So you have to find substitutes for Taleggio cheese. You’re in luck because there are numerous cheeses available that will suffice and serve as a substitute for this popular Italian cheese.
What Is Taleggio Cheese?
Taleggio is a type of Italian cheese that has been made since the 14th century. It is named after the town of Val Taleggio in Lombardy, Italy. It’s a soft cheese with an orange rind and a creamy interior.
Taleggio is made from cow’s milk, but it can also be made from sheep’s or goat’s milk. The cheese is aged for about two months before it is sold. The longer it ages, the sharper its flavor becomes.
The aroma of Taleggio is mild and buttery, while its flavor ranges from mild to sharp depending on how long it’s aged. Its texture is dense with small holes throughout the paste that give it a creamy consistency similar to brie cheese.
Substitutes For Taleggio Cheese
Taleggio is a soft, washed-rind cheese from the Lombardy region of Italy. It’s a great melting cheese that goes well in lasagne, pasta, and pizzas.
If you’re looking for a substitute for Taleggio cheese, you may find these suggestions helpful:
1. Asiago
A hard Italian cheese similar to Parmesan but with a nuttier flavor. Asiago melts well and can be used as a substitute for Taleggio when grated or shaved over pasta dishes.
2. Gorgonzola
A blue-veined Italian cow’s milk cheese with a strong flavor and creamy texture. Gorgonzola is traditionally served as an antipasto or crumbled over salads or pasta dishes.
3. Mascarpone
A creamy Italian dessert cheese made from cream and milk that can be substituted for Taleggio in sweet recipes such as cheesecake, tiramisu, and cannoli fillings.
4. Burrata
Burrata is an Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream. It has a soft, delicate texture with a creamy center. The outer shell is usually wrapped in a thin layer of film that must be removed before eating. It can be eaten as an appetizer or added to salads and pasta.
5. Fontina Cheese
Fontina cheese is a semi-soft cheese that tastes similar to Gruyere but with more flavor and texture than its Swiss counterpart. It’s also nuttier than Gruyere and melts beautifully when heated up or melted over meats or vegetables for use on sandwiches or burgers!
6. Mimolette
This French cow’s milk cheese has a nutty taste and a firm texture similar to Taleggio. It also has a washed rind that gives it a similar appearance as well. If you can’t find Mimolette, substitute Gruyere or Emmentaler for a similar flavor and texture.
7. Gouda
Gouda is similar in flavor to Taleggio but with a firmer texture. Both kinds of cheese are made from cow’s milk and both have a washed rind that gives them their unique appearance.
8. Gruyere
Gruyere is another cow’s milk cheese with an intense nutty flavor and firm texture that melts easily when heated. It also has a washed rind like Taleggio but has more holes than its Italian cousin does.
9. Brie
Taleggio tends to have a milder flavor than brie, but the two kinds of cheese share many similarities. Both are creamy, and soft, and can be used in similar recipes. Brie is slightly higher in fat than Taleggio, but if you’re looking for something close in taste but not quite as high in calories, this would be an excellent substitute.
10. Monterey Jack Cheese
This is another soft cheese with a mild flavor profile that makes it easy to use as a substitute for Taleggio. It melts well and can be used anywhere you might normally use Taleggio cheese in your recipes. This is also another good option if you want something with less fat than brie or Taleggio because Monterey jack has less fat than both of those options.
11. Limburger
Limburger is a soft cheese that has a very strong aroma. It’s made from cow’s milk and is often used in cheeseburgers or on sandwiches. Limburger cheese goes well with beer or wine, but it’s best to eat it within a week of its purchase.
12. Bel Paese
Bel Paese is an Italian cheese that is considered to be the most delicate among the blues. It has an orange rind and a soft interior, which ranges in color from white to pale yellow. Bel Paese has a mild flavor and melts easily when heated. It can be served as an appetizer or used in cooking dishes such as lasagna or ravioli.
13. Dry Jack Cheese
The dry jack cheese is a raw cow’s milk cheese that has been aged for at least three months. The rind is wrinkled and brown, while the interior of the cheese is creamy with small holes throughout. Dry Jack has a strong, salty taste with hints of mushroom, garlic, and nuts. Dry Jack works well in casseroles, on pizza, and as an alternative to Taleggio when making grilled cheeses.
14. Blue cheese
Blue cheeses, like gorgonzola, have strong flavors and can be used as substitutes for taleggio. Blue cheeses are often used in salads or as toppings on sandwiches or burgers because they have such distinct tastes.
Delicious Recipe With Taleggio Cheese
Taleggio is a semi-soft Italian cheese made from cow’s milk. It has a pale yellow color and a slightly sweet, nutty flavor. The name comes from the town of Taleggio in Lombardy where it was first produced in the 13th century.
Taleggio cheese is usually used for cooking because its milder taste allows it to blend well with other flavors. It can also be used in salads or eaten on its own as an appetizer.
Here are some delicious Taleggio recipes:
Grilled Taleggio Sandwich with Prosciutto, Roasted Peppers, and Arugula Salad
Ingredients
- 1 loaf of sourdough bread, cut into 4 sandwich-sized pieces
- 8 oz Taleggio cheese (rind removed)
- 8 slices prosciutto (thinly sliced)
- 2 roasted red peppers (cut into thin strips)
- 2 cups arugula (lightly packed)
- Balsamic vinegar, for drizzling (optional)
Directions
Step 1: Cut Taleggio cheese into thin slices and place on a plate. Place the prosciutto slices on top of the cheese and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave on high for 2 minutes or until cheese has softened enough to be easily spread over bread. Spread with a knife over one side of each piece of bread and set aside.
Step 2: Heat a grill pan over medium heat. Place the bread with Taleggio on it in the pan and grill until cheese is melted and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and lightly drizzle balsamic vinegar over the top, if using.
Step 3: Place arugula and roasted red peppers evenly over the bottom piece of bread (the one without the cheese). Add prosciutto slices and place Taleggio grilled side up on top of that. Cover with a top piece of sourdough. Makes 4 sandwiches.
FAQs
1. How is Taleggio made?
Taleggio is a soft-ripened cheese with a slightly pungent odor and a buttery taste. It has an orange rind and straw-colored interior paste (the pate). The paste contains about 50% fat and has a soft texture that becomes elastic after several weeks of aging. When ripe, the cheese’s surface splits into irregularly shaped cracks that expose parts of the pate, giving it a somewhat wrinkled appearance.
2. How do you store Taleggio cheese?
If you want to keep your taleggio fresh for as long as possible then be sure to wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before refrigerating it in order to preserve its flavor and prevent mold growth on its surface. You can store your taleggio for up to six weeks this way if refrigerated at about 40 degrees.
3. What does Taleggio cheese taste like?
Taleggio has an intense aroma, creamy texture, and fruity taste. It can be eaten as is or melted on top of pizza.
4. How long does Taleggio last?
Taleggio will keep for 1 to 2 weeks when stored in the refrigerator at 40°F or below in an airtight container away from other foods that are stronger smelling than it is (such as onions).
5. What is the Ripening Period for Taleggio Cheese?
The ripening period for Taleggio cheese can be between two to four weeks. This means that it’s ready to eat after two weeks of aging but will continue to get better with time. If you want to eat it right away, then within two weeks should be sufficient. However, if you want to age it for a longer period of time (up to four weeks), then it will still taste good but won’t be as ripe as when aged for two weeks or less.
6. How Much Fat Does Taleggio Cheese Have?
Taleggio cheese has around 30% fat in it, which makes it rich and creamy with an almost buttery texture (even though there’s no butter added). It has a mild smell and a nutty flavor that goes well with salads, pasta dishes, and even pizza toppings!
In Conclusion
There are 11 substitutes for Taleggio cheese. One of which is Asiago cheese. Asiago cheese is a semi-soft cheese and Haha little holes in the cheese. It has an earthy, mushroomy taste to it and it pairs well with cooking.
