Skip to main content

Preserved Pecorino Sardo

This is less a recipe than an idea, but I assure you that it’s an idea that will continue to inspire you. It began with a jar of marinated Sardinian pecorino that I bought and kept at one of the restaurants. Although the price of the cheese made it as precious as gold, I soon found that it enhanced nearly everything it touched, from pastas to carpaccios. (I admit it’s also terrific snitched directly out of the jar.) If kept covered in olive oil, the cheese will keep nearly indefinitely, though it’s so irrisistable that it won’t last that long. Make sure it is allowed to come to room temperature before using. As you use up the cheese, add the olive oil to vinaigrettes, pasta, and more.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 1 pound

Ingredients

1 pound young (fresh) Pecorino Sardo
Extra-virgin olive oil

Preparation

  1. Cut the rind from the cheese, then cut the cheese into 1-inch cubes and pack into a sterilized jar. Add oil to cover completely (the amount of oil will depend on the shape of your jar). Allow to marinate for at least a day or two before using. Covered in oil, the cheese will keep indefinitely in the refrigerator. Make sure that you always remove cheese using clean utensils, and not your fingers.

Ethan Stowell's New Italian Kitchen
Read More
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
Saucy, soy-honey salmon—cut into cubes to speed up the cooking process—makes a savory topping for a quick weeknight bowl.
These decadent brownies feature a sweet, minty topping complemented by a rich dark chocolate ganache and mini chocolate chips for added texture.
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
This summery sheet-pan dinner celebrates the bounty of the season and couldn't be simpler to make. Chorizo plays nicely with the salad, thanks to its spice.
Juicy peak-season tomatoes make the perfect plant-based swap for aguachile.
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
Who says ground chicken is boring? Two whole bunches of mint and some aromatics give these chicken meatballs their bracingly herby flavor.