Kasseri Cheese vs Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese

Kasseri Cheese is a firm to hard goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is hard, dry and grainy and made from cow milk.

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 Is Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio is a long-aged Parmigiano Reggiano, the hard granular cow's milk cheese of Parma and Reggio Emilia. It is dry and grainy, with the sharp, salty, savory taste that makes it a grating cheese.

What's the Difference Between Kasseri Cheese and Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

• Milk type: Kasseri Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (cow)
• Milk treatment: Kasseri Cheese (Traditionally raw, increasingly pasteurized), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (raw)
• Texture: Kasseri Cheese (Firm to hard), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (hard, dry and grainy)
• Taste: Kasseri Cheese (Rich), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (sharp, salty and savory)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Kasseri Cheese Taste Like Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

Kasseri Cheese reads as rich, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese brings sharp, salty and savory character. More specifically, Kasseri Cheese shows rich, complex flavors, buttery texture, flowery aroma when aged. similar to asiago and parmigiano reggiano when aged 10+ months., while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese leans toward strong umami from a high glutamate content.

Can You Substitute Kasseri Cheese for Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

Kasseri Cheese can stand in for Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect firm to hard bite and body where the recipe calls for hard, dry and grainy. Flavor-wise, Kasseri Cheese reads as rich while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese brings sharp, salty and savory notes.

Which Is Better, Kasseri Cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a firm to hard cheese, go with Kasseri Cheese. For a hard, dry and grainy profile, Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Kasseri Cheese suits recipes that want rich notes, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese fits dishes calling for sharp, salty and savory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kasseri Cheese the same as Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Kasseri Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese uses cow.

Is Kasseri Cheese similar to Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Kasseri Cheese for Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

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

Does Kasseri Cheese taste like Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

Kasseri Cheese reads as rich, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is sharp, salty and savory.

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.

What is Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese made of?

Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal (calf) rennet.

Which should I choose, Kasseri Cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Kasseri Cheese is firm to hard, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is hard, dry and grainy.