Mont d'Or Cheese vs Pecorino Cheese
Mont d'Or Cheese
Pecorino Cheese
Mont d'Or Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese from France, while Pecorino Cheese is hard and made from sheep milk, originating in Italy.
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What Is Mont d'Or Cheese?
Mont d'Or is a seasonal soft cow's milk cheese from the Jura region of France and Switzerland, wrapped in a band of spruce that gives it its flavor. It sells from September 10 to May 10 and is usually warmed in its spruce box and eaten like fondue.
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 Mont d'Or Cheese and Pecorino Cheese?
- Origin: Mont d'Or Cheese (France), Pecorino Cheese (Italy)
- Milk type: Mont d'Or Cheese (Cow's milk), Pecorino Cheese (Sheep's milk)
- Texture: Mont d'Or Cheese (Soft), Pecorino Cheese (Hard)
- Aging: Mont d'Or Cheese (21 to 60 days), Pecorino Cheese (fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Mont d'Or Cheese | Pecorino Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | Italy |
| Specific Origin | Jura Mountains, Doubs | Italy |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Sheep's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | — |
| Texture | Soft | Hard |
| Rind | Washed rind | — |
| Aging | 21 to 60 days | Fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato |
| Taste | Resinous, mild to pungent | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Mont d'Or Cheese Taste Like Pecorino Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. More specifically, Mont d'Or Cheese shows known for its creamy taste and powerful aroma; gets resinous flavor from spruce bark, while Pecorino Cheese leans toward buttery, nutty, mild cream and milk. Aging plays into this as well. Mont d'Or Cheese at 21 to 60 days develops a different profile than Pecorino Cheese at fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato.
Can You Substitute Mont d'Or Cheese for Pecorino Cheese?
Mont d'Or Cheese can stand in for Pecorino Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft bite and body where the recipe calls for hard.
Which Is Better, Mont d'Or Cheese or Pecorino Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft cheese, go with Mont d'Or Cheese. For a hard profile, Pecorino Cheese is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mont d'Or Cheese the same as Pecorino Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Mont d'Or Cheese originates in France, while Pecorino Cheese comes from Italy. Mont d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk; Pecorino Cheese uses sheep. Aging also differs: Mont d'Or Cheese is typically aged 21 to 60 days, Pecorino Cheese fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato.
Is Mont d'Or Cheese similar to Pecorino Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Mont d'Or Cheese for Pecorino Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Mont d'Or Cheese taste like Pecorino Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
What is Mont d'Or Cheese made of?
Mont d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal rennet. It's typically aged 21 to 60 days. 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, Mont d'Or Cheese or Pecorino Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Mont d'Or Cheese is soft, while Pecorino Cheese is hard.