Pecorino
Template:Short description Template:Refimprove Template:Other uses Template:Infobox cheese
Pecorino is an Italian hard cheese produced from sheep's milk. The name Template:Lang derives from Template:Lang, which means 'sheep' in Italian.<ref>pecorino, n. OED Online. December 2013. Oxford University Press. Accessed 7 January 2014.</ref>
Overview
Of the six main varieties of pecorino, all of which have protected designation of origin (PDO) status under European Union law, Template:Lang is probably the best known outside Italy.
Most Template:Lang is produced on the island of Sardinia, although its production zone also includes Lazio and the Tuscan provinces of Grosseto and Siena. Ancient Roman authors wrote about this cheese and its production technique.<ref>Italian Pecorino and Ancient Roman</ref>
The other five mature PDO cheeses are the Template:Lang from Sardinia (casu berbeghinu in Sardinian language); Template:Lang, whose production was already attested by Pliny the Elder in his Natural History;<ref>Pecorino Toscano Consortium for the Protection of Tuscan Pecorino (in Italian)</ref>Template:Bsn Template:Lang (or picurinu sicilianu in Sicilian); Template:Lang from Basilicata;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and pecorino crotonese from the province of Crotone, in Calabria.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Two other well-known pecorinos are Template:Lang (from the comune of Amatrice, which was also the origin of amatriciana sauce) and the one that was produced in Abruzzo, the Template:Lang.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
All come in a variety of styles depending on how long they have been aged. The more matured cheeses, referred to as Template:Lang (Template:Literally), are harder but still crumbly in texture and have decidedly buttery and nutty flavours. The other two types, Template:Lang and Template:Lang, have a softer texture and milder cream and milk tastes.Template:Citation needed
Tradition
A variant from southern Italy is Template:Lang (Template:Literally), to which black peppercorns are added. Today many other additions are made, for example walnuts, rocket or tiny pieces of white or black truffle.Template:Citation needed
In Sardinia, the larvae of the cheese fly are intentionally introduced into Template:Lang to produce casu martzu. As it is illegal, it is primarily sold through the black market.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
Template:Commons category-inline Template:Portal
- List of Italian cheeses
- List of Italian DOP cheeses – food with protected designation of origin status
- Template:Lang
- Template:Lang
- Template:Lang
- Template:Lang
- Template:Lang
- Template:Lang