There are instances when you could come across a dish that appears delectable but requires an item that you might not always have on hand or in your refrigerator.
It’s conceivable that you can’t locate it at the shop, that you don’t want to travel too far to a specialty retailer Even better, and that you don’t want to leave your house and are unsure if substitutes for pecorino cheese would work.
If you don’t have Pecorino Romano on hand, you might wonder what substitutes for pecorino cheese would work for it, as it is an old, hard, salty cheese with a faintly nutty flavor.
One of the better options is Pecorino cheese because it functions well in many dishes. The Pecorino cheese has a distinct texture and strong flavor.
You may recognize Pecorino cheese by its scent and straw-white color since it is created from sheep’s milk and has a saltier flavor than other cheeses.
Compared to other cheeses, this one has a stronger taste. Spaghetti, salads, and soup work best as a topping.
What is Pecorino Cheese?
Sheep’s milk makes the hard cheese known as Pecorino in Italy. Pecorino cheese comes in various varieties, with Pecorino Romano being the most often consumed.
Depending on how long they are aged, pecorinos have a variety of tastes. The aged pecorino cheeses have nutty and buttery tastes and a firm, crumbly texture. The texture and flavor of younger Pecorinos are softer and delicately creamy.
According to a legend, a shepherd once filled his flask with sheep’s milk before a long journey, and the motion during the journey naturally fermented the milk.
A new cheese was conceptualized. Most Pecorino produced nowadays comes from Sardinia, Italy. The popularity of Pecorino as a grating cheese has increased dramatically in the United States because of its great flavor.
Since sheep only produce milk for 6-7 months out of the year, all output must meet demand from the general public all year round.
There are several varieties of cheese, but few are as adaptable as pecorino. Pecorino cheese is unfortunately not always readily available to everyone.
We shall thus examine substitutes for pecorino cheese:
Substitutes for Pecorino Cheese
1. Parmesan Cheese
One of the first options you have to test is parmesan cheese, one of the most typical substitutes for pecorino cheese in recipes. The flavor and texture of parmesan cheese are similar to those of pecorino.
Certain Parmesan cheese has a higher salt content than others, so you might need to use less of it in your recipe.
If you must use Parmesan cheese instead of the Pecorino, taste it beforehand before using it. You might need to reduce the extra salt you use or leave it entirely if it turns out to be saltier than anticipated.
When replacing Pecorino cheese with Parmesan cheese, taste the cheese first before adding salt to the recipe since Pecorino cheese has a greater salt and sour content than Parmesan cheese.
It must be aged for at least two years to acquire a distinctive flavor, flaky texture, and strong aroma. Cheese marked as Parmesan does not need to be aged as long and does not taste nearly as authentic as the real thing because Parmesan is not regulated in the United States.
Pastries, pieces of bread, and pasta meals can all be prepared using parmesan, which melts swiftly.
2. Asiago Cheese
Italian cow’s milk cheese Asiago has D.O.P. certification, which implies that only specified areas of Northern Italy can produce genuine Asiago.
If it’s available where you are, you can use them as substitutes for pecorino cheese. Although this cheese is wonderful, it is not readily available everywhere.
If you do manage to acquire it, you will surely adore it. Asiago has a milder flavor and softer texture than other Pecorino cheese alternatives.
As a result, it will melt more quickly if you lay it on top of hot dishes. It will be enjoyable to make and tastes best whether served as a side dish or all by itself.
As the cheese matures, its texture hardens and resembles that of Pecorino and Parmesan. Asiago cheese is frequently sliced and served in cold or hot sandwiches, as well as grated in a variety of cuisines.
3. Manchego Spanish Cheese
The Manchego Spanish works nicely as one of the substitutes for pecorino cheese, and you may continue with the recipe as usual.
There will be many similarities in flavor between this cheese and the last one because it is made from a salty variety of sheep’s milk. Manchego cheese comes in various varieties that are divided into age groups.
Semi-curado is a younger Manchego cheese from Spain that is soft and has a taste that is almost fruity with undertones of grassiness. Aging Manchego cheese causes it to become crumbly and take on a crisp, somewhat sweet flavor.
With less fat and calories without losing flavor or texture, you can enjoy all the delicious Manchego tastes you love.
Additionally, this product is naturally lactose-free if you have lactose intolerance. The cheese is safe in its natural condition. Therefore, no preservatives are necessary.
A natural cheese called Manchego will make your next salad taste better, making them great substitutes for pecorino cheese.
Despite having a creamy mouthfeel, this delectable delight has fewer calories than cream cheese. Without gaining weight, you may enjoy the flavor and feel of its creaminess.
4. Grana Padano
Another one of the most suitable substitutes for Pecorino cheese that may offer your cuisine a distinctive flavor is Grana Padano. Similar to Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, Grana Padano originates in Northern Italy’s Po River Valley.
When ripe, Grana Padano, one of the genuine cheeses, is sufficiently tough to scrape. It may be used as a replacement in any recipe without compromising flavor or texture because it is lean and flavorful.
The complex flavor of this cheese deepens with age; matured varieties have a sweet almond flavor. Grana Padano is suitable for consumption even if you prefer gluten-free food because it is high in calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, and riboflavin.
5. Nutritional Yeast
A kind of yeast-raised, especially to be a food item, is called nutritional yeast. All nine of the necessary amino acids are present, along with several vitamins, and it has a cheesy, delicious flavor.
All of these make nutritional yeast suitable substitutes for Pecorino cheese. When fortified, nutritional yeast can be particularly abundant in B-vitamins, such as B-12, which are sometimes lacking in vegan diets. It is available in flakes, powder, and granules for purchase.
As nutritional yeast has a nutty, umami flavor that accurately mimics the flavor of pecorino cheese, it is appropriate to sprinkle over meals.
You typically only need half as much nutritional yeast as you would pecorino cheese because the flavor of nutritional yeast can be strong.
A DIY vegan substitute made with nutritional yeast and cashews can mimic the richer, butterier flavor of Romano cheese.
6. Piave Cheese
Piave cheese is an additional Italian cheese you might use in its place. You will enjoy the mouthwatering sweet, and nutty flavor of this cheese.
Unfortunately, if you want to prepare food that has to be cooked or gets hot in general, you should not choose this choice. This is due to how rapidly it becomes difficult.
Pecorino and parmesan cheese are quite similar to this cheese. It looks like parmesan, but it tastes a lot like pecorino. Piave cheese is available from cheesemakers in all five maturing phases, which you should be aware of.
It becomes tougher as cheese ages, making it more challenging to utilize in recipes. Pecorino cheese can be substituted for, albeit not very well, with the first stage of Piave.
Therefore, stages two and three are typically regarded as the finest substitutes for pecorino in hot dishes.
7. Ossau Iraty Cheese
Despite not being one of the first substitutes you would see in stores, Ossau Iraty is made from sheep’s milk and tastes quite similar to Pecorino.
The hard French cheese Ossau Iraty crumbles easily and goes well with many different foods. Ossau can be used as one of the substitutes for Pecorino cheese since it is vitamin- and mineral-rich.
If you desire a larger variety in your diet due to diabetes, food allergies, or ingesting too much sodium, it’s a great method to manage a restricted diet.
Of course, it goes great with virtually everything. It’s similar to shaving cream in that you may use it to prepare other dishes, including macaroons.
Peeling back the cheese’s firmly folded outer shell is the only challenging aspect of cooking with Ossau Italy cheese. As soon as the delicious scent rises from your dish, all your efforts will be rewarded.
8. Romano Cheese
Similar to Pecorino cheese, Romano cheese has a crumbly feel. It is also made from sheep’s and cow’s milk, and its flavor and texture are similar to those of Parmesan cheese. Your food will taste similar since Romano and Pecorino have comparable flavors.
Remember that Romano may be difficult to find in some areas of the nation, especially in its raw form. However, if you can get some Romano cheese, they are fantastic substitutes for Pecorino in recipes that call for it.
Conclusion
Pizza and pasta recipes benefit from the rich, nutty taste that pecorino cheese brings to them. It may, however, be pricey and hard to locate. Fortunately, there are many excellent substitutes for pecorino cheese you may use in their place.
You should always strive to locate another hard cheese when seeking substitutes for pecorino cheese. Additionally, it’s crucial to search for a matching flavor profile. In any circumstance, substituting the cheeses for pecorino will produce good results.
