Description
Pecorino Moliterno Cheese
About Pecorino Moliterno
And then along comes Pecorino Moliterno…
Just when you think you’ve got the measure of Pecorino, this one rather spectacularly breaks the rules.
Pecorino Moliterno is a firm, mature sheep’s milk cheese with rich, savoury flavours and dramatic veins of black truffle running right through it. Unlike our other truffle Pecorino, where pieces of truffle are added during the make, this cheese gets its truffle much later in life.
And that makes all the difference.
From Moliterno with Love
Moliterno is a town in Basilicata in southern Italy with a long history of maturing cheese.
Traditionally, cheeses were made by shepherds in the surrounding countryside before being taken to Moliterno to mature. The town became particularly associated with the skill of ageing rather than simply making cheese — something I rather like. After all, making a good cheese is only half the story; looking after it afterwards matters enormously too.
Young wheels are matured until they’ve developed their firm texture and rich Pecorino flavour.
And then things get interesting.
Rather than adding pieces of truffle to the curds when the cheese is made, channels are created in the matured wheel and filled with a black truffle preparation. As the cheese continues to rest, the truffle works its way through the paste.
Cut into the finished wheel and you get those extraordinary dark veins running through the pale cheese.
It’s certainly not subtle to look at.
Pecorino Moliterno – Jen’s Tasting Notes
Before you’ve even tasted Pecorino Moliterno, the truffle announces itself.
Cutting through those dark veins releases an incredible earthy aroma: mushrooms, damp woodland and that unmistakable truffly smell.
But underneath all of that, there’s a seriously good Pecorino.
The paste is firm and dense with the lovely richness of sheep’s milk. I get roasted hazelnuts, browned butter and a gentle sweetness alongside a savoury saltiness and plenty of umami.
Then you hit one of those truffle veins and everything ramps up.
The earthy, mushroomy flavours become much more intense and linger long after you’ve swallowed. Because the truffle isn’t evenly distributed through the cheese, every mouthful can be slightly different depending on where you’ve cut it from.
And that’s half the fun.
This is definitely not the shy member of the Pecorino family.
How to Serve and Pair Pecorino Moliterno
- Make sure you take it out of the fridge a good hour before you want to eat it so it can come up to room temperature.
- Classic pairings: Champagne and truffle is one of those combinations I absolutely love. The bubbles and acidity cut through the richness while letting that wonderful truffle aroma do its thing.
- Something a little different: I’d go back to southern Italy and choose an Aglianico. It has enough body and character to stand up to both the mature Pecorino and all that truffle.
- On the plate: Don’t overcrowd it. Good bread, perhaps a little chestnut honey and some ripe pear or fig are plenty. This cheese really doesn’t need much help.
- In the kitchen: Grate some into creamy mashed potato and thank me later. It’s also fabulous with eggs — folded through scrambled eggs or grated over an omelette, where the warmth really wakes up the truffle.
Jen’s note: I love cutting Pecorino Moliterno because you never quite know what you’re going to find inside. Those black truffle veins run through every wheel differently, so when you cut into one and get a particularly spectacular starburst, there is always a little moment of “look at that!” behind the counter. Cheese should taste good, obviously, but sometimes it’s allowed to show off a bit too.
Buying Pecorino Moliterno
- Brand or Producer: Central Formaggi
- Product name: Pecorino Moliterno al Tartufo
- Milk: Sheep
- Country: Italy
- Region: Molise
- Strength: Strong
- Vegetarian: No
- Suitable for pregnancy: Yes
- Allergens: MILK
Sizes and Prices
- 100g wedge, £7.60
- 500g wedge, £38.00
Storage Advice
- Keep refrigerated
- Wrap in waxed paper or cling film
- Remove from the fridge before serving
- Consume within 10 to 14 days of opening
Delivery and Collection
- UK wide courier delivery
- Click and collect from our Pangbourne shop
- Free local delivery available for selected postcodes
Ingredients (Allergens are listed in capitals)
MILK, black truffle, salt, starter cultures, rennet, natural flavour
