Is Locatelli Cheese Pecorino Romano
Yes, Locatelli Pecorino Romano is Pecorino Romano: Locatelli is the brand, and Pecorino Romano is the type of cheese. However, Locatelli also sells other cheeses, so the brand name alone doesn’t identify what you’re buying. The full product name is what matters when shopping or matching a cheese to a recipe.
What Locatelli and Pecorino Romano Mean
Pecorino is a family of Italian sheep’s-milk cheeses, not one interchangeable product. Different pecorinos can be mild or sharp, soft or firm, plain or seasoned.
Pecorino Romano is a particular member of that family: a hard, salty, assertive cheese well suited to grating over pasta, vegetables, and soups. It is also a protected cheese name, rather than a generic term for every sheep’s-milk cheese. Its protected production area includes Sardinia, Lazio, and Tuscany.
“Romano” reflects the cheese’s Roman origins; it does not mean every wheel must be made in Rome. Different producers can make Pecorino Romano within the protected designation, and their cheeses can have noticeable flavor differences without being different cheese varieties.
How to Choose the Right Locatelli Cheese
A different brand of Pecorino Romano is a closer recipe match than a different cheese sold by Locatelli.
Use the cheese name on the package, not just the logo, to decide whether it matches your recipe.
| Package Name | What It Identifies | Match for a Recipe Calling for Pecorino Romano |
|---|---|---|
| Pecorino Romano, from Locatelli or another producer | The specific hard sheep’s-milk cheese | Yes |
| Pecorino without “Romano” | Another cheese in the sheep’s-milk pecorino family | Not automatically; texture and flavor can differ |
| Romano without “Pecorino” | A label that may identify a cow’s-milk Romano, especially in the US | Check the milk and product description |
| Parmesan or Parmigiano Reggiano | Cow’s-milk grating cheese, generally nuttier and less assertively salty | A possible substitution, but not the same cheese |
Step 1: Read the Full Product Name
- Choose the package your recipe calls for.
- The Locatelli cheese range also includes Pepato Pecorino, Saracino, Crema Spreadable Cheese, and Ricotta Salata. Those products have different characteristics.
This distinction matters at a deli counter, too.
Step 2: Check the Milk and Choose the Form
- Check the ingredient information for sheep’s milk. Locatelli identifies the milk used in its cheeses as 100% pure local sheep’s milk.
- Choose a wedge if you want to grate the cheese yourself and control the texture. Choose grated cheese for convenience when that format suits the recipe.
Once you’ve selected the correct product, use it as the Pecorino Romano called for in your recipe. You do not need to change the recipe’s quantity merely because the brand is Locatelli.
How to Use Locatelli Pecorino Romano in Cooking
Locatelli’s sharp flavor makes it useful where cheese needs to remain noticeable alongside tomato sauce, black pepper, or other strong ingredients. It also adds savory flavor to simple vegetables and grains.
Finishing Pasta, Vegetables, and Soups
Grate Locatelli over the finished dish, then taste before adding more salt. This is especially useful with prepared broth, seasoned sauces, or other salty ingredients already in the meal.
It also works mixed into breadcrumbs for chicken cutlets, vegetable toppings, meatballs, or stuffing. In these uses, distribute the grated cheese through the mixture rather than leaving it in concentrated pockets.
Making Cheese-Based Pasta Sauces
For sauces such as cacio e pepe, finely grated cheese is easier to incorporate than coarse shreds. Take the pan off direct heat before working in the cheese, and loosen the mixture with pasta water while tossing.
Continue tossing until the sauce coats the pasta smoothly, then serve. High heat can make the cheese clump rather than form an even sauce.
Freshly grating a wedge gives you control over how fine the cheese is. If you buy it grated, check the ingredients: some grated cheeses contain anti-caking ingredients that can affect how they incorporate into a sauce.
Substituting for Parmesan
Locatelli Pecorino Romano can replace Parmesan in many everyday finishing uses, but the result will taste different. It brings a sharper, saltier character rather than Parmesan’s generally gentler, nutty flavor.
For a flexible dish such as roasted vegetables or soup, add the cheese before making the final salt adjustment. For a cheese-centered sauce, use a recipe written for the cheese you have; changing the cheese can change both the flavor and how the sauce comes together.
What Sheep’s Milk Tells You About Lactose
A sheep’s-milk label identifies the milk source, not an exact lactose amount in the finished cheese.
Locatelli states that sheep’s milk contains approximately half the lactose of cow’s milk, and cheesemaking and aging affect the lactose remaining in a finished cheese.
If you need an exact lactose figure, identify the specific product and request its lactose information from Locatelli.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is Locatelli Cheese So Expensive?
Sheep’s milk, aging, importing, and retail markup all contribute to Locatelli’s price. Comparing it with a generic grated-cheese blend is not necessarily a like-for-like comparison. Compare the price per ounce with other Pecorino Romano cheeses, keeping wedge and grated formats separate.
What Happened to Locatelli Romano Cheese?
Locatelli’s official product range still includes Pecorino Romano, so its absence from one store does not establish that it has been discontinued. Ask the retailer whether it has changed suppliers, package sizes, or inventory. Searching for the full product name can also help distinguish it from the brand’s other cheeses.
How Do I Check a Locatelli Pecorino Romano Recall?
Check a current manufacturer or retailer recall notice for the exact product and lot; this article does not verify live recall status. Match the product name, package size, lot code, and date information against your package. An old search result or a notice covering one retailer-packed product does not establish that every Locatelli product is affected.
How does Locatelli Pecorino Romano differ from grated Parmesan cheese?
Locatelli Pecorino Romano is made from sheep’s milk, while Parmigiano Reggiano is made from cow’s milk. Locatelli tastes sharper and saltier, whereas Parmigiano Reggiano is generally nuttier.
Is Locatelli Pecorino Romano gluten-free?
Locatelli states that its Pecorino Romano is suitable for gluten-free diets. It does contain milk.
Can you freeze grated Locatelli Pecorino Romano cheese?
Yes, you can freeze it for later cooking. Seal it tightly before freezing; it may become more crumbly after thawing, but it can still be used in cooked dishes.
