Argentine Reggianito is a cow milk cheese made in Argentina that is inspired by Parmigiano-Reggiano.

The cheese was first made by Italian imigrants to Argentina. The term "Reggianito" means "little Reggiano". Reggianito is made in 15 pound wheels, where as wheels of Parmigiano-Reggiano made in Italy typically weigh over 80 pounds.

Argentine Reggianito is hard and granular. Compared to Parmigiano-Reggiano, it is a little saltier but not as strong in flavor. Reggianito is aged only about 6 months; Parmigiano is aged 12 to 36 months. We had some in early 2011 and felt it was bland compared to Parmigiano-Reggiano.

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Reggianito is usually cheaper than Parmigiano, making it an alternative if you need a hard grating cheese but don't necessarily need Parmigiano-Reggiano, or if you want something milder. (Though there are other hard grating cheeses like Grana Padano that are cheaper than Parmigiano but much better than Argentine Reggianito, in our opinion.)

Where to buy

We've found Argentine Reggianito in a few grocery stores in Northern California, because it is a cheaper alternative to Parmigiano-Reggiano. You can also find it online at amazon.com.