Pecorino

Pecorino

Fancy something different than Dutch cow's milk cheese? Or are you looking for a cheese that compliments Italian dishes? In this case, consider buying Pecorino. It is easy to explain where the name of this cheese comes from. This reason is because it means 'sheep' in Italian. This cheese is made from sheep's milk from different regions in Italy. People in this region have been eating this cheese for centuries. You will find mentions of this cheese in historiography as early as 2000 years ago.

The fact that Pecorino comes from the milk of sheep ensures a distinctive and very strong taste. Most people appreciate Pecorino cheese for its intense and almost spicy flavor. Some even find it to be nutty or buttery.

Age of Pecorino cheese

How the taste of Pecorino cheese turns out depends, among other things, on the age of the cheese. As with most cheeses the following applies: the younger, the softer, milder and creamier the taste. Most people who buy Pecorino go for the hard kind. This cheese gets a characteristic hard structure when it has ripened for a long period of time (about eight months). Such a long ripening process also makes Pecorino cheese quite salty. This makes the cheese very suitable for grating.

The grated Pecorino gives a tasteful finishing touch to a variety of dishes. This is certainly an excellent addition to the Italian cuisine and you can take almost any savory dish to a higher level by using this cheese. For example, sprinkle half a handful over a salad or make potatoes au gratin with it. It is also great for a quick cheese sauce for pasta or over vegetables, such as cauliflower. An additional advantage: because this hard cheese contains so much flavor, you only need a small amount to elevate your dish.