Once someone has tasted the delectable richness of melted Provolone, it becomes an unforgettable experience. Its subtly rich and creamy flavor is essential for all cheese lovers.
Nonetheless, finding this Italian cheese can be quite challenging, as it often sells out quickly due to high demand.
But there’s no need for concern!
We have identified the top alternatives to Provolone that maintain a similar mild and creamy flavor, ensuring your dishes remain cheesy and flavorful.
Contents
Top 11 Provolone Cheese Substitutes
Consider exploring substitutes for provolone that will certainly complement any of your recipes.
1. Mozzarella Cheese
Mozzarella is often seen as a favorite in Italian cooking. It has a similar stretchy, gooey texture and a mild flavor like provolone. Its great melting properties make it a fantastic substitute for provolone in many hot meals, including delicious pastas and tasty pizzas.
Additionally, if you prefer a milder taste than the sharpness of provolone, mozzarella is a better choice. When substituting, it’s best to use a bit more mozzarella than provolone to match the richness of provolone’s flavor.
2. Fontina Cheese
Fontina is an Italian cheese produced in a different area than Provolone, specifically the Aosta Valley. However, it is also made in the US and France. This cheese is semi-soft and has a buttery texture similar to Provolone.
Fontina has a savory and nutty taste, making it a suitable replacement for Provolone in recipes. It works particularly well for melting and grating.
3. Parmesan Cheese
Parmesan cheese functions in a similar manner to provolone, even though it has a firmer texture and a noticeably salty flavor.
Nonetheless, its deep, nutty flavor contributes significantly to the enjoyment of various dishes. It is commonly utilized as a topping or seasoning in many culinary creations.Done
4. Muenster Cheese
Absolutely, this aged provolone alternative is a fantastic choice!
The smooth and mild characteristics of this cheese make it an ideal component for a variety of dishes, including sandwiches, roasted turkey, and numerous other delectable recipes that appeal to cheese lovers.
Originating in the United States, this cheese derives its name from “Munster.” It features a harmonious blend of flavors and contains lower fat content, making it a great option for those who are mindful of their health.
5. Gouda Cheese
Gouda is a semi-soft cheese made from cow’s milk in the Netherlands and is widely loved globally, making it readily available in grocery stores.
It can be melted, used in cooking, or enjoyed on cheese platters and sandwiches. With its mild taste and light color resembling Provolone, Gouda can easily replace Provolone in various recipes.
6. Cheddar Cheese
Cheddar is a classic cheese recognized for its sharp flavor and grainy texture. It works well as a substitute for provolone in many recipes where you want to boost flavors.
While cheddar doesn’t melt as easily as some other cheeses, combining it with creamier varieties like mozzarella or Gouda can create a smooth texture ideal for dishes like mac and cheese or grilled cheese.
When replacing provolone with cheddar, use it more sparingly since cheddar is stronger in taste than provolone.
7. Swiss Cheese
Swiss cheese, known for its holes, has a nutty taste and light yellow hue. Also called “emmental,” it is often used as a substitute for provolone because of its similar melting properties and mild flavor.
It’s important to note that Swiss cheese is slightly firmer than provolone and may not melt as uniformly in some recipes. In dishes where provolone’s texture is crucial, Swiss cheese can be used with minor adjustments.
In hot sandwiches or stuffed meats, Swiss cheese enhances flavors with its distinct nutty and sweet notes, differentiating it from provolone.
8. Edam Cheese
A semi-soft cheese recognized for its unique cylindrical form and its signature red wax covering. This cheese hails from the Netherlands, where it was commonly enjoyed as a dessert cheese after meals.
Its excellent melting properties and ease of slicing make it a versatile substitute for Provolone in numerous cheese-centric recipes.
9. Gruyere Cheese
This cheese has a nutty flavor profile and is known as Swiss cheese. It is especially appreciated in French cuisine, where it is a key ingredient in many well-known dishes like croque-monsieur.
The consistency of this cheese is quite different from that of other varieties.
While it’s firm, it doesn’t crumble easily, making it less suitable as a substitute for aged provolone; however, its fresh taste is so delicious and salty that you’ll find yourself wanting more.
Gruyere cheese is versatile and can be used in numerous dishes such as casseroles, gratins, soups, and more.
10. Emmental Cheese
Out of all the Swiss cheeses, this one stands out as the finest!
Emmental cheese has a medium-hard texture and melts beautifully. Its rich flavor is famous for enhancing the taste of any dish.
It’s an ideal addition to casseroles, sandwiches, pasta, and egg dishes, for example.
11. Gruyère Cheese
This Swiss cheese melts excellently and is commonly used in fondues and classic French meals like croque-monsieur.
Although categorized as a hard cheese, its texture differs from Parmesan, being less crumbly due to shorter aging.
It also offers more flavor and saltiness than Emmental, making it a suitable alternative for Provolone in cooked recipes.
FAQs
1. Can I substitute Provolone for Parmesan?
Parmesan cheese isn’t an ideal substitute for Provolone because it is saltier and has a nuttier taste.
If you want to use it, combine it with another cheese to soften the flavor, which will then resemble Provolone.
2. Can provolone be substituted for Mozzarella?
Provolone can replace Mozzarella, but use the regular type, not fresh.
To maintain freshness, store Mozzarella in liquid, which also keeps its texture soft.
Mozzarella’s mild flavor complements Provolone well, enhancing the taste of pizza.
3. Can I substitute Provolone for Fontina?
Fontina can effectively replace Provolone. Both cheeses hail from Italy and have a mild, pleasant flavor.
Fontina and Provolone are both young cheeses that can enhance the taste of any dish.
Conclusion
When Provolone cheese is unavailable, the best alternative to choose is low moisture Mozzarella.
This cheese works wonderfully in various dishes, such as hot pizzas, casseroles, or sandwiches you enjoy!
While other cheeses can serve as substitutes, they have a stronger and nuttier taste, which makes them more complex for flavoring your meals.