Parmigiano vs. Pecorino Romano: what’s the difference?

Parmigiano Reggiano vs. Pecorino Romano: lots of people are still confusing them.

For many, these Italian names are too similar and it’s easy to make mistakes. It is also very easy to find products that are passed off as parmesan or pecorino.

So, I thought I’d write this article on the difference between parmesan and pecorino cheese to help you understand what they are, how they are made, what their names mean and where they are produced in Italy.

Parmesan cheese: what is it and how is it made?

You probably already know what parmesan cheese is.

However, since many people call every kind of dry cheese by that name, maybe it’s better to start from the basis.

Parmesan cheese, or Parmigiano, is an Italian extra-hard cheese made from cow’s milk. Its origins date back to the 12th century, when it was originally produced by Italian monks.  

It’s a dry cheese with a granular, crumbly texture, which is why it’s also known as grana. It has a light straw yellow color that intensifies with aging. 

A piece of typical Italian parmesan cheese aged 12-24 months has a fresh, fruity taste with a slightly nutty flavor. The more it gets old, the better it gets. After 22 months, its taste becomes more flavorful and its texture gets crumblier. 

What makes parmesan cheese become Parmigiano Reggiano?

In order to be labeled as “Parmigiano Reggiano”, parmesan cheese must meet specific protected designation of origin (PDO) requirements.

The real Parmigiano Reggiano can only be produced in the Italian provinces of Bologna, Mantua, Padua and, of course, Parma and Reggio Emilia (to which it owes its name).

Its PDO requirements are very strict and include shape, fat and crust percentage, weight, cows’ feeding, milking process, storage, and aging.

Parmigiano Reggiano must age for at least 12 months, but in many cases the aging process lasts up to 24 months.

Are US-made parmesan cheeses different?

Many cheesemakers in the U.S. produce parmesan cheeses.

These cheeses are made in accordance with FDA rules, but they don’t meet all the DOP requirements for Parmigiano Reggiano and are usually aged only 10 months. As a result, they usually taste a little more bitter.

So, if you’re traveling through Italy and you decide to try local parmesan, you might be nicely surprised. But instead of talking about national differences, why don’t we stick to the topic of this post? 

Let’s take a look at Pecorino Romano and see how it’s different from parmesan cheese. 

Parmigiano Reggiano's DOP Label
Parmigiano Reggiano with PDO label

Pecorino Romano: how is it different from parmesan?

The main difference between parmesan and pecorino cheese is the milk with which they’re produced.

While parmesan is made from cow’s unpasteurized milk, pecorino cheese comes from sheep’s milk. Its name is actually a hint: pecora is the Italian word for “sheep”.

There are many types of pecorino, as it is produced in many central and southern Italian regions. The most famous one, however, is by far Pecorino Romano.  

Pecorino Romano is way more ancient than parmesan: its origins date back to the Roman Age. As the name suggests, it was originally made in the rural area that surrounded Rome – the so-called “Ager Romanus“.

However, a lot of things changed since then, and now Pecorino Romano is mostly produced in Sardinia. And of course, it has its own PDO requirements.

Pecorino cheese from Sardinia
Pecorino cheese produced in Sardinia

Much like Parmigiano Reggiano, the PDO rules for Pecorino Romano are very strict and cover every aspect of its production, taste, and shape. Pecorino Romano can be produced in Sardinia, Lazio and in the province of Grosseto, using whole fresh milk from local sheep.

The first noticeable difference between Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano Reggiano is in their color. Pecorino cheese is typically white and has a brown or black rind. 

And of course, the sheep’s milk makes it taste very different from parmesan: while the latter is fruity and nutty, pecorino cheese has a spicier, stronger flavor. The people from its regions of production are very fond of it and use it in many traditional recipes.

This leads us to another question.

an infographic that recaps all the above mentioned differences between parmesan and pecorino cheese

So far, you’ve read all the main technical differences between parmesan and Pecorino Romano. Now, let’s get to the fun part: which foods should you try them with?

Pecorino Romano vs. Parmigiano: which foods are they better with?

Both Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino Romano are perfect as stand-alone food. They can be enjoyed alone, with a bit of honey or with slices of red meat. Thanks to their crumbly structure, they can also be grated on a wide range of foods.

However, due to their difference in flavor, they each mix better with some specific plates.

Pecorino Romano has a stronger flavor than parmesan and should be used in traditional Roman foods like pasta all’amatriciana, carbonara and spaghetti cacio e pepe.

Parmigiano Reggiano, on the other hand, is sweeter than pecorino and should be used to prepare foods like Fettuccine Alfredo, pasta with tomato sauce, risotto, and pasta with ricotta, etc.

Parmesan cheese is also the right choice for every baked pasta dish, like lasagna, eggplant parmigiana, and eggplant involtini. It can also be used to create a wonderful Parmesan Cream that you can enjoy with all the above-mentioned foods.

If you want to eat it in slices, Parmesan tastes very good with dark chocolate. And if you like truffles, try eating parmesan with truffle honey. It’s to die for!

Finally, there are also recipes that combine these two types of cheese. For instance, the traditional Genoa pesto sauce is made with both Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino Romano.

Now that you know the difference between Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino Romano and where to use both of them, there’s only one thing left: eat everything. Enjoy!

6 thoughts on “Parmigiano vs. Pecorino Romano: what’s the difference?”

    1. Because it is salted differently. As far as I know, parmesan cheese is typically left in a solution of water and salt for about twenty days. Pecorino, on the other hand, undergoes the same treatment for a few hours, and is then pierced and rubbed with coarse salt daily for at least a month.

    1. I’ve always used parmesan cheese in my meatballs, but it really depends on your taste 🙂 You can use both cheeses interchangeably.

  1. Superb article! A few points remain un-answered to me so May I ask; first of all, when added to pasta with the Brine water of the pasta, which of the two is better to emulsify a sauce where I found that Romano gets a bit more gloppy. It may be my problem in application not the cheeses fault. So that’s the first question. Second question is what is the aging of the Romano cheese? is a typically aged as long as the Parmesan, as that may be a factor in the first question regarding emulsification in sauces

    1. Hi Scott. I’m glad you liked my article.

      If you’re referring to the type of sauce used for dishes like Cacio e Pepe, Pecorino is the traditional choice. However, you can use both interchangeably. The reason why you’re getting a gloppy sauce could be in the amount of water you’re using or in it’s temperature. I recommend whisking the cheese and water in a separate bowl, starting with a small amount of the latter and adding more later if necessary. Also, not many people say this, but if you want to make things super technical, the water should be cooled down to less than 60°C/140°F. The reason is that if the water is too hot, the cheese will melt completely, while we want it to become creamy.

      You don’t need much pasta water for this type of process. When I make cacio e pepe at home, I use espresso cups as measuring tools, and I use just 1 or 2 for 150+ grams of cheese 😀 I save them about 4 minutes before draining the pasta, and I let them cool down aside. Then, I whisk them with the cheese and a fair amount of toasted ground pepper. Make some experiments with small amounts and then expand from there.

      About your second question: parmesan cheese is aged for at least 12 months, and usually up to 24 or, in some cases, 36. Pecorino romano, on the other hand, is usually aged for up to 6 or 12 months.

      I hope I gave you the answers you needed. Let me know if you have other questions.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

FOLLOW US

 OR SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
(and get a free ebook)

Our latest posts

KEEP READING

Join Our Mailing List