Kashkaval Cheese vs Provolone Cheese
Kashkaval Cheese
Provolone Cheese
Kashkaval Cheese is a medium-hard to hard, elastic cow or sheep-milk cheese from Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Turkey, while Provolone Cheese is semi-hard, artisan and made from cow milk, originating in Italy.
What Is Kashkaval Cheese?
Kashkaval is a popular type of yellow cheese made from cow's milk, or sometimes from sheep's milk, in various countries across the Balkans. It has a semi-hard texture and a rich, slightly tangy flavor that becomes sharper with age. Kashkaval is versatile in cooking, used for grating, slicing, and melting in dishes like pizzas, sandwiches, and casseroles.
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 Kashkaval Cheese and Provolone Cheese?
- Origin: Kashkaval Cheese (Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Turkey), Provolone Cheese (Italy)
- Milk type: Kashkaval Cheese (cow's or sheep's milk), Provolone Cheese (cow's milk)
- Texture: Kashkaval Cheese (Medium-hard to hard, elastic), Provolone Cheese (semi-hard, artisan)
- Taste: Kashkaval Cheese (Piquant), Provolone Cheese (tangy)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Kashkaval Cheese | Provolone Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia And Turkey | Italy |
| Specific Origin | No Specific Location | — |
| Milk Type | Cow's or sheep's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Varied | — |
| Texture | Medium-hard to hard, elastic | Semi-hard, artisan |
| Rind | Varied | — |
| Aging | Minimum of two months | — |
| Taste | Piquant | Tangy |
Pairing Comparison
What works with each cheese — wines, foods, breads, and more.
| Kashkaval Cheese | Provolone Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Pairings | — | Pastrami, Salami |
| Other Good Pairings | — | Chorizo, Grilled Cheese, Ham, Pinot Grigio, Pulled Pork, Roast Beef, Steak, Tomatoes, Tuna, Turkey |
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Where to buy Kashkaval Cheese and Provolone Cheese
Kashkaval Cheese
Provolone Cheese
Taste Comparison: Does Kashkaval Cheese Taste Like Provolone Cheese?
Kashkaval Cheese reads as piquant, while Provolone Cheese brings tangy character. On the nose, Kashkaval Cheese offers varied, contrasted with Provolone Cheese's pleasant.
Can You Substitute Kashkaval Cheese for Provolone Cheese?
Kashkaval Cheese can stand in for Provolone 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 semi-hard, artisan. Flavor-wise, Kashkaval Cheese reads as piquant while Provolone Cheese brings tangy notes.
Which Is Better, Kashkaval Cheese or Provolone 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 semi-hard, artisan profile, Provolone Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Kashkaval Cheese suits recipes that want piquant notes, while Provolone Cheese fits dishes calling for tangy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kashkaval Cheese the same as Provolone Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Kashkaval Cheese originates in Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Turkey, while Provolone Cheese comes from Italy. Kashkaval Cheese is made from cow or sheep milk; Provolone Cheese uses cow.
Is Kashkaval Cheese similar to Provolone Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Kashkaval Cheese for Provolone Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Kashkaval Cheese taste like Provolone Cheese?
Kashkaval Cheese reads as piquant, while Provolone Cheese is tangy. Aromas also diverge. Kashkaval Cheese leans varied, and Provolone Cheese is closer to pleasant.
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 Provolone Cheese made of?
Provolone Cheese is made from cow milk. It originates in Italy.
Which should I choose, Kashkaval Cheese or Provolone Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Kashkaval Cheese is medium-hard to hard, elastic, while Provolone Cheese is semi-hard, artisan.
See full profiles: Kashkaval Cheese and Provolone Cheese.