Greek Feta vs. Italian Mozzarella: the summer showdown!

Comment choisir, dans ce match entre deux fromages à la fois si proches mais tellement différents ? C’est le cruel dilemme quand les beaux jours annoncent l’arrivée des salades estivales, de la Caprese, mêlant tomates, basilic et mozzarella, à la fameuse Horiatiki, plus connue sous l’appellation de « salade grecque » qui se compose de tomates, d’oignons, de concombres, de câpres, et donc de feta. 

First, you have to choose between two Mediterranean countries, two cultures, and two atmospheres. Mozzarella alone embodies the cuisine of the boot, often used and sometimes overused in dishes that showcase this delicate, porcelain-colored stretched curd cheese, especially when made with buffalo milk, a distinctive feature that has earned it PDO status. Mozzarella loves to melt on a Neapolitan pizza or blend into pasta with pesto, but it also shines in its simplest form, paired only with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, for example. But beware, mozzarella is not a sorbet. The French tend to serve it too cold, aiming to add freshness to their salads, whereas Italians prefer it warm and just barely stretched, at a temperature where its flavors can truly unfold.

Choosing feta means preferring the Taverna over the Trattoria, the Parthenon over the Colosseum, and goat or sheep over buffalo. Preserved in brine, its salty taste evokes the crystal-clear, briny waters of Cycladic coves. Feta, too, fought hard to earn its PDO status, which thankfully spares us from Danish or French versions, as authentic PDO feta must be produced in the land of Aristotle. It’s a classic in the iconic Greek salad, but don’t hesitate to take it out of its comfort zone by mixing it with eggs and spinach to stuff crispy phyllo sheets, in a spanakopita.

For those watching their waistline while preparing their plate, mozzarella has the advantage, as it’s lower in fat and especially less salty than feta. That’s why feta gets a Nutri-Score of D, while the Italian ball earns a C. The Nutri-Score has clearly picked a side!