The main difference between parmesan and pecorino is that parmesan is made with cow’s milk while pecorino is made with sheep’s milk.
Parmesan and pecorino are two hard gratable cheese with Italian origins. We use both these in similar dishes, especially spaghetti and pasta dishes. However, there are several differences between parmesan and pecorino since they are made from different types of milk and undergo different processing.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Parmesan
– Definition, Features, Uses
2. What is Pecorino
– Definition, Types, Features
3. Similarities Between Parmesan and Pecorino
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Parmesan and Pecorino
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Cheese, Parmesan, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino, Pecorino Romano
What is Parmesan
Parmesan is a hard, dry cheese made of cow’s milk. This cheese has an Italian origin. Its Italian name is Parmigiano-Reggiano. Parmigiano-Reggiano is made from unpasteurized cow’s milk and aged at least two years. Moreover, it is produced only in Italy, in Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Mantua and Bologna provinces. Parmigiano-Reggiano is among the world’s top cheeses. However, cheeses labelled as Parmesan in the United States might be authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano or an imitation (a hard cheese made of cow’s milk). In fact, genuine parmesan is one of the most expensive cheeses in the world.
Genuine Parmesan cheese has a hard, gritty texture. Besides, it is fruity and nutty in taste. Also, it is pale yellow in colour. Moreover, parmesan is the cheese we use with Spaghetti and other Italian pasta; we can also use it in soups and risottos. You can also eat this eat as a snack.
What is Pecorino
Pecorino is an Italian cheese made from the milk of ewes. The name pecorino comes from Italian pecora, which means sheep. Therefore, pecorino refers to all types of cheese made from sheep’s milk. Most of these cheeses have a rather salty taste. They are creamery, hard, drum-shaped cheeses. Moreover, pecorino has a smooth, hard rind that is the pale straw to dark brown. The colour of the rind will depend on the age of the cheese. Moreover, the inside of the cheese is white to pale yellow in colour, with irregular, small eyes.
Pecorino Romano is the most widely popular pecorino outside of Italy, and it originates from Sardinia, Lazio and Tuscan Province of Grosseto. Pecorino Sardo also comes from Sardinia while Pecorino Siciliano comes from Sicily and Pecorino di Filiano from Basilicata. We mostly use pecorino Romano on pasta dishes, like parmesan. In addition, we call the more mature Pecorinos ‘stagionato’, and they have a hard and crumbly texture with tangy and strong flavours. Sometimes, the cheese flavour can overpower the dish if we add pecorino generously.
Similarities Between Parmesan and Pecorino
- Parmesan and Pecorino are two hard kinds of cheese that are pale yellow in colour.
- Moreover, both these cheese have an Italian origin.
- We use them in similar dishes, especially pasta dishes.
- Both cheese have rennet, so they are not entirely vegetarian.
Difference Between Parmesan and Pecorino
Definition
Parmesan is a hard, dry cheese made of cow’s milk while Pecorino is an Italian cheese made of milk of ewes.
Milk
Parmesan is made with cow’s milk while pecorino is made with sheep’s milk.
Ageing
Parmesan undergoes ageing for around 2 years while the ageing time for pecorino is somewhere between 5 – 8 months.
Taste
Parmesan has a nutty flavour whereas pecorino has a stronger and tangier flavour.
Conclusion
In conclusion, parmesan and pecorino are two hard gratable cheese with Italian origins. The main difference between parmesan and pecorino is that parmesan is made with cow’s milk while pecorino is made with sheep’s milk.
Reference:
1. “Parmesan.” Cheese.com. Web. 08 Sept. 2020. Available here.
2. “Pecorino.” Cheese.com. Web. 08 Sept. 2020. Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese Heads On Shelves, Italy” (CC0) via Pixy.org
2. “Pecorino di Filiano” By Rlucia – it.wikipedia.org (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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