sheep's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized, sometimes raw | — |
| Texture | Soft, white, aged in brine | Semi-hard, artisan |
| Rind | None | — |
| Aging | 2 months to longer | — |
| Taste | Sharp to mild | Tangy |
Pairing Comparison
What works with each cheese — wines, foods, breads, and more.
| Feta Cheese | Provolone Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Pairings | Albariño, Asparagus, Avocado, Cod, Dirty Martini, Green Tea, Kiwi, Kolsch, Kombucha, Mangoes, Muscat, Pesto, Pinot Grigio, Pistachios, Pumpkin, Riesling, Roasted Vegetables, Salmon, Sauvignon Blanc, Seaweed, Shrimp, Sweet Potato, Tomatoes | Pastrami, Salami |
| Other Good Pairings | Beaujolais, Cabernet Franc, California Viogniers, Chicken, Dried Cranberries, Fruit Compote, Gamay, German Riesling, Grüner Veltliner, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Prosecco, Raspberry, Sparkling Rosé, Strawberries, Tacos, Tequila, Tuna, Viognier | Chorizo, Grilled Cheese, Ham, Pinot Grigio, Pulled Pork, Roast Beef, Steak, Tomatoes, Tuna, Turkey |
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Where to buy Feta Cheese and Provolone Cheese
Feta Cheese
Provolone Cheese
Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like Provolone Cheese?
Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Provolone Cheese brings tangy character. On the nose, Feta Cheese offers nutty, strong, contrasted with Provolone Cheese's pleasant.
Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for Provolone Cheese?
Feta Cheese can stand in for Provolone Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft, white, aged in brine bite and body where the recipe calls for semi-hard, artisan. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild while Provolone Cheese brings tangy notes.
Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or Provolone Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft, white, aged in brine cheese, go with Feta Cheese. For a semi-hard, artisan profile, Provolone Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese suits recipes that want sharp to mild notes, while Provolone Cheese fits dishes calling for tangy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Feta Cheese the same as Provolone Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Feta Cheese originates in Greece, while Provolone Cheese comes from Italy. Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; Provolone Cheese uses cow.
Is Feta Cheese similar to Provolone Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Provolone Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Feta Cheese taste like Provolone Cheese?
Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Provolone Cheese is tangy. Aromas also diverge. Feta Cheese leans nutty, strong, and Provolone Cheese is closer to pleasant.
What is Feta Cheese made of?
Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk (pasteurized, sometimes raw). It's typically aged 2 months to longer. It originates in Greece.
What is Provolone Cheese made of?
Provolone Cheese is made from cow milk. It originates in Italy.
Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Provolone Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine, while Provolone Cheese is semi-hard, artisan.
See full profiles: Feta Cheese and Provolone Cheese.