Caciocavallo Cheese vs Pecorino di Filiano Cheese

Caciocavallo Cheese is a firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Pecorino di Filiano Cheese is hard and made from sheep milk, originating in Italy.

What Is Caciocavallo Cheese?

Caciocavallo is a traditional Italian cheese made primarily from cow's milk, although some versions use sheep's milk. It has a distinctive teardrop shape and a smooth, golden rind. This semi-hard cheese is aged for two to six months and has a mild, slightly tangy flavor that becomes more pronounced with age.

What Is Pecorino di Filiano Cheese?

Pecorino di Filiano is a PDO-certified sheep's milk cheese from Basilicata, Italy. It is aged for several months, developing a hard texture and a complex flavor profile that includes hints of toasted hazelnuts and herbs. The rind is often treated with olive oil or vinegar to enhance its flavor and preservation.

What's the Difference Between Caciocavallo Cheese and Pecorino di Filiano Cheese?

• Milk type: Caciocavallo Cheese (cow's milk), Pecorino di Filiano Cheese (Sheep's milk)
• Texture: Caciocavallo Cheese (Firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly), Pecorino di Filiano Cheese (Hard)
• Rind: Caciocavallo Cheese (Smooth, thickens with age), Pecorino di Filiano Cheese (Golden yellow to dark brown)
• Aging: Caciocavallo Cheese (2 to 12 months, up to 5 years), Pecorino di Filiano Cheese (Two to five months, over six months)
• Taste: Caciocavallo Cheese (Slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex), Pecorino di Filiano Cheese (Sweet and delicate to strong and savoury)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Caciocavallo Cheese Taste Like Pecorino di Filiano Cheese?

Caciocavallo Cheese reads as slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex, while Pecorino di Filiano Cheese brings sweet and delicate to strong and savoury character. More specifically, Caciocavallo Cheese shows sweet when young; intensifies and becomes piquant and complex with age, dotted with small crystals, while Pecorino di Filiano Cheese leans toward sweet in semi-aged, savoury in aged. Aging plays into this as well. Caciocavallo Cheese at 2 to 12 months, up to 5 years develops a different profile than Pecorino di Filiano Cheese at two to five months, over six months.

Can You Substitute Caciocavallo Cheese for Pecorino di Filiano Cheese?

Caciocavallo Cheese can stand in for Pecorino di Filiano Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly bite and body where the recipe calls for hard. Flavor-wise, Caciocavallo Cheese reads as slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex while Pecorino di Filiano Cheese brings sweet and delicate to strong and savoury notes.

Which Is Better, Caciocavallo Cheese or Pecorino di Filiano Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly cheese, go with Caciocavallo Cheese. For a hard profile, Pecorino di Filiano Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Caciocavallo Cheese suits recipes that want slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex notes, while Pecorino di Filiano Cheese fits dishes calling for sweet and delicate to strong and savoury.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Caciocavallo Cheese the same as Pecorino di Filiano Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Caciocavallo Cheese is made from cow milk; Pecorino di Filiano Cheese uses sheep. Aging also differs: Caciocavallo Cheese is typically aged 2 to 12 months, up to 5 years, Pecorino di Filiano Cheese two to five months, over six months.

Is Caciocavallo Cheese similar to Pecorino di Filiano Cheese?

Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.

Can I substitute Caciocavallo Cheese for Pecorino di Filiano Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.

Does Caciocavallo Cheese taste like Pecorino di Filiano Cheese?

Caciocavallo Cheese reads as slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex, while Pecorino di Filiano Cheese is sweet and delicate to strong and savoury.

What is Caciocavallo Cheese made of?

Caciocavallo Cheese is made from cow milk. It's typically aged 2 to 12 months, up to 5 years. It originates in Italy.

What is Pecorino di Filiano Cheese made of?

Pecorino di Filiano Cheese is made from sheep milk (raw), using goat or lamb rennet. It's typically aged two to five months, over six months. It originates in Italy.

Which should I choose, Caciocavallo Cheese or Pecorino di Filiano Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Caciocavallo Cheese is firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly, while Pecorino di Filiano Cheese is hard.