Mimolette Cheese vs Pecorino Cheese
Mimolette Cheese
Pecorino Cheese
Mimolette Cheese is a smooth, creamy body cow-milk cheese from France, while Pecorino Cheese is hard and made from sheep milk, originating in Italy.
What Is Mimolette Cheese?
Mimolette is a hard, bright orange cow's milk cheese made around Lille in northern France. It is sold at several ages, from young wheels that taste like Parmesan to extra-old ones with a hazelnut flavor and a grey, mite-worked rind.
What Is Pecorino Cheese?
Pecorino is an Italian hard cheese made from sheep's milk, and its name comes from pecora, the Italian word for sheep. Six main varieties carry PDO status, with Pecorino Romano the best known outside Italy.
What's the Difference Between Mimolette Cheese and Pecorino Cheese?
- Origin: Mimolette Cheese (France), Pecorino Cheese (Italy)
- Milk type: Mimolette Cheese (Cow's milk), Pecorino Cheese (sheep's milk)
- Texture: Mimolette Cheese (Smooth, creamy body), Pecorino Cheese (hard)
- Aging: Mimolette Cheese (6 weeks to 24 months), Pecorino Cheese (fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Mimolette Cheese | Pecorino Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | Italy |
| Specific Origin | Flanders Area Of Pas-De-Calais | Italy |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Sheep's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized | — |
| Texture | Smooth, creamy body | Hard |
| Rind | Natural | — |
| Aging | 6 weeks to 24 months | Fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato |
| Taste | Sweet, less acidic, fruity, nutty, caramel | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Mimolette Cheese Taste Like Pecorino Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. More specifically, Mimolette Cheese shows mature: dense, waxy, hints of butterscotch; young: mild, while Pecorino Cheese leans toward buttery, nutty, mild cream and milk. Aging plays into this as well. Mimolette Cheese at 6 weeks to 24 months develops a different profile than Pecorino Cheese at fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato.
Can You Substitute Mimolette Cheese for Pecorino Cheese?
Mimolette Cheese can stand in for Pecorino Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect smooth, creamy body bite and body where the recipe calls for hard.
Which Is Better, Mimolette Cheese or Pecorino Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a smooth, creamy body cheese, go with Mimolette Cheese. For a hard profile, Pecorino Cheese is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mimolette Cheese the same as Pecorino Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Mimolette Cheese originates in France, while Pecorino Cheese comes from Italy. Mimolette Cheese is made from cow milk; Pecorino Cheese uses sheep. Aging also differs: Mimolette Cheese is typically aged 6 weeks to 24 months, Pecorino Cheese fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato.
Is Mimolette Cheese similar to Pecorino Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Mimolette Cheese for Pecorino Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Mimolette Cheese taste like Pecorino Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
What is Mimolette Cheese made of?
Mimolette Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged 6 weeks to 24 months. It originates in France.
What is Pecorino Cheese made of?
Pecorino Cheese is made from sheep milk. It's typically aged fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato. It originates in Italy.
Which should I choose, Mimolette Cheese or Pecorino Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Mimolette Cheese is smooth, creamy body, while Pecorino Cheese is hard.