Tilsiter cheese is commonly known as tilsit cheese and it’s one of the most versatile varieties of cheese out here. This is a semi-hard cheese that’s been around since the mid-19th century and is usually prepared in Switzerland. Its color ranges from ivory to pale yellow and is produced from cow’s milk. In addition, it has a strong flavor and aroma. In some cases, this cheese is flavored with caraway seeds and peppercorns. However, before it’s sent to the market, it’s aged for over 180 days. It has a rich and slightly salty flavor, but if you are unable to find it, we are sharing some substitutes!
Tilsiter Cheese Substitute
- Havarti Cheese
The first option is the Havarti cheese that’s native to Denmark and it’s produced from cow milk. There are two varieties of Havarti cheese, including original cheese and creamy cheese. The original variety is produced from pasteurized milk, which leads to flavor and texture like Swiss cheese. On the other hand, creamy cheese has a higher butter content and is not aged because it can make the cheese go bad. The cheese has a creamy to yellow appearance and a porous and soft texture.
The cheese tends to have irregular and small openings and there are openings all around. In addition, the young cheese has a mild flavor but the aged cheese achieves a nutty taste and acidic flavor. For the most part, Havarti cheese has a soft, buttery, creamy, and delicate flavor with nutty undertones.
- Saint Paulin Cheese
This is a semi-soft cheese, which works great when used in place of tilsiter cheese – the textures are similar and you can be used it in melted as well as grated form. This is an aged cheese with an extremely sharp flavor. In addition, it has a rich, buttery, and creamy flavor, which is why it makes a great addition to fondue and cheese boards. However, you need to remember that saint paulin cheese doesn’t have the sweetness that tilsiter cheese is popular for.
- Monterey Jack Cheese
The third substitute that you can try in place of tilsiter cheese is Monterey jack cheese, which has a smooth melting. It has a mellow flavor and is widely used in Spanish and Mexican cuisines. It has a firm and dense texture but the flavor is extremely similar to tilsiter cheese once it’s melted. It can be used to make cheeseboards and you can also consume it with beer as wine. As far as the substitution is concerned, you can opt for a 1:1 ratio.
- Esrom Cheese
It is commonly called Danish Port Salut and is a semi-soft cheese with a pale yellow appearance. The cheese has an extremely buttery and creamy flavor, which is why it melts easily. The texture and flavor are similar to tilsiter cheese. On the other hand, you need to remember that it has a strong and pungent aroma, which is why it might not be likable to everyone. As far as the uses are concerned, you can use it in the preparation of sauces and fondue. In addition, it has a sweet flavor and tastes amazing with beer and red wine.
- Emmental Cheese
Just like tilsiter cheese, Emmental cheese is made from cow milk and tends to have a mild and fruity flavor. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that this cheese is one of the best substitutes and can melt pretty well. In addition, it can be used in whichever recipe you want as it has a mild flavor that doesn’t alter the flavor of the recipes.
- Colby Cheese
When compared to tilsiter cheese, Colby cheese might feel harder but the flavor is exceptionally similar. It has a yellow color as well as a versatile flavor. It can be used in the preparation of cheese dips but you can use it for sandwiches as well.
- Gouda Cheese
This cheese is known for its nutty and sweet flavor. Just like tilsiter cheese, it is made from cow milk and tends to be harder as compared to other substitutes mentioned in the article. However, some brands also have semi-soft cheese available, so you’ve to find the texture that you like. Irrespective of which texture you choose, it melts pretty quickly!