Pecorino di Filiano Cheese vs Ricotta Cheese

Q: Is Pecorino di Filiano Cheese the same as Ricotta Cheese?

No. Pecorino di Filiano Cheese and Ricotta Cheese are distinct cheeses. See the side-by-side table for the specific differences in milk type, texture, and aging.

Q: Can I substitute Pecorino di Filiano Cheese for Ricotta Cheese?

In most recipes you can swap Pecorino di Filiano Cheese for Ricotta Cheese, though the result will shift in richness and milk character.

Q: Which should I choose, Pecorino di Filiano Cheese or Ricotta Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture and flavor rows in the table above are the best guide. Pick the one whose profile fits your recipe or board.

Pecorino di Filiano Cheese

Ricotta Cheese

Pecorino di Filiano Cheese is a hard sheep-milk cheese from Italy, while Ricotta Cheese is soft, moist and made from cow, goat, sheep, or buffalo milk, originating in Italy.

What Is Pecorino di Filiano Cheese?

Pecorino di Filiano is a firm sheep milk cheese made in the province of Potenza, in Basilicata, southern Italy. It has held protected designation of origin status since 2007, and the village of Filiano celebrates it with a festival each September.

What Is Ricotta Cheese?

Ricotta is an Italian whey cheese made from the leftover whey of sheep, cow, goat, or water buffalo milk cheesemaking. The fresh curds are creamy white and slightly sweet, and they turn up in cannoli and cheesecakes as readily as in lasagne and ravioli.

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

Milk type: Pecorino di Filiano Cheese (Sheep's milk), Ricotta Cheese (cow's, goat's, sheep's or water buffalo's milk)
Milk treatment: Pecorino di Filiano Cheese (Raw), Ricotta Cheese (Whey)
Texture: Pecorino di Filiano Cheese (Hard), Ricotta Cheese (Soft, moist)
Rind: Pecorino di Filiano Cheese (Golden yellow to dark brown), Ricotta Cheese (None)
Aging: Pecorino di Filiano Cheese (Two to five months, over six months), Ricotta Cheese (Fresh)
Taste: Pecorino di Filiano Cheese (Sweet and delicate to strong and savoury), Ricotta Cheese (Sweet, slightly creamy)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Pecorino di Filiano Cheese	Ricotta Cheese
Country of Origin	Italy	Italy
Specific Origin	Northwest Of The Basilicata Region	Italy
Milk Type	Sheep's milk	Cow's, goat's, sheep's or water buffalo's milk
Milk Treatment	Raw	Whey
Texture	Hard	Soft, moist
Rind	Golden yellow to dark brown	None
Aging	Two to five months, over six months	Fresh
Taste	Sweet and delicate to strong and savoury	Sweet, slightly creamy

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

Pecorino di Filiano Cheese reads as sweet and delicate to strong and savoury, while Ricotta Cheese brings sweet, slightly creamy character. More specifically, Pecorino di Filiano Cheese shows sweet in semi-aged, savoury in aged, while Ricotta Cheese leans toward depending on milk source. Aging plays into this as well. Pecorino di Filiano Cheese at two to five months, over six months develops a different profile than Ricotta Cheese at fresh.

Can You Substitute Pecorino di Filiano Cheese for Ricotta Cheese?

Pecorino di Filiano Cheese can stand in for Ricotta Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect hard bite and body where the recipe calls for soft, moist. Flavor-wise, Pecorino di Filiano Cheese reads as sweet and delicate to strong and savoury while Ricotta Cheese brings sweet, slightly creamy notes.

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

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

Which is your favorite?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pecorino di Filiano Cheese the same as Ricotta Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Pecorino di Filiano Cheese is made from sheep milk; Ricotta Cheese uses cow, goat, sheep, or buffalo. Aging also differs: Pecorino di Filiano Cheese is typically aged two to five months, over six months, Ricotta Cheese fresh.

Is Pecorino di Filiano Cheese similar to Ricotta Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Pecorino di Filiano Cheese for Ricotta Cheese?

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

Does Pecorino di Filiano Cheese taste like Ricotta Cheese?

Pecorino di Filiano Cheese reads as sweet and delicate to strong and savoury, while Ricotta Cheese is sweet, slightly creamy.

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.

What is Ricotta Cheese made of?

Ricotta Cheese is made from cow, goat, sheep, or buffalo milk (whey), using animal or microbial rennet. It's typically aged fresh. It originates in Italy.

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

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Pecorino di Filiano Cheese is hard, while Ricotta Cheese is soft, moist.