Urdă Cheese vs Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese

Urdă Cheese is a creamy, delicate cow, goat, or sheep-milk cheese from Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine, while Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese is soft and made from cow milk, originating in Switzerland.

What Is Urdă Cheese?

Urdă is a whey cheese made across Southeast Europe and in Hungary by boiling the whey drained from other cheeses. The paste is finely grained and silky, and most of it ends up in desserts and filled pastries.

What Is Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?

Vacherin Mont d'Or is a soft, seasonal cow's milk cheese from the Jura region of Switzerland and France. It is bound in a strip of spruce bark, sold in a round spruce box, and often warmed in that box and eaten like fondue.

What's the Difference Between Urdă Cheese and Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?

• Origin: Urdă Cheese (Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (Switzerland)
• Milk type: Urdă Cheese (cow's, goat's or sheep's milk), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (cow)
• Milk treatment: Urdă Cheese (unpasteurized), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (thermized (Swiss), raw (French))
• Texture: Urdă Cheese (Creamy, delicate), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (soft)
• Rind: Urdă Cheese (Yellowish), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (washed rind)
• Aging: Urdă Cheese (Up to 360 days), Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese (at least 2 weeks)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Urdă Cheese Taste Like Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?

Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Urdă Cheese at up to 360 days develops a different profile than Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese at at least 2 weeks.

Can You Substitute Urdă Cheese for Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?

Urdă Cheese can stand in for Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect creamy, delicate bite and body where the recipe calls for soft.

Which Is Better, Urdă Cheese or Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a creamy, delicate cheese, go with Urdă Cheese. For a soft profile, Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese is the better fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Urdă Cheese the same as Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Urdă Cheese originates in Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine, while Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese comes from Switzerland. Urdă Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk; Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Urdă Cheese is typically aged up to 360 days, Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese at least 2 weeks.

Is Urdă Cheese similar to Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Urdă Cheese for Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?

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

Does Urdă Cheese taste like Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?

They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.

What is Urdă Cheese made of?

Urdă Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk (unpasteurized). It's typically aged up to 360 days. It originates in Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine.

What is Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese made of?

Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk (thermized (swiss), raw (french)). It's typically aged at least 2 weeks. It originates in Switzerland.

Which should I choose, Urdă Cheese or Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Urdă Cheese is creamy, delicate, while Vacherin Mont-d'Or Cheese is soft.