Top 8 Greek Semi-hard Cheeses

Metsovone is a hard or semi-hard smoked table cheese, produced from cow's milk or alternatively with a mixture of cow's milk with up to 20% sheep’s or goat’s milk. It has been made in the Metsovo mountain region for more than 50 years from locally reared animals' milk. During the manufacturing, it is put in cylindrical molds that are placed in cold water to make the cheese more compact and afterwards placed in pickle. After the drying, the maturation lasts, at least, three months. Finally, it is smoked for a couple of days. It has a textured paste and a slightly yellow rind. The taste is rich, slightly salty and spicy, with a dried fruit aftertaste. It can be enjoyed both raw and cooked and is a regular ingredient in quiches or pizzas. It is an excellent appetizer to serve with a glass of ouzo or wine.Expand

Anthotyro is a Greek cheese made from goat’s and sheep’s milk. The name anthotyro means flowery cheese, referring to the strong aromas of wild herbs. There are two varieties of this cheese – fresh and dry. The fresh variety is known as anthotyro fresco and has a soft texture and mild flavor. It is typically consumed as a table cheese or used in the preparation of pastries and pies. Combine it with honey and fresh fruits such as apples, pears, and figs. The dry variety, known as anthotyro xero has a rich, salty flavor and a crumbly texture. It is recommended to consume it as a table cheese or grate it over pasta (especially spaghetti) and salads.Expand

Arseniko Naxou is a Greek cheese originating from the island of Naxos, hence the name. The word arseniko means male or masculine. The cheese is made from raw sheep’s and goat’s milk with the addition of whey. After it thickens, the cheese is drained in specially designed baskets known as tirovola. In the beginning, its flavor is sweet, but after a few months it develops a spicy and aromatic flavor.Expand

This semi-hard cheese is traditionally produced from sheep or goat milk, or a mixture of the two. The milk used to make this cheese comes from breeds reared traditionally in the Messinia and Lakonia prefectures, where this cheese has been produced for more than 100 years. To make Sfela, the curd has to be divided into pieces and reheated. Afterwards, the pieces are drained using cheesecloth, and they are lightly pressed and cut into small strips ('sfelas') and salted. The strips are stored in tin cans full of brine for at least three months to mature. During maturation, the cheese acquires its characteristic yellowish color. Its body is full of small holes created during fermentation. A cheese adored by consumers, sfela is a commonly used ingredient in modern Greek cooking. It is usually served as an appetizer, grilled, or combined with meat and vegetables in a tasty Greek pie.Expand

This semi-hard cheese has been produced from goat or sheep milk, or a blend of the two, in the town of Arachova below mount Parnassus in central Greece for at least a century. The milk is taken from breeds which have adapted to the mountainous region, and their diet is based on local herbs and plants. The cheese is curdled, and the curd is divided and put into special molds or baskets, where it is salted and dried. The cheeses have a compact structure, a characteristic cylindrical shape, a pale yellow color, and a striped appearance that results from the reed mats on which they are placed to dry. Formaella Arachovas Parnassou is a cheese with a very pleasant taste and aroma, and it is usually eaten plain or either fried or grilled as an ingredient in typical regional dishes.Expand

This semi-hard cheese is traditionally produced from sheep milk (sometimes with the addition of no more than 20% goat milk). It is made in Macedonia, Thessaly, and Xanthi and Lesvos prefectures. This cheese has been produced in Greece since the 19th century. Regulations require Kasseri to ripen for at least three months, although it is usually left to mature for six to twelve months. Younger versions of Kasseri have a delicate flavor that is quite sweet and tangy, while the aged ones become salty and piquant, bearing a slight resemblance to parmesan cheese. This pale yellow cheese belongs to the pasta filata family, and is used as a substitute for mozzarella or feta. A bite of this delicious cheese will leave a slightly sweet aftertaste because of the sheep milk used in its production. It has a mild, slightly milky taste and a buttery texture, making it an excellent table cheese. Kasseri is usually consumed sliced in sandwiches or pizzas. Traditionally, it is the main ingredient in Greek dishes such as pita kaisarias, kasseri tiganismeno, or saganaki.Expand

Traditionally produced in the Greek regions of Thessaly and Western and Central Macedonia, Batzos is a hard to semi-hard, brined, rindless cheese made from fresh or pasteurized sheep's or goat's milk or a combination of the two. The flavor of this square shaped cheese ranges from salty and sour to slightly spicy. Compared to other similar cheeses, Batzos has a low fat content of about 20%, which makes it suitable for low-calorie diets. It is usually enjoyed fresh as a table cheese but can also be used as an ingredient in a number of typical Greek salad dishes.Expand

Tyrozouli is a Greek cheese produced in the mountains of western Crete. It is made from sheep’s or goat’s milk which is curdled with fig sap. The cheese is typically consumed fresh, when its texture is very soft, but it can also be matured in olive oil, when its texture becomes hard.Expand