Pecorino Sardo Cheese. Elena Froldi / Getty Images via Canva Pro
Pecorino Sardo is a sheep’s milk cheese from Sardinia, Italy.
The taste is a balance of salt and sweet, and is more sheep’s-milk-tasting than other Pecorino cheeses.
To make it, raw milk is curdled with calf’s rennet, then moulded and salted. Some Sardinian dairies are making it from pasteurized milk, perhaps to make export to the United States easier.
A green emblem on the packaging means a young, soft cheese (“dolce“); a blue emblem means a hard cheese that has been aged longer (“maturo“). Maturo, though, can mean anywhere from 2 to 6 to 8 months.
Cooking tips
Young cheeses can be used as a slicing cheese for the table; older ones will be harder and can be used for grating or shaving as a garnish.
Owing to the more pronounced taste of this pecorino, compared to other pecorinos, you may wish to serve it in thin, small portions to those who aren’t used to sheep’s milk cheese.
Substitutes
For the aged Pecorino Sardo, you can substitute Parmesan, Asiago, Grana Padano or any Pecorino cheese.
History
Pecorino Sardo received its “Designated Origin” certification in 1991 from Italy, and its EU PDO protection in 1996.
Pecorino sardo cheese in a store. Juliane Lutz / Pixabay.com / 2016 / CC0 1.0