Are parmesan and Romano cheese interchangeable?
Matthew Barrera
Published Apr 09, 2026
Are parmesan and Romano cheese interchangeable?
What’s the Difference Between Parmesan, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and Pecorino Romano? Sure, they’re largely interchangeable, but at least know what you’re buying. Despite the fact that they’re all hard, highly-gratable, Italian cheeses, Parmesan, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and Pecorino Romano are not one in the same.
Is Romano and Pecorino cheese the same?
A true pecorino Romano is made from Sheep’s milk (pecorino translates as “little sheep”) and comes from an area around Rome (though pecorino is made in many regions of Italy). Romano made in this country does indeed have a sharp flavor, albeit not nearly as sharp as a true pecorino Romano.
What cheese can I substitute for Parmesan cheese?
Pecorino Romano is likely the first potential substitute to come to mind, and it’s sharp, salty, and acidic — so if you like those qualities in your Parm, the Pecorino Romano route is a good one. Morillo particularly recommends Fiore Sardo, an aged raw sheep’s milk cheese from Sardinia.
Which cheese is sharper Romano or Parmesan?
Pecorino Romano has a bit of a sharper and saltier taste than Parmesan, making it excellent for grating on pasta, soup, or salad.
What is a substitute for Pecorino Romano cheese?
Substitutes. For the hard Pecorino Romano, you can substitute Parmesan, Asiago, Grana Padano or any Pecorino cheese.
What is the best brand of Pecorino Romano cheese?
As for our lineup, we recommend all of the imported Italian Pecorino Romano cheeses, but our top choice was the “pungent, salty, and sharp” Boar’s Head Pecorino Romano ($1.00 per ounce), which is widely available and moderately priced.
What can you substitute for pecorino romano cheese?
Pecorino Romano cheese is made from sheep’s milk, giving it a sharper and more pungent flavor than cow’s milk-based cheeses, such as Parmigiano Reggiano, according to Cook’s Illustrated. Substituting Pecorino Romano cheese for another hard, aged cheese can be done.
What kind of cheese can you use instead of Parmesan cheese?
It also has that nutty and strong flavor like Parmesan cheese. And just like Parmesan cheese, you can use it on salads and pasta. What I love about this type of cheese is that it is not as expensive as other imported hard cheeses. Like Romano cheese, Grana Padano is made in Italy. It also has that nutty and strong flavor like Parmesan cheese.
What can you use in place of Romano cheese?
Summary Grana Padano is an aged cow’s-milk cheese that’s slightly sweeter than Romano. As it has a similar texture and rich, nutty flavor, it can be substituted at a 1:1 ratio. 3. Piave Sometimes referred to as Parmesan’s cousin, Piave cheese is produced in Belluno, Italy and named after the Piave river.
Can you substitute Romano cheese for Manchego cheese?
You can purchase some version of Romano cheese in most well-stocked grocery stores including Trader Joe’s. Any type of Romano will add a nice sharp and salty flavor. Use any of the three types of Roman that you can find interchangeably. OR – Spanish Manchego will work too.
What cheese can you use to subsitute Romano cheese?
6 Delicious Substitutes for Romano Cheese Parmesan. One popular substitution for Romano is Parmesan cheese. Grana Padano. Grana Padano is another hard, Italian cheese with a crystalline texture and rich flavor. Piave. Sometimes referred to as Parmesan’s cousin, Piave cheese is produced in Belluno, Italy and named after the Piave river. Asiago. Spanish Manchego. Nondairy Romano cheese alternatives.
Can You substitue Parmesan cheese for Romano cheese?
Similarly to Pecorino Romano, aged Parmesan cheese grates well and has a sharp, nutty flavor. However, due to different production methods, Parmesan is considerably less salty and tangy. When substituting Parmesan for Romano, use a 1:1 ratio . Just keep in mind that you may need to add additional salt to the recipe.
Can you substitute parmesan for Romano?
Parmesan Cheese . You can use Parmesan cheese as a substitute for Romano because it is aged for the same amount of time, making it a hard cheese that crumbles and can be grated easily.
Is pecorino romano the same as Parmesan?
While both Parmigiano Reggiano (aka parmesan) and Pecorino Romano are hard, salty, Italian cheeses that are often served grated, they’re not the same nor 100 percent interchangeable.