Pecorino Cheese vs Rabacal Cheese
Pecorino Cheese is a hard sheep-milk cheese from Italy, while Rabacal Cheese is semi-hard, artisan and made from goat and sheep milk, originating in Portugal.
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 Is Rabacal Cheese?
Rabaçal is a Portuguese sheep's and goat's milk cheese from the village of Rabaçal in the Coimbra district, protected as a DOP since 1996. It is sold mainly as a hard cheese with a delicate, balanced taste that sharpens as it ages.
What's the Difference Between Pecorino Cheese and Rabacal Cheese?
- Origin: Pecorino Cheese (Italy), Rabacal Cheese (Portugal)
- Milk type: Pecorino Cheese (sheep's milk), Rabacal Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk)
- Texture: Pecorino Cheese (hard), Rabacal Cheese (semi-hard, artisan)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Pecorino Cheese | Rabacal Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | Portugal |
| Specific Origin | Italy | Rabaçal, Coimbra District, Portugal |
| Milk Type | Sheep's milk | Goat's and sheep's milk |
| Texture | Hard | Semi-hard, artisan |
| Rind | — | Smooth, dry to slightly oily |
| Aging | Fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato | — |
| Taste | — | Smooth |
Taste Comparison: Does Pecorino Cheese Taste Like Rabacal Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. More specifically, Pecorino Cheese shows buttery, nutty, mild cream and milk, while Rabacal Cheese leans toward delicate and balanced, stronger and more aromatic with age.
Can You Substitute Pecorino Cheese for Rabacal Cheese?
Pecorino Cheese can stand in for Rabacal 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 semi-hard, artisan.
Which Is Better, Pecorino Cheese or Rabacal 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 Cheese. For a semi-hard, artisan profile, Rabacal Cheese is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pecorino Cheese the same as Rabacal Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Pecorino Cheese originates in Italy, while Rabacal Cheese comes from Portugal. Pecorino Cheese is made from sheep milk; Rabacal Cheese uses goat and sheep.
Is Pecorino Cheese similar to Rabacal Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Pecorino Cheese for Rabacal Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Pecorino Cheese taste like Rabacal Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
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.
What is Rabacal Cheese made of?
Rabacal Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk, using animal rennet. It originates in Portugal.
Which should I choose, Pecorino Cheese or Rabacal Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Pecorino Cheese is hard, while Rabacal Cheese is semi-hard, artisan.