Goat Cheese vs Kasseri Cheese
Goat Cheese is a soft, semihard or hard goat-milk cheese, while Kasseri Cheese is firm to hard and made from goat and sheep milk, originating in Greece.
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 Is Kasseri Cheese?
Kasseri is a pale yellow, medium-hard to hard Greek cheese made from sheep milk with at most 20% goat's milk. It belongs to the pasta filata family and is best known as the cheese in saganaki and kasseropita.
What's the Difference Between Goat Cheese and Kasseri Cheese?
- Milk type: Goat Cheese (goat), Kasseri Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk)
- Texture: Goat Cheese (soft, semihard or hard), Kasseri Cheese (Firm to hard)
- Taste: Goat Cheese (tart, goaty), Kasseri Cheese (Rich)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Goat Cheese | Kasseri Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | — | Greece |
| Specific Origin | Worldwide | Thrace, Macedonia, Thessaly, Lesbos |
| Milk Type | Goat | Goat's and sheep's milk |
| Milk Treatment | — | Traditionally raw, increasingly pasteurized |
| Texture | Soft, semihard or hard | Firm to hard |
| Rind | — | Develops as ages |
| Aging | — | At least 3 months |
| Taste | Tart, goaty | Rich |
Taste Comparison: Does Goat Cheese Taste Like Kasseri Cheese?
Goat Cheese reads as tart, goaty, while Kasseri Cheese brings rich character. More specifically, Goat Cheese shows tart goat character from caproic and caprylic fatty acids, while Kasseri Cheese leans toward rich, complex flavors, buttery texture, flowery aroma when aged. similar to asiago and parmigiano reggiano when aged 10+ months..
Can You Substitute Goat Cheese for Kasseri Cheese?
Goat Cheese can stand in for Kasseri Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft, semihard or hard bite and body where the recipe calls for firm to hard. Flavor-wise, Goat Cheese reads as tart, goaty while Kasseri Cheese brings rich notes.
Which Is Better, Goat Cheese or Kasseri Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft, semihard or hard cheese, go with Goat Cheese. For a firm to hard profile, Kasseri Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Goat Cheese suits recipes that want tart, goaty notes, while Kasseri Cheese fits dishes calling for rich.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Goat Cheese the same as Kasseri Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Goat Cheese is made from goat milk; Kasseri Cheese uses goat and sheep.
Is Goat Cheese similar to Kasseri Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Goat Cheese for Kasseri Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Goat Cheese taste like Kasseri Cheese?
Goat Cheese reads as tart, goaty, while Kasseri Cheese is rich.
What is Goat Cheese made of?
Goat Cheese is made from goat milk.
What is Kasseri Cheese made of?
Kasseri Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk (traditionally raw, increasingly pasteurized), using natural rennet. It's typically aged at least 3 months. It originates in Greece.
Which should I choose, Goat Cheese or Kasseri Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Goat Cheese is soft, semihard or hard, while Kasseri Cheese is firm to hard.