Thessaly / Macedonia / Lesbos / Xanthi · Greece
Kasseri.
Kasseri's creamy, buttery paste yields to a gentle bite with a semi-firm resistance that melts into silky richness. The flavor is delicately sheepy and lactic—more whisper than shout—with a subtle tanginess that keeps it from feeling heavy, making it equally at home on a board or sizzling in a pan until its edges caramelize into golden, crispy lace.
The story
How it's made.
Why it tastes that way.
Kasseri is a Greek PDO semi-hard cheese made using the pasta filata technique, stretching the curd in hot water in a manner similar to Italian Provolone.
It is the traditional cheese used for saganaki (pan-fried cheese). Produced in Macedonia, Thessaly, Lesbos, and Xanthi, it received PDO status in 1996.
Production · spec
- Milk
- Sheep · pasteurised
- Family
- Pasta filata
- Rind
- natural
- Age
- 3–12 mo
- Protected
- PDO · since 1996
- Intensity
- 2 / 5
- Texture
- semi-hard
Tasting profile
What it tastes like.
These bars are a visual read of Kasseri's flavour and aroma notes, scaled by the cheese's overall intensity — a quick guide, not a lab measurement.
Aroma
Nutrition · per 100 g serving
What's in a wedge.
A 100 g serving — about a finger-thick wedge. Daily values use the FDA 2020 reference of 2,000 kcal. Expect ±5% variation between wheels.
Serve, cut & store
Out of the fridge,
into its prime.
Guidance for pasta filata cheeses — general practice, not a per-wheel measurement.
Rest
Take it out about 20–30 min before serving — cold stiffens the fat and locks up the aromas; cool room temperature is when the flavour shows up.
Cut
Tear, don't cut — torn mozzarella and burrata expose more surface and taste creamier.
Store
Fresh and brined cheeses keep best covered in their liquid — and are happiest eaten within days.
Rule of thumb: the softer and riper, the longer it needs. Thick pieces need longer than thin — and don't leave cheese out much past two hours.
Pairings · Caseo curated
What goes with Kasseri.
47 pairings across 8 categories.
Wine
Beer & Cider
Where to find it
Cheese counters.
Counter listings for Kasseri are being verified. Check back soon.
Verified counter listings coming soon. Our team updates listings monthly.
Substitutes
No Kasseri at the counter?
These will play a similar role on the board and in the pan.
Take it with you
Want to remember this one?.
Log it, pair it, and keep your own tasting notes — Caseo is free.
