Pecorino Romano

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pecorino Romano

Country of origin	Italy
Region, town	Sardinia, Lazio, and Province of Grosseto (Tuscany)
Source of milk	Sheep
Pasteurised	Yes
Texture	Hard
Aging time	8 months or more
Certification	Certification PDO 1996

Pecorino Romano is a hard, salty Italian cheese, suitable primarily for grating, made out of sheep's milk (the Italian word pecora, from which the name derives, means sheep). Pecorino Romano was produced in Latium up to 1884 when, due to the prohibition issued by the city council of salting the cheese inside their shops in Rome, many producers moved to the island of Sardinia ^[1]. It is produced exclusively from the milk of sheep raised on the plains of Lazio and in Sardinia. Most of the cheese is now produced on the island, especially in Gavoi.

Pecorino Romano was a staple in the diet for the legionaries of ancient Rome. Today, it is still made according to the original recipe.

Pecorino Romano is most often used on pasta dishes, like the better-known Parmigiano Reggiano (parmesan). Its distinctive aromatic, pleasantly sharp, very salty flavour means that in Italian cuisine, it is preferred for some pasta dishes with highly-flavoured sauces, especially those of Roman origin, such as bucatini all'amatriciana. The sharpness depends on the period of maturation which varies from five months for a table cheese to at least eight months for a grating cheese.

Pecorino Romano should not be confused with Pecorino Toscano (from Tuscany) or Pecorino Sardo (from Sardinia). Unlike Pecorino Romano, these cheeses (which are not particularly salty) are generally eaten by themselves or in sandwiches.

Pecorino Romano cheese, whose method of production was first described by Latin authors like Varro and Pliny the Elder about 2000 years ago, was first created in the countryside around Rome. Pecorino Romano cheese is used mostly in Central and Southern Italy.

On the first of May Roman families traditionally eat Pecorino with fresh fava beans, during a daily excursion in the Campagna.