Kasseri Cheese vs Queso Blanco
Kasseri Cheese is a firm to hard goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Queso Blanco is a cow-milk cheese.
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 Queso Blanco?
Queso blanco is the white, fresh cheese of Latin America, made by curdling hot milk with an acid such as vinegar. No rennet or culture goes into it, and depending on the country it is crumbled over soups, fried as queso frito, or melted into quesadillas.
What's the Difference Between Kasseri Cheese and Queso Blanco?
- Milk type: Kasseri Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), Queso Blanco (cow)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Kasseri Cheese | Queso Blanco | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Greece | — |
| Specific Origin | Thrace, Macedonia, Thessaly, Lesbos | Latin America |
| Milk Type | Goat's and sheep's milk | Cow |
| Milk Treatment | Traditionally raw, increasingly pasteurized | — |
| Texture | Firm to hard | — |
| Rind | Develops as ages | — |
| Aging | At least 3 months | — |
| Taste | Rich | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Kasseri Cheese Taste Like Queso Blanco?
Their flavor profiles are distinct.
Can You Substitute Kasseri Cheese for Queso Blanco?
Kasseri Cheese can stand in for Queso Blanco in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe.
Which Is Better, Kasseri Cheese or Queso Blanco?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kasseri Cheese the same as Queso Blanco?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Kasseri Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; Queso Blanco uses cow.
Is Kasseri Cheese similar to Queso Blanco?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Kasseri Cheese for Queso Blanco?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Kasseri Cheese taste like Queso Blanco?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
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 Queso Blanco made of?
Queso Blanco is made from cow milk, using none rennet.
Which should I choose, Kasseri Cheese or Queso Blanco?
It depends on the dish. The table above is the fastest way to decide based on your recipe.