Kashkaval Cheese vs Mont d'Or Cheese

Kashkaval Cheese is a medium-hard to hard, elastic cow or sheep-milk cheese from Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Turkey, while Mont d'Or Cheese is soft and made from cow milk, originating in France.

What Is Kashkaval Cheese?

Kashkaval is a yellow cheese from the Balkans made with cow, sheep or goat milk, or a mixture of them. It melts and fries well, so it shows up on pizza, inside breakfast pastries and as a filling in Levantine baking.

What Is Mont d'Or Cheese?

Mont d'Or is a seasonal soft cow's milk cheese from the Jura region of France and Switzerland, wrapped in a band of spruce that gives it its flavor. It sells from September 10 to May 10 and is usually warmed in its spruce box and eaten like fondue.

What's the Difference Between Kashkaval Cheese and Mont d'Or Cheese?

• Origin: Kashkaval Cheese (Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Turkey), Mont d'Or Cheese (France)
• Milk type: Kashkaval Cheese (cow's or sheep's milk), Mont d'Or Cheese (Cow's milk)
• Milk treatment: Kashkaval Cheese (Varied), Mont d'Or Cheese (Raw)
• Texture: Kashkaval Cheese (Medium-hard to hard, elastic), Mont d'Or Cheese (Soft)
• Rind: Kashkaval Cheese (Varied), Mont d'Or Cheese (Washed rind)
• Aging: Kashkaval Cheese (Minimum of two months), Mont d'Or Cheese (21 to 60 days)
• Taste: Kashkaval Cheese (Piquant), Mont d'Or Cheese (Resinous, mild to pungent)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Kashkaval Cheese Taste Like Mont d'Or Cheese?

Kashkaval Cheese reads as piquant, while Mont d'Or Cheese brings resinous, mild to pungent character. More specifically, Kashkaval Cheese shows mildly salty and acidic, melts well, piquant flavor enhanced in 100% sheep’s milk cheeses., while Mont d'Or Cheese leans toward known for its creamy taste and powerful aroma; gets resinous flavor from spruce bark. Aging plays into this as well. Kashkaval Cheese at minimum of two months develops a different profile than Mont d'Or Cheese at 21 to 60 days.

Can You Substitute Kashkaval Cheese for Mont d'Or Cheese?

Kashkaval Cheese can stand in for Mont d'Or Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect medium-hard to hard, elastic bite and body where the recipe calls for soft. Flavor-wise, Kashkaval Cheese reads as piquant while Mont d'Or Cheese brings resinous, mild to pungent notes.

Which Is Better, Kashkaval Cheese or Mont d'Or Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a medium-hard to hard, elastic cheese, go with Kashkaval Cheese. For a soft profile, Mont d'Or Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Kashkaval Cheese suits recipes that want piquant notes, while Mont d'Or Cheese fits dishes calling for resinous, mild to pungent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kashkaval Cheese the same as Mont d'Or Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Kashkaval Cheese originates in Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Turkey, while Mont d'Or Cheese comes from France. Kashkaval Cheese is made from cow or sheep milk; Mont d'Or Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Kashkaval Cheese is typically aged minimum of two months, Mont d'Or Cheese 21 to 60 days.

Is Kashkaval Cheese similar to Mont d'Or Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Kashkaval Cheese for Mont d'Or Cheese?

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

Does Kashkaval Cheese taste like Mont d'Or Cheese?

Kashkaval Cheese reads as piquant, while Mont d'Or Cheese is resinous, mild to pungent.

What is Kashkaval Cheese made of?

Kashkaval Cheese is made from cow or sheep milk (varied), using varied rennet. It's typically aged minimum of two months. It originates in Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Turkey.

What is Mont d'Or Cheese made of?

Mont d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal rennet. It's typically aged 21 to 60 days. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Kashkaval Cheese or Mont d'Or Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Kashkaval Cheese is medium-hard to hard, elastic, while Mont d'Or Cheese is soft.