Provolone Cheese vs Ricotta Cheese
Provolone Cheese
Ricotta Cheese
Provolone Cheese is a semi-hard, artisan cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Ricotta Cheese is soft, moist and made from cow, goat, sheep, or buffalo milk, originating in Italy.
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 Is Ricotta Cheese?
Ricotta is a soft Italian cheese made from the whey left over from the production of other cheeses, primarily sheep, cow, goat, or buffalo milk. It has a creamy texture and a mild, sweet flavor, making it versatile for both savory dishes, like lasagna and ravioli, and sweet dishes, such as cheesecakes and cannoli.
What's the Difference Between Provolone Cheese and Ricotta Cheese?
- Milk type: Provolone Cheese (cow's milk), Ricotta Cheese (cow's, goat's, sheep's or water buffalo's milk)
- Texture: Provolone Cheese (semi-hard, artisan), Ricotta Cheese (Soft, moist)
- Taste: Provolone Cheese (tangy), Ricotta Cheese (Sweet, slightly creamy)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Provolone Cheese | Ricotta Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | Italy |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow's, goat's, sheep's or water buffalo's milk |
| Milk Treatment | — | Whey |
| Texture | Semi-hard, artisan | Soft, moist |
| Rind | — | None |
| Aging | — | Fresh |
| Taste | Tangy | Sweet, slightly creamy |
Pairing Comparison
What works with each cheese — wines, foods, breads, and more.
| Provolone Cheese | Ricotta Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Pairings | Pastrami, Salami | Fruit Compote, Pumpkin |
| Other Good Pairings | Chorizo, Grilled Cheese, Ham, Pinot Grigio, Pulled Pork, Roast Beef, Steak, Tomatoes, Tuna, Turkey | Albariño, Apricot, Asti Spumante, Bresaola, Honey, Honeycomb, Kiwi, Mangoes, Pesto, Raspberry, Roasted Vegetables, Strawberries |
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Where to buy Provolone Cheese and Ricotta Cheese
Provolone Cheese
Ricotta Cheese
Taste Comparison: Does Provolone Cheese Taste Like Ricotta Cheese?
Provolone Cheese reads as tangy, while Ricotta Cheese brings sweet, slightly creamy character. On the nose, Provolone Cheese offers pleasant, contrasted with Ricotta Cheese's mild.
Can You Substitute Provolone Cheese for Ricotta Cheese?
Provolone Cheese can stand in for Ricotta Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect semi-hard, artisan bite and body where the recipe calls for soft, moist. Flavor-wise, Provolone Cheese reads as tangy while Ricotta Cheese brings sweet, slightly creamy notes.
Which Is Better, Provolone Cheese or Ricotta Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a semi-hard, artisan cheese, go with Provolone Cheese. For a soft, moist profile, Ricotta Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Provolone Cheese suits recipes that want tangy notes, while Ricotta Cheese fits dishes calling for sweet, slightly creamy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Provolone Cheese the same as Ricotta Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Provolone Cheese is made from cow milk; Ricotta Cheese uses cow, goat, sheep, or buffalo.
Is Provolone Cheese similar to Ricotta Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Provolone Cheese for Ricotta Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Provolone Cheese taste like Ricotta Cheese?
Provolone Cheese reads as tangy, while Ricotta Cheese is sweet, slightly creamy. Aromas also diverge. Provolone Cheese leans pleasant, and Ricotta Cheese is closer to mild.
What is Provolone Cheese made of?
Provolone Cheese is made from cow milk. It originates in Italy.
What is Ricotta Cheese made of?
Ricotta Cheese is made from cow, goat, sheep, or buffalo milk (whey), using animal or microbial rennet. It's typically aged fresh. It originates in Italy.
Which should I choose, Provolone Cheese or Ricotta Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Provolone Cheese is semi-hard, artisan, while Ricotta Cheese is soft, moist.
See full profiles: Provolone Cheese and Ricotta Cheese.