Feta Cheese vs Pecorino Cheese
Feta Cheese
Pecorino Cheese
Feta Cheese is a soft, white, aged in brine goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Pecorino Cheese is hard and made from sheep milk, originating in Italy.
What Is Feta Cheese?
Feta is a brined curd white cheese from Greece, made traditionally from sheep's milk, or from a mixture of sheep and goat's milk. It is crumbly with a slightly grainy texture and has a salty, tangy flavor. Feta is commonly used in salads, pastries, and as a table cheese, and is central to Greek cuisine.
What Is Pecorino Cheese?
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 hard and granular, and they range in flavor from mild to sharp and salty, often aged to develop deeper flavors.
What's the Difference Between Feta Cheese and Pecorino Cheese?
- Origin: Feta Cheese (Greece), Pecorino Cheese (Italy)
- Milk type: Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), Pecorino Cheese (sheep's milk)
- Texture: Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine), Pecorino Cheese (hard)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feta Cheese | Pecorino Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Greece | Italy |
| Specific Origin | Throughout Greece | — |
| Milk Type | Goat's and sheep's milk | Sheep's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized, sometimes raw | — |
| Texture | Soft, white, aged in brine | Hard |
| Rind | None | — |
| Aging | 2 months to longer | — |
| Taste | Sharp to mild | — |
Pairing Comparison
What works with each cheese — wines, foods, breads, and more.
| Feta Cheese | Pecorino Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Pairings | Albariño, Asparagus, Avocado, Cod, Dirty Martini, Green Tea, Kiwi, Kolsch, Kombucha, Mangoes, Muscat, Pesto, Pinot Grigio, Pistachios, Pumpkin, Riesling, Roasted Vegetables, Salmon, Sauvignon Blanc, Seaweed, Shrimp, Sweet Potato, Tomatoes | — |
| Other Good Pairings | Beaujolais, Cabernet Franc, California Viogniers, Chicken, Dried Cranberries, Fruit Compote, Gamay, German Riesling, Grüner Veltliner, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Prosecco, Raspberry, Sparkling Rosé, Strawberries, Tacos, Tequila, Tuna, Viognier | — |
Which would you pick?
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Where to buy Feta Cheese and Pecorino Cheese
Feta Cheese
Pecorino Cheese
Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like Pecorino Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct.
Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for Pecorino Cheese?
Feta Cheese can stand in for Pecorino Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft, white, aged in brine bite and body where the recipe calls for hard.
Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or Pecorino Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft, white, aged in brine cheese, go with Feta Cheese. For a hard profile, Pecorino Cheese is the better fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Feta Cheese the same as Pecorino Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Feta Cheese originates in Greece, while Pecorino Cheese comes from Italy. Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; Pecorino Cheese uses sheep.
Is Feta Cheese similar to Pecorino Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Pecorino Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Feta Cheese taste like Pecorino Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
What is Feta Cheese made of?
Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk (pasteurized, sometimes raw). It's typically aged 2 months to longer. It originates in Greece.
What is Pecorino Cheese made of?
Pecorino Cheese is made from sheep milk. It originates in Italy.
Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Pecorino Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine, while Pecorino Cheese is hard.
See full profiles: Feta Cheese and Pecorino Cheese.