Roquefort cheese is made from sheep milk and is native to Southern France. It’s one of the most popular blue cheeses available out there. This cheese has a pungent aroma with blue mold veins – the veins have a sharp tang.
Roquefort cheese has a crumbly and moist texture as well as a white appearance. However, since this is a French cheese, it can be hard to find. For this reason, we are sharing a few substitutes with similar flavors and textures!
Roquefort Cheese Substitutes
This is one of the most popular types of blue cheese that originates from Italy. The cheese is made from unskimmed cow milk and has a tangy and sharp flavor. It has a blue color, which is achieved by adding the mold spores – the mold spores also lead to a pungent aroma.
This cheese tastes amazing on its own, or you can add it to pasta, salad, and pizza. Gorgonzola cheese is a reliable choice to prepare spread and dipping sauces, especially if you want to add some tanginess.
However, it has a strong flavor, which is why not many people like it – it is recommended for people who like bold flavor. As far as the texture is concerned, Gorgonzola cheese has a comforting buttery texture.
If you use this cheese in baking recipes, it will create a savory and smoky flavor, which is why it tastes best in lasagna and pasta. Also, it can be served with red wine, but you should opt for the aged version to enjoy a sharper flavor.
- Bleu d’Auvergne
This is a blue cheese of French origin, and it has been named after France’s Auvergne region. The cheese is produced from cow milk and is known to have a salty and strong flavor. This cheese is aged for over three months to make sure it develops a thin yet edible rind.
It’s one of the most popular blue cheeses in France and is exported to other parts of the world. Bleu d’Auvergne cheese can be used in a variety of recipes, including gratins, pasta dishes, and salads. However, it can be served as a dessert or appetizer as well.
- Stilton Cheese
This is a British cheese and has been around since the 18th century. The cheese has been named after Cambridgeshire, a small village of Stilton. It is produced from cow’s milk and has very distinct blue veins.
In most cases, it’s consumed with port wine because its earthy and nutty flavor complements the wine. This cheese is produced in many parts of the world, including Australia, the US, and Canada. For this reason, it’s readily available.
It is traditionally consumed as an after-dinner cheese but can be used in cooking as well. For instance, you can add it to stilton pasta and soup.
- Feta Cheese
Feta cheese is one of the most readily available cheeses, and it’s known to have a salty, rich, and tangy flavor. It has a crumbly texture, which is why it’s perfect for replacing Roquefort cheese.
This is a versatile variety of cheese and can be used to add flavor to pasta and salads. However, keep in mind that feta cheese is saltier than Roquefort cheese, so always start with less feta cheese.
This is a softer variety of cheese and is native to Mexico. It has a bitter, tangy, and salty flavor (the flavor profile is pretty diverse, which is why it can be used to replace Roquefort cheese).
In fact, the cheese has a mild flavor, which is why you have to add more cheese. However, it’s recommended that you taste it first to get an idea about the flavor.
- Goat Cheese
The young goat cheese has tangy and earthy tones as well as a sharp undertone. As the cheese starts to age, the soft texture of goat cheese becomes crumbly. In addition, the flavor will become creamier as well. In particular, goat cheese has hints of dried herbs and hazelnut.
Keep in mind that goat cheese is saltier than most blue cheeses, which is why you should start with less. Goat cheese is available in various flavors, but it’s recommended that you opt for plain goat cheese.
The fresh and young cheddar cheese has a smooth, creamy, and mild flavor. However, to replace Roquefort cheese, it’s recommended that you choose aged cheddar cheese – the mature or aged cheddar cheese has a tangy, sharp, and nutty flavor.
The only issue is that cheddar cheese has a creamy and light color, so there are no blue veins. The Roquefort cheese has a stronger flavor as compared to cheddar cheese, which is why you should start with a 1:1 substitution and add more according to the taste.
- Habanero Cheddar Cheese
This cheese is known to have an extra-spicy flavor, which is why it can be used in place of Roquefort cheese – it has a salty tone as well. For the same reason, you should start by adding less habanero cheddar cheese because using too much will increase the spiciness of the food.
- Gorgonzola Dolce Cheese
This cheese is milder as compared to Gorgonzola cheese. It is made from cow milk and is accentuated with mold culture. In most cases, Gorgonzola Dolce cheese is pierced to allow the flow of oxygen.
In addition, the cheese has a thick texture, which is why the air doesn’t flow much, resulting in light blue veins. This cheese is a perfect choice for people who want something mild.
- Maytag Cheese
This is a traditional blue cheese and tastes absolutely delicious in soup, coleslaw, and cheesecake. It has a sharp flavor and aroma, but many people feel a hint of citrus as well.
- Danablu Cheese
This cheese is often called a copy of Roquefort cheese, which is why we recommend using it in place of Roquefort cheese. The cheese has a salty and sharp flavor as well as a friable texture.
In addition, the cheese has a white color. The crumbled form of this cheese can be added to fruit servings and salads.
- Monte Enebro Cheese
This is not blue cheese, but its rind is prepared with blue mold. The exterior of the cheese has a funky aroma, while the interior has a creamy and sweet mouthful.
This is actually a great choice for people who want something milder than Roquefort cheese or other blue cheeses. When the cheese is aged, the flavor and aroma become stronger.
If you don’t want to use any cheese, ranch dressing is another option. This American dressing is prepared with buttermilk, sour cream, black pepper, onions, salt, and other herbs and spices.
This is actually a great option for vegetarian people and can uplift the flavor of your diet food as well.
The Bottom Line
There are various substitutes for Roquefort cheese that you can try but keep in mind that all of them have different flavors.
For this reason, you should taste the cheese before adding it to the recipe to make sure your food isn’t ruined. Also, you must start by adding a lesser quantity of substitute cheeses.