Tuma cheese is a popular Italian cheese known for its rich, buttery flavor and excellent melting qualities. This versatile cheese is perfect for pasta, risotto, grilled sandwiches, burgers, soups and more. However, tuma cheese can be difficult to find in regular grocery stores.
If you don't have access to tuma cheese, there are several great substitutes you can use instead. Cheeses like Tomme Crayeuse, Saint Nectaire, Muenster, Cheshire and Pecorino Romano make good alternatives in terms of flavor, texture and melting abilities.
What is Tuma Cheese?
Tuma cheese originated in Italy. The name comes from the cheesemaking process where "toma" refers to wheels of cheese made by farmers themselves.
It's a soft or semi-hard cheese made from pasteurized cow's milk. Tuma is primarily produced in the Aosta Valley and Piedmont regions of northwestern Italy.
This cheese is closely related to the French Tomme. Two main varieties include:
- Toma Piemontese: Has Protected Designation of Origin status. Produced in Piedmont.
- Toma di Gressoney: Also called Tomme de Gressoney. Produced in the Gressoney Valley.
Flavor Profile of Tuma Cheese
Tuma cheese comes with a rich, grassy and buttery flavor. It has a slightly tangy finish.
As a small, rustic cheese, tuma is known for melting exceptionally well. It's often used in dishes like risotto, pasta, pizza and soups.
When aged for a couple months, tuma develops an earthier, almost mushroom-like flavor. The rind also becomes dusty and moldy.
Key Takeaway: Tuma cheese has a rich, buttery taste with excellent melting qualities. Aged varietals take on an earthy, mushroom-like flavor.
What Pairs Well With Toma Cheese?
Here are some of the best food pairings for tuma cheese:
- Grilled foods like burgers or panini
- Fruit compotes or jams
- Toasted nuts
- Balsamic glaze
- Sauteed greens
- Stuffed baked potatoes
- Radicchio risotto
- Classic fondue
- Salami or other cured meats
- Olives
Tuma also pairs nicely with wines like Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino or rustic Italian reds.
Where to Buy Tuma Cheese
Since tuma is an Italian import, it can be tricky to find in regular supermarkets. Your best bet is to check cheese shops or specialty grocery stores like Whole Foods.
If you still have no luck, consider ordering tuma cheese online. Many retailers sell it at reasonable prices.
Now let's look at some of the best substitute options if you don't have access to tuma cheese.
Saint Nectaire Cheese
Saint Nectaire is a creamy, semi-soft cheese from the Auvergne region of France. It has a smooth, silky texture reminiscent of tuma cheese.
This cheese comes in a cylindrical shape with a rind that varies in color from off-white to yellow, red or brown.
Saint Nectaire boasts flavors of nuts, hay and mushrooms. As the cheese ages, it develops crispy crystals within the paste.
It melts beautifully and pairs nicely with cured meats, bread, fruit and wine. For a close textural match and similar earthy flavors to tuma, Saint Nectaire makes an excellent substitute in cooked dishes.
Tomme Crayeuse
Tomme Crayeuse is a French tomme-style cheese made from raw cow's milk. It hails from the Savoie region of the Alps.
This semi-soft cheese has a natural brown, moldy rind and a white to pale yellow interior paste. When young, the center is creamy and silky with a mild, milky flavor.
Over time, Tomme Crayeuse grows denser and develops more complex flavors of nuts, fruit and cellar-like mustiness. It also forms tasty crunchy crystals.
Thanks to its semi-soft texture, excellent meltability and subtle earthiness, Tomme Crayeuse substitutes beautifully for tuma cheese.
Pecorino Romano
Pecorino Romano is a hard Italian cheese made solely from sheep's milk. By law, it's required to age for at least 8 months, resulting in a granular texture and intense, salty flavor.
When young, this cheese starts out with a sweet, mild taste. But as Pecorino Romano matures, it grows sharper, smokier and more crumbly.
Although the flavor is stronger than tuma, Pecorino Romano makes a good substitute thanks to its firm texture and salty personality. Use it to add a nice punch of flavor in cooked dishes.
Muenster Cheese
Muenster is a semi-soft washed rind cheese from America. It has an ivory paste and sticky, orange rind from being washed in a brine solution during aging.
Young Muenster boasts a very mild, creamy flavor with subtle hints of salt and butter. But when properly aged, this cheese can develop a robust aroma and tangy bite.
With its smooth, pliant texture, excellent melt and buttery notes, Muenster cheese substitutes nicely for tuma in pizza, panini, mac and cheese or other melted applications.
Cheshire Cheese
Cheshire is one of Britain's oldest cheeses with origins dating back to Roman times. It's made from cow's milk in the county of Cheshire.
This dense, hard cheese breaks apart into crumbly pieces. It has a creamy yellow interior and salty, tangy flavor. As Cheshire ages, it becomes darker and more crumbly in texture.
Although firmer than traditional tuma, Cheshire makes a good substitute thanks to its high fat content, excellent melt and slight tang. Use it in dishes like grilled cheese, baked pasta or pizza.
FAQs
Is there any cheese similar to tuma?
The closest match to tuma cheese is Tomme Crayeuse. This French cheese mimics the texture, meltability and earthy flavor notes of traditional tuma.
What's a good vegetarian substitute for tuma?
Saint Nectaire and Tomme Crayeuse make excellent vegetarian and vegan substitutes for tuma cheese since they're made from cow's milk. For a non-dairy option, try using cashew cheese.
Can I use Parmesan instead of tuma cheese?
While they're both Italian cheeses, Parmesan doesn't melt well so it won't work the same in cooked dishes. Pecorino Romano makes a better substitute for adding salty, Italian flavor.
Is provolone a good substitute for tuma cheese?
Provolone can work as a substitute, especially aged provolone which develops a similar tang. Opt for a bolder, aged provolone to match the flavor of tuma cheese more closely.
Conclusion
With its rich, nutty flavor and excellent melting abilities, it's easy to see why cooks love Italian tuma cheese.
Although it can be difficult to source, there are several worthy substitutes like Tomme Crayeuse, Saint Nectaire, Pecorino Romano, Muenster and Cheshire.