Frederic Melton
Kerrygold Dubliner cheese, an Irish cheese invented in 1990, has become a classic. With a sweet, nutty flavour, it has been compared to Swiss cheese, mature cheddar, and aged Parmesan. Its texture is firm and crumbly, and it melts beautifully, making it perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches. It pairs well with fruits like apples and pears, and its buttery aroma makes it a delightful addition to any recipe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Texture | Firm, crumbly, and waxy |
| Taste | Sweet, nutty, salty, and mild |
| Aroma | Sweet, buttery, nutty, and mellow |
| Colour | Pale to bright yellow |
| Melting | Melts beautifully |
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What You'll Learn
How to melt it
Dubliner cheese is a hard cheese with a crumbly texture when fresh and young. However, it melts beautifully and lends itself well to melting.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
To make a grilled cheese sandwich, shred your own Dubliner cheese to ensure a smoother texture. Use a box grater or a food processor to shred the cheese. You can also use other types of cheese, such as sharp cheddar or Gruyère, to add a similar flavor. In a medium-sized saucepan or large skillet, melt some butter over medium-low heat. Add some shallots or onions and cook until they become translucent. Then, add flour and stir until well combined. Slowly pour in milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps from forming. Finally, add the shredded cheese and stir until it is completely melted and combined with the rest of the ingredients. Spread this mixture between two slices of bread and grill until golden brown.
Mac and Cheese
To make a creamy mac and cheese, start by cooking your pasta according to the package instructions. In a separate deep pan or small pot, melt butter over medium heat. Mix in flour to create a roux and cook, stirring constantly, until the flour is cooked. Add milk (room temperature milk is preferable, but cold milk can be used if whisked vigorously) and cream to the roux and whisk to form a smooth sauce. Cook the sauce for a minute or two, stirring, until it thickens. Then, add the shredded cheese and whisk until it is completely melted. Combine the sauce with the cooked pasta, and enjoy! For a crispy crust, top with breadcrumbs or more cheese and bake in the oven.
Cheese Dip
For a warm cheese dip, melt butter in a medium-sized saucepan or large skillet over medium-low heat. Add shallots and cook until translucent. Then, add flour and stir until combined. Slowly pour in milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Add beer, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard, and continue whisking. Cook over medium heat until the mixture starts to thicken. Finally, add the shredded cheese and stir until it is completely melted and combined. Serve with tortilla chips, pita chips, flatbread, crackers, carrot sticks, celery sticks, or bread.
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What it tastes like
Dubliner cheese is a sweet and buttery Irish cheese with a nutty flavour. It is similar to a traditional Cheddar but with the sweet, nutty taste of a Swiss cheese, combined with the piquant flavour of an aged Italian-type cheese. The cheese has a thin natural rind and a colour that varies from pale to bright yellow, which Kerrygold refers to as a "pot-o'-gold colour". The bright yellow shade is determined by the high beta-carotene levels in the milk used for Kerrygold Dubliner production. The aroma of Dubliner cheese is sweet and buttery with a bit of funky nuttiness, somewhat reminiscent of Parmesan but considerably mellower. The peppery sharpness of the taste doesn’t come through in the aroma.
The texture of Dubliner cheese is typically firm and crumbly, similar to Cheddar and Parmesan. It may also develop calcium lactate cheese crystals, which give it a granular texture with a bit of crunch. The cheese is rich in taste and is often described as creamy, with a fantastic balance of sweet and savoury, and a slight piquant bite. It is essentially like a soft, buttery Parmesan.
Dubliner cheese pairs well with fruits like apples, pears, grapes, and peaches, as well as plain crackers. It can be sliced and melted onto burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, or used in quiches. It also goes well with a glass of Merlot, Cabernet, or an oaky Chardonnay, and is excellent when grated over pasta.
Overall, Dubliner cheese has a unique and complex flavour profile that makes it a popular choice for those looking for a creative twist on classic dishes.
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How to serve it
Dubliner cheese is a great option for melting into grilled cheese sandwiches, burgers, or even grilled cheese with a bowl of tomato soup. Its sweet and nutty flavour, reminiscent of Swiss cheese, makes it a good pairing with fruits like apples, pears, grapes, and peaches. It can also be melted over pasta or sliced and put on a sandwich with rotisserie chicken.
For a more sophisticated option, Dubliner can be served with a bold wine like Cabernet or oaky Chardonnay, and paired with dark chocolate, salty prosciutto, hearty bread, or dried fruits. It is also delicious served with a pint of Guinness or rustic artisan bread.
If you want to extend the life of your Dubliner cheese, the day you open it, place it on a freshly cleaned cutting board and cut it with a clean knife into quarters. Then, vacuum seal three of the quarters and freeze them. This way, you can enjoy the fourth quarter fresh!
Finally, Dubliner is best served at room temperature, so take it out of the fridge about an hour before serving to let it warm up a bit.
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What to pair it with
Dubliner cheese, with its sweet, nutty flavour and mild saltiness, is a great option to melt over burgers or grilled cheese sandwiches. It can also be sliced and put on a sandwich with leftover rotisserie chicken. For a classic Irish combination, serve it with a pint of Guinness.
Dubliner is also an excellent melting cheese for recipes and can be grated over pasta. It pairs well with dark chocolate, salty prosciutto, hearty or crusty rustic bread, and dried or fresh fruits. Apples, pears, grapes, strawberries, and peaches are all good options.
The cheese's mellow flavour also makes it a good pairing with bold wines, such as a Cabernet or an oaky Chardonnay. For a non-alcoholic pairing, try it with tomato soup.
How to store it
Dubliner cheese is a robust aged cow's milk cheese with a hard texture similar to cheddar. It is a mature cheese, usually over a year old, and is known for its dryness and intense flavour. The cheese has a high fat content, which can lead to "oiling off" if it is not kept refrigerated at all times. To prevent this, Dubliner cheese should be stored in a refrigerator, ideally in a wrapper or container that can be resealed. While it is not recommended to leave the cheese unrefrigerated for extended periods, it can be left out for short periods, such as when serving it at a meal.
If you are storing a large block of Dubliner cheese, it is important to note that the cheese is susceptible to mould, with statistics from the manufacturer showing that 0.3% of packs will give a mould problem. To minimise the risk of mould, store the cheese in a cool, dry place and wrap it tightly in wax paper or plastic wrap, ensuring that it is sealed properly. You can also purchase specialty cheese paper that has an anti-mould coating.
For smaller quantities of Dubliner cheese, such as shredded or sliced varieties, it is still important to store them properly to maintain their quality and freshness. If you have purchased shredded or sliced Dubliner cheese, transfer it to an airtight container or resealable bag and store it in the refrigerator. This will help to keep the cheese fresh and prevent it from drying out or becoming contaminated.
If you are storing Dubliner cheese for an extended period, it is important to monitor it regularly for any signs of spoilage, such as mould or discolouration. While proper storage can help extend the shelf life of the cheese, it is still a perishable product and will eventually spoil. To maximise its shelf life, store it in the original packaging or a resealable container, wrap it tightly, and ensure that it is the only type of cheese in the container to avoid transferring flavours or moisture.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Dubliner cheese melts beautifully into any recipe.
Dubliner cheese is similar to a traditional Cheddar but with the sweet, nutty taste of Swiss cheese. It also has the piquant flavour of an aged Italian-type cheese, like Parmesan.
Dubliner cheese pairs well with fruits like apples and pears, plain crackers, burgers, sandwiches, and pasta. It also goes well with a glass of Merlot, Cabernet, or oaky Chardonnay.
The texture of Dubliner cheese is firm and crumbly, similar to Cheddar and Parmesan. The colour varies from pale to bright yellow, with the original producer Kerrygold referring to it as a "pot-o'-gold colour".
