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Gorgonzola cheese has a sharp, unique, and spicy flavor that differentiates it from other types of cheese. It is characterized by its unique veiny, blue-colored appearance.
The presence of greenish-blue penicillin mold is what gives it a spicy and sharp flavor while still retaining the creamy texture for which the cheese is known. It is one of the most famous kinds of cheese that comes straight from the heart of northern Italy.
Gorgonzola has a recognizably different taste when compared with other cheeses, and it’s one of the main reasons why most chefs are so particular when adding gorgonzola to their dishes.
Traditionally, gorgonzola cheese comes from the dark and wet caves found near the coastline in Northern Italy. The process of making the cheese is also not easy, as it takes almost a year to mature.
Nowadays, due to the use of Penicillium Gorgonzola, it can be prepared within 2-3 months, though there are a number of companies that still use the traditional method and let the cheese mature over a longer period.
Gorgonzola has two most common types that are Piccante and Dolce Gorgonzola. The Dolce gorgonzola is soft and has a creamy texture, whereas the taste is primarily sweet. On the other hand, the Piccante is slightly spicy and the rinds are thicker and generally a bit dry.
Chefs and everyday cooks use it extensively in sauces or cooking. You can use Gorgonzola cheese in a wide range of dishes such as desserts, soups, pasta, salads, etc.
The addition of gorgonzola in the recipe is a valuable input as it contains calcium, iron, phosphorous which adds some much-needed ingredients to different dishes. It also contains lactic ferments that are essential to protect the bacteria in your intestines.
Substitutes For Gorgonzola Cheese
If you are making a recipe that calls for Gorgonzola cheese, and do not have it available, then what can you use in place of this cheese? Gorgonzola is not readily available in local markets, so expect to search around for a bit before you find a viable place to buy it from.
Thankfully, there are several substitutes available that you can use if you can’t find gorgonzola. Here are some of the most popular substitutes.
- Blue d’ Auvergne
This cheese has similarities to gorgonzola as both are made from cow’s milk. The flavor of Blue d’ Auvergne is slightly spicier than gorgonzola, especially the Piccante. You should choose a longer-aged Blue d’ Auvergne as a substitute for gorgonzola cheese.
The reason behind this is that a mature-aged Blue d’ Auvergne can better replace the intensity of gorgonzola cheese as it often has the sharp tinge that most people prefer.
It is a creamy white cheese that is made using milk from an ewe. Roquefort cheese is made from sheep’s milk and its name is derived from its place of origin. It is tangy, crumbly cheese that resembles gorgonzola in texture, though there’s a difference in taste.
You can substitute Roquefort cheese for gorgonzola in your recipes as long as you’re not very picky. Roquefort cheese is a little bit creamier and more bearable in comparison to gorgonzola cheese.
Roquefort cheese ages within dark caves, and that’s what gives it the moldy texture that most people prefer. The aging requirement of this cheese is almost 9 months, so it’s not something that you can grow overnight.
- Goat Cheese
It is a creamy cheese that goes well with many foods. Goat cheese does not have as much strength as Gorgonzola, but it gives the same creamy texture to recipes. Therefore, it is a good option to replace it with Italian cheese.
The benefit of using goat’s cheese is that it has a lower fat content, making it a fantastic choice for people who are slightly conscious about their food intake.
- Creamy Blue
It is a soft blue, buttery, and soft cheese made from cow’s milk. It is comparable to gorgonzola since both kinds of cheese use the milk of a cow. Creamy blue cheese is sweet but it severely lacks the intense flavor for which the Gorgonzola is known.
So, if you are looking for an option to replace gorgonzola in salads or pasta sauces then you may want to consider using creamy blue cheese. The texture of this cheese is slightly softer than gorgonzola cheese, so it’s going to crumble relatively quickly.
However, that’s not really an issue since most people tend to mix it in their dishes.
- Danish Blue
Danish blue is also known as Danablu and it is made from cow’s milk. Danablu belongs to the family of blue cheeses and is some of the most widely available cheese varieties out there. The taste of this cheese is sharp and salty since it contains 25-30 % salt.
Danish blue is a good source of protein and calcium, though it’s not a recommended option for people suffering from a cardiac condition owing to its high sodium content. The addition of this cheese will enhance the nutritional strength of recipes.
But, be careful about the quantity when you add this cheese. That’s because if you go overboard, you may end up ruining the dish altogether.
- Stilton Cheese
You can substitute Stilton cheese and use it as a perfect alternative. It is a blue cheese that’s renowned for having a strong taste and aroma that gives it a very tangy taste.
The blue Stilton cheese has a robust flavor and is known for its overpowering taste, so it’s important that you add it sparingly to any dish. Stilton cheese can replace gorgonzola in hot and cold recipes, as long as you are mindful of the quantity that you add in.
- Fourme d’Ambert
Another fantastic option is the Fourme d’Ambert, which is one of the oldest cheeses from France. In fact, it comes from the same family as the gorgonzola, though it has certain French influences. The cheese is made from raw, unpasteurized cow’s milk.
The fungus used for inoculating the cheese is the same as the one used in gorgonzola or Stilton cheese. The cheese is then aged for almost a month. It’s very identical to Blue d’Auvergne, especially since both are grown in the same valleys.
Those with a keen sense of smell can identify traces of cream and butter, and the flavor is generally quite balanced. If you are looking for a viable alternative to gorgonzola that you can pair with wine, this is a great choice.
However, it’s likely to be hard to come by due to its exclusive nature, and like gorgonzola, you should expect to pay a decent amount of money for this cheese.
Other alternatives
In case of the absence of other options of substitutes Parmigiano-Reggiano or a Pecorino Romano are good choices to replace gorgonzola for salads. Likewise, crumbled feta can be a good choice to replace gorgonzola cheese in most recipes too.
However, if you want that overpowering taste of blue cheeses, these aren’t a viable choice. It is not hard to replace Gorgonzola due to the availability of various substitutes.
You can easily replace Gorgonzola cheese with other options, as long as you don’t mind tailoring your recipe slightly to make some adjustments. So, enjoy making cheesy food!