Pecorino Cheese vs Red Leicester Cheese

Pecorino Cheese is a hard sheep-milk cheese from Italy, while Red Leicester Cheese is hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly and made from cow milk, originating in United Kingdom.

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 Red Leicester Cheese?

Red Leicester is an English cow's milk cheese from Leicestershire, close to Cheddar but crumblier. Annatto gives it its orange colour, and four to nine months of ageing takes it from mild and mellow to tangy and slightly nutty.

What's the Difference Between Pecorino Cheese and Red Leicester Cheese?

• Origin: Pecorino Cheese (Italy), Red Leicester Cheese (United Kingdom)
• Milk type: Pecorino Cheese (sheep's milk), Red Leicester Cheese (cow's milk)
• Texture: Pecorino Cheese (hard), Red Leicester Cheese (Hard, similar to Cheddar but more moist, crumbly)
• Aging: Pecorino Cheese (fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato), Red Leicester Cheese (6 months (traditional), varies for industrial)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Pecorino Cheese Taste Like Red Leicester Cheese?

Their flavor profiles are distinct. More specifically, Pecorino Cheese shows buttery, nutty, mild cream and milk, while Red Leicester Cheese leans toward mild and mellow when young, stronger and tangier with age, slightly nutty with a sweet aftertaste. Aging plays into this as well. Pecorino Cheese at fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato develops a different profile than Red Leicester Cheese at 6 months (traditional), varies for industrial.

Can You Substitute Pecorino Cheese for Red Leicester Cheese?

Pecorino Cheese can stand in for Red Leicester 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 hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly.

Which Is Better, Pecorino Cheese or Red Leicester 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 hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly profile, Red Leicester Cheese is the better fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pecorino Cheese the same as Red Leicester Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Pecorino Cheese originates in Italy, while Red Leicester Cheese comes from United Kingdom. Pecorino Cheese is made from sheep milk; Red Leicester Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Pecorino Cheese is typically aged fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato, Red Leicester Cheese 6 months (traditional), varies for industrial.

Is Pecorino Cheese similar to Red Leicester Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Pecorino Cheese for Red Leicester Cheese?

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

Does Pecorino Cheese taste like Red Leicester 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 Red Leicester Cheese made of?

Red Leicester Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized (sparkenhoe farm), pasteurized (others)), using animal rennet. It's typically aged 6 months (traditional), varies for industrial. It originates in United Kingdom.

Which should I choose, Pecorino Cheese or Red Leicester Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Pecorino Cheese is hard, while Red Leicester Cheese is hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly.