Fontina Cheese vs Sfela Cheese

Fontina Cheese is a semi-soft cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Sfela Cheese is semi-hard and made from goat and sheep milk, originating in Greece.

What Is Fontina Cheese?

Fontina is a cow's milk cheese from Italy's Aosta Valley, made there since the 12th century. It runs semisoft to hard, tastes creamy and nutty with earthy, mushroomy notes, and melts well enough to carry a fondue.

What Is Sfela Cheese?

Sfela is a semi-hard cheese from the Peloponnese region of Greece. Made from sheep's milk or a mix of sheep and goat milk, it is often fried due to its high melting point. Sfela has a salty, tangy flavor, making it a popular choice for traditional Greek fried cheese dishes.

What's the Difference Between Fontina Cheese and Sfela Cheese?

• Origin: Fontina Cheese (Italy), Sfela Cheese (Greece)
• Milk type: Fontina Cheese (Cow's milk), Sfela Cheese (Sheep's and goat's milk)
• Milk treatment: Fontina Cheese (Raw (for traditional Italian Fontina), Pasteurized (for most American versions)), Sfela Cheese (Raw)
• Texture: Fontina Cheese (Semi-soft), Sfela Cheese (Semi-hard)
• Taste: Fontina Cheese (Mild, Buttery, Nutty), Sfela Cheese (Unique personality)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Fontina Cheese Taste Like Sfela Cheese?

Fontina Cheese reads as mild, buttery, nutty, while Sfela Cheese brings unique personality character. On the nose, Fontina Cheese offers mild to pungent (earthier in aged versions), contrasted with Sfela Cheese's excellent aroma. More specifically, Fontina Cheese shows buttery, earthy, mildly nutty, slightly fruity, while Sfela Cheese leans toward harder than feta, excellent aroma, unique personality.

Can You Substitute Fontina Cheese for Sfela Cheese?

Fontina Cheese can stand in for Sfela Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect semi-soft bite and body where the recipe calls for semi-hard. Flavor-wise, Fontina Cheese reads as mild, buttery, nutty while Sfela Cheese brings unique personality notes.

Which Is Better, Fontina Cheese or Sfela Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a semi-soft cheese, go with Fontina Cheese. For a semi-hard profile, Sfela Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Fontina Cheese suits recipes that want mild, buttery, nutty notes, while Sfela Cheese fits dishes calling for unique personality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fontina Cheese the same as Sfela Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Fontina Cheese originates in Italy, while Sfela Cheese comes from Greece. Fontina Cheese is made from cow milk; Sfela Cheese uses goat and sheep.

Is Fontina Cheese similar to Sfela Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Fontina Cheese for Sfela Cheese?

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

Does Fontina Cheese taste like Sfela Cheese?

Fontina Cheese reads as mild, buttery, nutty, while Sfela Cheese is unique personality. Aromas also diverge. Fontina Cheese leans mild to pungent (earthier in aged versions), and Sfela Cheese is closer to excellent aroma.

What is Fontina Cheese made of?

Fontina Cheese is made from cow milk (raw (for traditional italian fontina), pasteurized (for most american versions)), using traditional (animal) or microbial (varies by producer) rennet. It's typically aged typically 2-3 months (can be aged longer for stronger flavor). It originates in Italy.

What is Sfela Cheese made of?

Sfela Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk (raw), using traditional rennet. It originates in Greece.

Which should I choose, Fontina Cheese or Sfela Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Fontina Cheese is semi-soft, while Sfela Cheese is semi-hard.