5 Substitute or Replacement Options for Feta Cheese

Feta cheese is one of the most popular types of cheese in the world. However, it is also a cheese that people have some strong opinions about. Although many people love feta, there are also a lot of people who aren't as fond of it. So what do you do if you're not fond of feta but you have a recipe that calls for it? Try a feta substitute. Many of the available alternatives to feta are similar in texture but not as strong in taste, appealing to people who like feta recipes but have an aversion to real feta.

Five different alternatives to feta cheese that you might consider when substituting ingredients in a recipe are:

1. Ricotta. This is the number one substitute for feta cheese. It is easy to find in most locations. It has a much different taste than feta does, being a sweeter cheese whereas feta tends to be salty and slightly bitter in taste. The crumbly texture is very similar, though, so it serves the same purpose as feta in many recipes. People who are looking for a recipe substitute that doesn't taste like feta but cooks similarly will find that ricotta is a good choice.
2. Haloumi. This type of cheese is very similar to feta. Like feta, haloumi is a greek cheese. Feta is typically made from sheep's milk but may be made from a combination of sheep's milk and goat's milk. Haloumi is made from a combination of sheep's milk and goat's milk. Note that there is haloumi packaged in its own brine and then there is a milder version that looks like normal packaged cheese. People who tend to not like feta's taste may find that the milder version of haloumi is a better selection for them.
3. Queso Fresco. This is a Mexican cheese that is available to purchase in some parts of the United States. Note, however, that there is a difference between the Queso Fresco bought in Mexico and that bought here. The true Queso Fresco is made from raw milk which is not the case for the U.S. version due to American concerns about bacteria. That being said, either version is a type of crumbly cheese that can be used as a topping in place of feta. It is milder in taste than feta is.
4. Goat cheeses. These days there are many different varieties of goat cheese (especially if you have access to a good farmer's market). Goat cheese has similarities to the sheep's cheese or sheep-goat combo that makes feta. Look for a crumbly variety of goat cheese to use as a replacement for feta. The taste will be likely be milder than the taste of feta in your recipe.
5. Tofu alternatives. There are some people who opt not to eat feta cheese because they are vegan and don't want to eat real dairy products. These days there are many recipes out there for vegan alternatives to cheese. Tofu-based recipes are the most common feta alternative since tofu can crumble in a manner similar to the way that feta does.