Metsovone Cheese vs Provolone Cheese
Metsovone Cheese
Provolone Cheese
Metsovone Cheese is a semihard to hard cow, goat, or sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Provolone Cheese is semi-hard, artisan and made from cow milk, originating in Italy.
What Is Metsovone Cheese?
Metsovone is a smoked, semi-hard cheese from Metsovo in the Pindus mountains of Greece. Made from cow's milk or a mix of cow and sheep or goat milk, it is one of the few Greek cheeses that is smoked, giving it a distinctive flavor that is nutty and buttery with smokey undertones.
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 Metsovone Cheese and Provolone Cheese?
- Origin: Metsovone Cheese (Greece), Provolone Cheese (Italy)
- Milk type: Metsovone Cheese (Cow's milk, Ewe's or Goat's milk), Provolone Cheese (cow's milk)
- Texture: Metsovone Cheese (Semihard to hard), Provolone Cheese (semi-hard, artisan)
- Taste: Metsovone Cheese (Slightly salty and piquant), Provolone Cheese (tangy)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metsovone Cheese | Provolone Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Greece | Italy |
| Specific Origin | Metsovo, Epirus | — |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk, Ewe's or Goat's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Smoked | — |
| Texture | Semihard to hard | Semi-hard, artisan |
| Rind | Waxed | — |
| Aging | 3 months | — |
| Taste | Slightly salty and piquant | Tangy |
Pairing Comparison
What works with each cheese — wines, foods, breads, and more.
| Metsovone 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 Metsovone Cheese and Provolone Cheese
Metsovone Cheese
Provolone Cheese
Taste Comparison: Does Metsovone Cheese Taste Like Provolone Cheese?
Metsovone Cheese reads as slightly salty and piquant, while Provolone Cheese brings tangy character. On the nose, Metsovone Cheese offers natural smoke, contrasted with Provolone Cheese's pleasant.
Can You Substitute Metsovone Cheese for Provolone Cheese?
Metsovone Cheese can stand in for Provolone Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect semihard to hard bite and body where the recipe calls for semi-hard, artisan. Flavor-wise, Metsovone Cheese reads as slightly salty and piquant while Provolone Cheese brings tangy notes.
Which Is Better, Metsovone Cheese or Provolone Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a semihard to hard cheese, go with Metsovone Cheese. For a semi-hard, artisan profile, Provolone Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Metsovone Cheese suits recipes that want slightly salty and piquant notes, while Provolone Cheese fits dishes calling for tangy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Metsovone Cheese the same as Provolone Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Metsovone Cheese originates in Greece, while Provolone Cheese comes from Italy. Metsovone Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk; Provolone Cheese uses cow.
Is Metsovone Cheese similar to Provolone Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Metsovone Cheese for Provolone Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Metsovone Cheese taste like Provolone Cheese?
Metsovone Cheese reads as slightly salty and piquant, while Provolone Cheese is tangy. Aromas also diverge. Metsovone Cheese leans natural smoke, and Provolone Cheese is closer to pleasant.
What is Metsovone Cheese made of?
Metsovone Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk (smoked). It's typically aged 3 months. It originates in Greece.
What is Provolone Cheese made of?
Provolone Cheese is made from cow milk. It originates in Italy.
Which should I choose, Metsovone Cheese or Provolone Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Metsovone Cheese is semihard to hard, while Provolone Cheese is semi-hard, artisan.
See full profiles: Metsovone Cheese and Provolone Cheese.