Feta cheese is an amazing ingredient used in numerous recipes. Most stores sell it in blocks. It has a crumbly texture and a unique flavor.
It is kind of salty with a tangy flavor as well. Almost everyone I know loves the flavor of feta cheese.
Feta cheese is made from a mixture of goat’s milk and sheep’s milk. Its origin can be traced back to Greece.
A lot of people prefer feta cheese because it is healthier compared to cheese made from cow’s milk. It is also quite versatile. You can use it in egg dishes, salads, pastries, meat dishes, and soups among others.
Feta cheese has numerous health benefits. It is packed with vitamins, proteins, and probiotics.
It also has a very low-fat content making it one of the best options for anyone trying to eat healthily or even lose weight. Additionally, it is very easy to digest.
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As amazing as feta cheese is, you may not always have it on hand. Therefore, there is a need for you to know what the best substitutes for feta cheese are.
Ricotta, Queso fresco, tofu, halloumi, cotija cheese, goat cheese, mozzarella cheese, gorgonzola, panela cheese, Roquefort, and cheddar cheese are all good substitutes for cheddar cheese.
Below are a few details on how to best use them as substitutes for feta cheese.
Also, Check out: Substitutes for Goat Cheese
The substitutes
When looking for a feta cheese substitute, your best bet is going for cheese that has a mild flavor and a crumbly texture.
Most recipes that call for feta cheese are after that mild flavor, so it is important to choose a substitute that will not overpower the other ingredients in your dish.
These are the best substitutes for feta cheese. Use any that you have in hand to add flavor to your dish.
- Ricotta
This Italian cheese is arguably the best substitute for feta cheese. Although ricotta cheese is less salty and less tangy compared to feta, it is still a good substitute for feta cheese.
You may have to add a little bit of salt to your dish. Its texture is similar to that of feta cheese i.e. it is crumbly in nature.
There are three main types of ricotta. There is the aged ricotta (ricotta Salata), the normal ricotta, and the creamy ricotta. All of them are a great addition to various dishes.
Ricotta cheese is a very common ingredient mostly used in sauces. Therefore, it is readily available and you can find it at your local grocery store.
Ricotta cheese is not packed with carbs like other types of cheese are. It has a very low carb content.
This makes it perfect for anyone that is on a diet or simply trying to eat healthily. It is packed with proteins which are good for your muscles.
Use ricotta as a substitute when making pasta sauce and as a salad topping. You can use ricotta in any recipe that calls for feta but these two are my favorite.
- Queso Fresco
Queso Fresco is a Mexican cheese that is also readily available. Loosely translated, Queso Freso means fresh cheese. Queso Fresco is made from raw cow’s milk hence its name.
It is a good substitute for feta cheese because it has a mild flavor and a crumbly texture just like feta. This is my go-to substitute because it never overwhelms the other ingredients in my dishes.
It is important to note that the flavor of Queso Fresco varies depending on which part of the world you are in. I recommend using it as a substitute when it is still fresh for the best results.
This substitute works best when used in salads and eggs.
- Tofu
Tofu has always been a great substitute for any kind of cheese. Since it is made from soya, it is the go to substitute for vegetarians and anyone trying to eat healthy because it is non-dairy with a very low fat content.
Tofu is quite versatile because you can use it in its softened form or its hard form. It is commonly used in Chinese and Thai dishes.
You should know that tofu does not have the same taste as feta cheese. Be sure you like the taste of tofu before using it as a substitute. You should also adjust the amount that you use in your dish to your liking.
Use tofu as a substitute in any vegetarian dish.
- Halloumi
Halloumi cheese is an amazing ingredient. It is basically a mixture of cow and goat cheese. Its texture is not too firm and it also has a mild flavor which makes it a good substitute for feta cheese.
The best thing about Halloumi is that you can use it in literally any recipe that calls for feta cheese. Pretty convenient, right? Halloumi will not overpower the other ingredients in your dish because of its mild flavor. If you are not a fan of feta cheese, you may like halloumi because it is mild.
I recommend cutting halloumi cheese into small pieces when adding them to your dishes. The results will be just as amazing as when you use feta cheese.
- Cotija cheese
Cotija cheese is yet another amazing substitute for feta cheese. It is made from cow’s milk and has a crumbly texture. It also has a flavor somewhat similar to that of feta cheese although it is sharper.
Use cotija cheese as a substitute when you want to satisfy your taste buds. The flavor of cotija cheese is the same as that of parmesan. So if you like parmesan you will definitely like cotija.
Use cotija as a substitute for feta cheese in any recipe that calls for feta cheese.
- Goat cheese
Goat cheese is a sure bet when it comes to feta cheese substitutes. This is because feta cheese has goat cheese as one of its main ingredients.
There are two main types of goat cheese. The fresh goat cheese and the aged goat cheese.
Fresh goat cheese has a soft texture that can easily spread. Therefore, I recommend using it in recipes that require you to spread the cheese. On the other hand, aged goat cheese has a crumbly texture and can be used in any dish.
- Mozzarella cheese
Mozzarella is one of the most common cheeses available. Unlike feta cheese, it does not have a crumbly texture.
It has a soft texture which makes it a favorite of many. It also has a mild flavor that does not overpower that of other ingredients in your dish.
I suggest you use mozzarella as a substitute for feta cheese in poultry and meat dishes. You will definitely love the outcome. You can also use it in your salads.
You can buy mozzarella cheese at any local grocery store. Remember to refrigerate it because it has a short shelf life.
- Gorgonzola
Gorgonzola is a blue Italian cheese that has a texture similar to that of feta cheese. It is crumbly in nature and it also has a mild flavor.
It is however important to note that the aged gorgonzola has a sharper taste compared to the aged one. Therefore, while using it as a substitute, use it sparingly because it may overpower your dish.
You can use gorgonzola as a substitute for feta cheese in your salads because it blends in well with other salad ingredients.
- Panela cheese
Panela cheese is a Mexican cheese that has a mild flavor similar to that of feta cheese. This makes it a great substitute.
The texture of Panela cheese is chewy as opposed to the crumbly texture of feta cheese. All in all, it will still give you the flavor that you are going for.
You can use panela cheese as a substitute in any recipe that calls for feta cheese as long as you do not mind its texture.
- Roquefort
Roquefort is another blue cheese that is a great substitute for feta cheese. It is readily available because it is quite popular.
Having been made from sheep’s milk, Roquefort has a tangy flavor that is my personal favorite. It also has a crumbly texture just like that of feta cheese thus it works quite well as a substitute.
Substitute feta cheese with Roquefort in equal amounts. Do not use more or less. If you love blue cheese then this should be your go-to substitute.
- Cheddar cheese
Cheddar cheese is made from cow’s milk. Its origin can be traced back to England.
You can never go wrong when substituting feta cheese with cheddar cheese as long as you use the young white version.
Its flavor is the same as that of cheddar cheese. However, if you do not mind the color, you can use the yellow version as well.
Cheddar cheese generally has a sharp flavor so use it sparingly.
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Conclusion
As discussed, there are several substitutes for feta cheese, most of which are readily available.
All these substitutes will add flavor to your dishes so when you do not have any feta cheese in hand, use any of them to complete your dish. Be sure to let me know how your dishes turn out.
Also, Check out: What is a suitable Paneer Substitute?
