Pecorino Toscano A Great Italian Cheese From Tuscany

Pecorino Toscano is a sheep's milk cheese that is produced throughout the Tuscany region and parts of the Umbria region in Italy. It is a DOC certified cheese and its production is strictly supervised by the Consortium de Pecorino Toscano.

Details: Pecorino Toscano is made by using pasteurized sheep's milk then pressing the rennet induced curds to remove the liquid whey, then it is cooked to remove even more moisture. The pressed curds are then soaked in brine and allowed to begin aging. Depending on the dairy that produces it some Pecorino Toscano cheeses are rubbed with tomato paste to give the rind a reddish coloration and others are rubbed with olive oil to seal the rind and prevent the growth of mold.

Being made from sheep's milk Pecorino Toscano will have a high fat content of about 50%. With this in mind the cheese may seem oily but this is a good thing because the butterfat gives the cheese its great texture and flavor. So, when left out at room temperature the cheese will weep some of the butterfat showing that the cheese has not dried out or that it is getting stale.

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 Pecorino Toscano is sold in two forms fresco " fresh" and stagionato "aged". The fresh version, which is aged for a minimum of twenty days, has a very mild nutty flavor, creamy texture and a soft white or straw colored interior paste. At this stage it does well on grilled sandwiches or sliced thin and placed on top of baked potatoes or polenta.

The stagionato pecorino is aged for four to six months and will have a firm straw colored interior paste that lends well to grating. 

Tasting: The flavor of the stagionato pecorino has a sharp and salty flavor with sweet nutty overtones that teases the palate. Try serving it sliced with fresh pears as an appetizer or after dinner treat. It also is wonderful shaved over salads and grated over pasta dishes. Pecorino Toscano can be purchased in all good cheese shops, Whole Foods and online at Amazon.

Wine Pairing for Fresh Pecorino Toscano pairs very well with Ovieto or Lungarotti white wines. The aged Pecorino Toscano pairs well with Chianti Classico, Brunello or other Tuscan red wines.