Feta cheese is a rich, creamy cheese that originates from the distant lands of Greece. Although, it is widely loved around the world. It has some critics too. So, what should you do when you are cooking for someone who does not like feta cheese? It’s simple; you substitute it!
My go-to recipe for summer visits is a traditional Greek course. Flatbread served with olives, crumbled feta cheese, and peppers. It is divine to taste. But, unfortunately not everyone relishes this delicious treat for one reason or another. It could be an allergy to feta cheese, its saltiness, or potency. So, the easiest thing I can do is to replace feta cheese.
What is feta cheese?
Feta cheese is a Greek cheese made from sheep’s milk. It is salty and creamy. However, with age, its taste gets more peppery. Feta cheese is used in various dishes—for example, salads, pies, soups, and galettes. In addition, it is also used as an additive in roasted veggies or with grainy foods such as flatbreads.
| Nutrition | Value per serving (1 oz) |
| Calories | 75 |
| Fats | 6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 1.2 g |
| Protein | 4 g |
Is feta cheese healthy?
Feta cheese is packed with calcium and protein. Besides, it contains fewer calories than other cheeses. This feature makes it an excellent option for weight loss. However, it has a high amount of sodium and saturated fats. Although, still less than others. Still, it is best if you use it in modest amounts.
Is feta cheese plant-based?
As mentioned before, it is made from sheep’s milk. And anything made from animal products is non-vegan.
What makes feta cheese different?
Feta cheese is made purely from sheep or goat milk. It is also brined to make it more potent. However, most other cheeses are either made from cow milk or some other product, so they aren’t as flavorsome as feta cheese. Moreover, feta cheese has fewer calories and fat content than other cheeses. It is also healthier and contains an excess of beneficial nutrients like vitamin B, calcium, phosphorus, and healthy bacteria.
Is there dairy-free feta cheese?
Yes! Vegan feta cheese is made from tofu. It is marinated in a flavorful liquid. Usually, it takes about an hour to prepare vegan feta cheese. And the taste is the same too!
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7 Clever Substitutes for Feta Cheese
Feta cheese may be a thing to savor. But if you don’t like its taste, you can always enjoy other cheeses. There are many kinds of cheese you can use to replace feta. However, some work better than others. Below, I’ve mentioned my favorite seven substitutes.
1. Ricotta Cheese
Ricotta cheese is of Italian origin. This feta cheese substitute is less salty and tangier. However, it has the same texture and feel to it. So you can either add extra salt to your recipe when using this recipe. Or let it be if you don’t like the typical feta saltiness. The best thing about this option is that you can use it in every recipe. Be it salad, pasta, etc. Ricotta cheese is of two types, Ricotta Salata and the standard creamy one. Both work well as substitutes.
| Nutrition | Value per serving (1 oz) |
| Calories | 171 |
| Fats | 9.8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 6.4 g |
| Protein | 14 g |
2. Cotija Cheese
This variety of cheese is made from cow’s milk. It is very similar to Parmesan cheese in taste. You can use it as a feta cheese alternative and also to replace parmesan cheese. Cotija cheese, like parmesan cheese, comes in already grated form, so it is easier to use.
| Nutrition | Value per serving (1 wt. oz) |
| Calories | 104 |
| Fats | 8.5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 28 mg |
| Protein | 5.7 g |
Cotija cheese is of Mexican origin. It is white in color, it is firm and has a dry texture. If you want to use cotija in place of feta cheese, make sure to buy a fresh one. This cheese will be a lot similar to feta in texture. Cotija cheese is salty and milky to taste.
3. Halloumi Cheese
You can also use halloumi cheese as a feta cheese replacement. It is made from a blend of sheep and goat’s milk—a quality it shares with feta cheese. Halloumi cheese or simply haloumi is a semi-hard unripened cheese. Moreover, haloumi is also of Greek origin. Therefore, it is considered a milder form of feta cheese by many.
| Nutrition | Value per serving (1 oz) |
| Calories | 85 |
| Fats | 6.3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 0.6 g |
| Protein | 6.3 g |
One quality that makes it very popular is its high melting point. This makes it great for grilling or frying. Did you know meat critics use halloumi cheese as a meat substitute? It is a very handy cheese that is excellent for a variety of recipes.
4. Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese, or whey and curd, is another feta cheese substitute for people who are not fans of the feta taste. As made clear, it does not taste like feta cheese. However, it’ll give you the same texture in the dish. Cottage cheese is rich in flavor. But it is not salty like feta cheese. So if you have no other option at hand, you might want to add extra salt to the dish.
| Nutrition | Value per serving (1 oz) |
| Calories | 28 |
| Fats | 1.2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 0.9 g |
| Protein | 1.3 g |
A fascinating fact about this cheese is that it is rich in vitamin B12. So a cup of full-fat cottage cheese will fulfill about 40% of your daily selenium and vitamin B12 needs that are important for reproductive and thyroid health and nerve and blood cell health, respectively.
5. Goat Cheese
On the morning of reaping day, Prim leaves her sister Katniss a “perfect goat cheese wrapped in basil leaves”. We’ve all read The Hunger Games, and we all cried (spoiler alert!) when the lovely Prim, who loved her goat and its cheese, died. So let’s honor her memory by talking about goat cheese. Although, it is on the list for more reasons than just that.
| Nutrition | Value per serving (1 oz) |
| Calories | 75 |
| Fats | 6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 0 g |
| Protein | 5.3 g |
Goat cheese is a lot like cow cheese. However, it has a more tart-like taste. It has a milder taste than feta cheese. But good quality goat cheese has a crumbly texture that is perfect for giving your dish a feta cheese feel.
6. Tofu
One for the fruitarians! Tofu is the perfect feta cheese substitute for vegan eaters. As we all know, tofu is made from coagulating soybeans. It is, thus, cruelty-free and does not use any animal products for its making. Since vegans do not consume any animal product, be it poultry or honey. This alternative is perfect for them. Tofu has a crumbly texture similar to feta cheese. However, they have different tastes. I suggest you soak tofu in salty water before using it to get a feta cheese-like taste.
| Nutrition | Value per serving (1 wt. oz) |
| Calories | 24 |
| Fats | 1.5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 0.3 g |
| Protein | 2.8 g |
7. Mizithra Cheese
Mizithra cheese, also spelled as Myzithra cheese, is another cheese of Greek origins. It is made from either sheep’s and goat’s milk or a mixture of both. It, like Italian ricotta cheese and ricotta Salata cheese, also has two types. The fresh cheese is soft and crumbly. Use this to replace feta cheese, while the other is hard and dry.
| Nutrition | Value per serving (1 oz) |
| Calories | 110 |
| Fats | 9 g |
| Carbohydrates | 0 g |
| Protein | 7 g |
In addition, this kind of cheese is salt-free. Therefore, if you are avoiding feta cheese for its saltiness, this is the best substitute. Mizithra has a mildly sweet and milky flavor.
