Graviera

Graviera (Greek: γραβιέρα, pronounced "ghrahv-YAIR-ah") is a cheese from Greece mainly produced on the Greek island of Crete. It is not to be confused with the Swiss cheese gruyère, which is a related cheese that in some languages has a name similar to Graviera.

Graviera is Greece’s second most popular after feta. Made in wheels, the rind of the hard cheese is marked with the characteristic crisscross pattern of its draining cloth. There are various types of Graviera produced in Greece. Graviera of Crete is made from sheep’s milk and ripened for at least five months. It is slightly sweet, with a pleasant burnt caramel flavor, whereas the graviera of Naxos is mostly made of cow's milk (80-100%).

Graviera is a very versatile cheese; it can be sliced and eaten, fried as 'saganaki' and eaten as a snack, grated and served over pasta dishes, or baked in a casserole.^[1] It is widely available outside of Greece, where it can be purchased at large grocery stores, Greek or ethnic markets,and specialty cheese shops, as well as online. Gruyère can be used as a substitute, but graviera is 'homier'.^[2]

References

v t e Cuisine of Greece History Ancient Greek cuisine Ancient Greece and wine Byzantine cuisine Influences Italian cuisine Ottoman cuisine Ingredients Basil Dill Eggplant Honey Mastic Olive oil Olives Oregano Raisin Tomato Thyme Salads Dakos Greek salad Melitzanosalata Skordalia Taramosalata Tirokafteri Tzatziki Appetizers Bakaliaros Dolma Fava Kalamaria Kolokythoanthoi Kolokythakia Koulouri Lakerda Loukaniko Lountza Octopus Paximadi Pita Spanakopita Tyropita Cheeses Anthotyros Feta Formaela Graviera Kalitsounia Kasseri Kefalotyri Kefalograviera Manouri Metsovone Metsovela Mizithra Saganaki San Michali Xynotyro Xynomizithra Dishes Apáki Anginares alla Polita Atherina Bourdeto Garides Gemista Gigandes plaki Giouvetsi Gyros Hilopites Lagos Stifado Keftedakia Kokkinisto Kokoretsi Leaf vegetable Manestra Moussaka Mussels Pastitsada Pastitsio Pilafi Savoro Sheftalia Smyrna meatballs Snails Spanakorizo Spezzofai Strapatsada Sofrito Souvla Souvlaki Swordfish Tsigareli Soups Avgolemono Fasolada Kakavia Chicken soup Magiritsa Psarosoupa Revithia Trahanas Desserts Copenhagen (dessert) Diples Finikia Galaktoboureko Galatopita Halva Karydopita Koulourakia Kourabiedes Lazarakia Loukoumades Loukoumi Mandolato Melitini Melomakarona Melopita Moustokouloura Pasteli Spoon sweets Trigona Tsoureki Vasilopita Wines Agiorgitiko Aidini Assyrtiko Athiri Kotsifali Lesbian wine Limnio Mavrodafni Mandilaria Moschofilero Retsina Robola Savatiano Vilana Xinomavro Drinks Kitron Kumquat Mastika Metaxa Ouzo Rakomelo Tentura Tsipouro Tsikoudia Frappé coffee See also Kafenio Meze Ouzeri Taverna Notable products Avgotaraho Florina pepper Greek wine Fava Santorinis Kalamata (olive) Krokos Kozanis (Saffron) Zante currant Greece portal