Sheep Milk Cheeses from Italy

Discover cheeses made from sheep milk in Italy, from historic recipes to contemporary creations.

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Ricotta

Ricotta is a soft Italian cheese made from the whey left over from the production of other cheeses, primarily sheep, cow, goat, or buffalo milk. It has a creamy texture and a mild, sweet flavor, making it versatile for both …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's, goat's, sheep's or water buffalo's milk
Texture: Soft, moist
Flavor: Sweet, slightly creamy

Mozzarella

Mozzarella is a soft, white cheese originally from Southern Italy. Traditionally made from water buffalo milk (mozzarella di bufala), it's also commonly produced from cow's milk (fior di latte). Mozzarella is famous for its mild, milky flavor and stretchy texture, …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's, goat's, sheep's or water buffalo's milk
Texture: Soft, creamy
Flavor: Mild, milky

Pecorino Romano

Pecorino Romano is one of the most ancient types of cheese and a staple in Italian cuisine. Made from sheep's milk, it is salty and sharp, traditionally used grated over pasta dishes, incorporated into sauces, or eaten on its own …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Sheep's milk
Texture: Hard
Flavor: Sharp, salty

Pecorino Sardo

Pecorino Sardo, also known as Fiore Sardo, is a firm sheep’s milk cheese from Sardinia, Italy. It comes in two varieties: Dolce (sweet), which is younger and softer, and Maturo (mature), which is harder and has a more intense flavor. …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Sheep's Milk
Texture: Firm but springy and elastic for Dolce, Hard and grainy for Maturo
Flavor: Mild and sweet for Dolce, More piquant and pronounced in salt for Maturo

Pecorino Toscano

Pecorino Toscano is a PDO-certified cheese from Tuscany made from sheep's milk. It has a softer texture and milder flavor compared to other Pecorinos and can be eaten fresh or aged. The fresh version is creamy and mild, while the …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Sheep's milk
Texture: Soft or Semihard
Flavor: Fragrant

Pecorino

Pecorino is a term for Italian cheeses made from sheep's milk. The most well-known varieties include Pecorino Romano, Pecorino Toscano, and Pecorino Sardo, each named after their region of origin. These cheeses vary in texture from soft and buttery to …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Sheep's milk
Texture: Hard

Cacioricotta

Cacioricotta is a traditional cheese from the southern regions of Italy, particularly popular in Puglia and Campania. It can be made from cow's, sheep's, or goat's milk and has characteristics of both ricotta and aged cheese, hence its name. It …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Goat's, occasionally Sheep's and Cow's mix
Flavor: Sweet to salty, spicy

Castelmagno

Castelmagno is a renowned Italian blue cheese from Piedmont. It is made primarily from cow's milk with occasional small additions of sheep's or goat's milk. This cheese has a grainy texture and an intense, sharp flavor. Castelmagno is often used …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's, goat's and sheep's milk
Texture: Hard, compact, friable
Flavor: Savory, salty

Caciotta

Caciotta is a soft to semi-hard cheese made from cow's, sheep's, or goat's milk, or a combination of these. It is typically aged for a few weeks, resulting in a mild and creamy flavor. Caciotta can be infused with various …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's, goat's, sheep's or water buffalo's milk
Texture: Semi-soft, artisan
Flavor: Mild

Romano

Romano, also known as Pecorino Romano, is a hard, salty Italian cheese made from sheep's milk, originally from the region around Rome. It is known for its sharp, piquant flavor and is most often used grated over pasta dishes, soups, …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's, goat's or sheep's milk
Texture: Hard
Flavor: Mild, sharp, tangy

Fiore Sardo

Fiore Sardo is a firm, smoked sheep's milk cheese from Sardinia. It has a rugged texture and a rich, savory flavor, which is enhanced by the smoking process. Traditionally made by shepherds, Fiore Sardo is aged for at least three …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Sheep's milk
Texture: Hard
Flavor: Spicy, herbaceous

Bra

Bra cheese comes from the town of Bra in Piedmont, Italy, and can be made from either cow's milk alone or a blend of cow's and sheep's or goat’s milk. It ranges in texture from soft and creamy to firm, …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's milk; optionally mixed with small quantities of sheep or goat milk
Texture: Hard or semi-hard depending on aging
Flavor: Range from mild to piquant

Provola dei Nebrodi

Provola dei Nebrodi is a traditional Sicilian cheese made from cow's milk in the Nebrodi mountains. It is a stretched-curd cheese with a smooth, creamy texture and a delicate, buttery flavor. Often smoked over natural woods, Provola dei Nebrodi develops …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow's whole milk, sometimes with sheep's and/or goat's milk
Texture: Soft and compact
Flavor: Sweet and slightly sour when fresh, savory and strong when aged

Maiorchino

Maiorchino is a traditional sheep's milk cheese from Sicily, particularly noted for its use in the annual cheese-rolling competition in Novara di Sicilia. It has a firm, dense texture and a rich, nutty flavor that intensifies with age, making it …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Raw whole sheep's milk, goat's milk (max 25%)
Texture: Hard
Flavor: Spicy with age

Canestrato di Moliterno

Canestrato di Moliterno is an Italian cheese from Basilicata, particularly noted for its firm texture and sharp, piquant flavor. It is made from a mix of sheep's and goat's milk and is aged in wicker baskets, which imprint a distinctive …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: 70–90% goat's, 10–30% sheep's
Texture: Hard
Flavor: Varies

Ricotta Salata

Ricotta Salata is a pressed, salted, dried, and aged version of ricotta, which turns it into a firm, crumbly cheese with a mild, milky flavor and a slightly salty bite. It's frequently grated over pasta, salads, or used in cooked …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Sheep's milk
Texture: Semi-hard, whey

Pecorino Siciliano

Pecorino Siciliano is an ancient sheep’s milk cheese from Sicily, known for its sharp and spicy flavor. This hard cheese is typically aged for at least four months and has a compact, crumbly texture. It’s often enjoyed on its own …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Sheep's milk
Texture: Hard and compact
Flavor: Varies from fresh and floral to fruity and spicy with age

Vastedda della Valle del Belice

Vastedda della Valle del Belice is a unique sheep's milk cheese from Sicily, distinctive because it is one of the few stretched-curd sheep cheeses. It is made from raw, whole milk and has a smooth, elastic texture with a mild, …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Raw whole sheep’s milk
Flavor: Lightly sourish but not spicy

Pepato

Pepato is a variety of Pecorino that is studded with whole peppercorns, adding a spicy kick to the otherwise nutty and salty flavor of the sheep's milk cheese. This hard, granular cheese is excellent for grating over dishes to add …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Sheep's milk
Texture: Semi-hard, artisan
Flavor: Salty, spicy

Ricotta Romana

Ricotta Romana is a PDO-protected ricotta from the Lazio region, made from sheep's milk. It has a grainier texture and a richer, slightly saltier flavor compared to other ricottas, which makes it a favorite for adding depth to traditional Roman …

Country: Italy
Milk Type: Sheep's
Texture: Soft, moist
Flavor: Sweet, slightly creamy

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