Kamil Perry
Pungent Havarti cheese is a semi-soft Danish cow's milk cheese with a rindless, smooth surface and a cream or yellow colour. It is an excellent cheese to cook with because of its creaminess and ability to melt. It can be used to make a cheese sauce that pairs well with grilled chicken and vegetables, or it can be melted and served as a dip with roasted vegetables or crudités. Its creaminess also stands up well to spice, making it a good choice for recipes with chillies or horseradish. Pungent Havarti is also a good choice for a cheeseboard, where it can be served with red wines like Zinfandel, Shiraz, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon, or white wines like Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling. For a fun twist, it can be used in grilled cheese sandwiches, such as with avocado, or in mini pastry-wrapped burgers.
How to serve pungent Havarti cheese
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Flavour profile | Creamy, buttery, sharp, pungent |
| Wine pairing | Red wines like Zinfandel, Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon; white wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling |
| Cheese sauce | Grilled chicken, vegetables |
| Spices | Chilies, horseradish |
| Cheese board | Thin slices |
| Melts | Sandwiches, burgers, grilled cheese |
| Dishes | Cauliflower |
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What You'll Learn
- Havarti cheese fondue: grate and melt the cheese, then serve with roasted vegetables or crudités for dipping
- Grilled cheese sandwiches: try Havarti with avocado for an extra creamy texture
- Mini burger bites: wrap mini burgers in pastry and serve with sauces—perfect for parties
- Cheese sauce: Havarti's creaminess pairs well with grilled chicken and vegetables, especially cauliflower
- Wine pairings: Havarti's smooth, creamy flavour complements most red wines and fruity whites like Sauvignon Blanc
Havarti cheese fondue: grate and melt the cheese, then serve with roasted vegetables or crudités for dipping
Havarti cheese fondue is a delicious and relatively simple dish to make. As a semi-soft cheese, Havarti is a great option for fondue, and its creamy flavour pairs well with most wines, especially reds like Zinfandel, Shiraz, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon, and whites like Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling.
To make the fondue, start by grating the Havarti cheese into a small bowl and tossing it with cornstarch to lightly coat each piece. This will prevent the cheese from separating when you cook it. If you're having trouble coating the cheese without clumping, try putting the mixture into a large Ziplock bag and shaking it.
Next, prepare the liquid base for your fondue. In a saucepan, heat some cream and milk until it just comes to a boil. You can also use a combination of wine and lemon juice, or broth, for a more savoury fondue. Once your liquid base is heated, reduce the heat to low and start adding the cheese, a little at a time, stirring constantly to melt it before adding more. You can also add flour to the cheese beforehand to help thicken the fondue. Continue stirring until all the cheese has melted and the mixture is smooth.
Finally, transfer the fondue to a fondue pot and keep it warm over low heat. Havarti fondue is excellent served with roasted vegetables or crudités for dipping. You can also serve it with bread, breadsticks, crackers, or French bread cubes for a heartier option. Enjoy your homemade Havarti cheese fondue!
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Grilled cheese sandwiches: try Havarti with avocado for an extra creamy texture
Grilled cheese sandwiches are a classic comfort food, but adding some avocado and Havarti cheese can be a delightful twist on the traditional grilled cheese. Here is a detailed recipe for a Chicken Avocado Havarti Grilled Cheese Sandwich:
Ingredients
- Chicken breast
- Havarti cheese
- Tomato slices
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Pepperoncini peppers
- Pickled onions
- Avocado
- Microgreens
- Bread (gluten-free if needed)
- Butter
- Spicy mayo
Instructions
- Season and grill the chicken breast.
- Lightly butter a large non-stick pan over medium heat.
- Smear 1-2 tbsp of spicy mayo on the inside of both slices of bread (1 tbsp per side).
- On one slice, layer the grilled chicken, Havarti cheese, tomato slices, sun-dried tomatoes, pepperoncini peppers, pickled onions, avocado, and microgreens.
- Top the sandwich with the other slice of bread once the bread is golden on the buttered side.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately.
You can also make a vegetarian version of this sandwich by omitting the chicken and adding more vegetables, such as sprouts. For a tangy flavour, you can spread some cream cheese or mayonnaise on the bread before adding the other ingredients. To make it extra creamy, try using avocado oil mayo.
Havarti cheese is a semi-soft Danish cow's milk cheese that is known for its smooth, creamy flavour. It pairs well with avocado and can stand up to spicy ingredients. Its creaminess also makes it an excellent melting cheese for a fondue or a cheese sauce. When serving Havarti cheese as part of a cheeseboard, slice off a few thin slices to show your guests the best way to enjoy it.
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Mini burger bites: wrap mini burgers in pastry and serve with sauces—perfect for parties
Havarti cheese is a semi-soft Danish cow's milk cheese with a smooth, creamy flavour. It is a great cheese to cook with and can be used in a variety of ways. Its creaminess means it stands up well to spice and it can be used in recipes that call for chillies. It also pairs well with horseradish and grilled chicken and vegetables.
When served as part of a cheeseboard, it is recommended to slice a few thin pieces off the block to show your guests how to enjoy it. It goes well with most red wines, from Zinfandel or Shiraz to a soft Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. If you prefer white wine, try a Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling to complement the cheese's buttery flavour.
Now, here are some ideas for mini burger bites, perfect for parties:
Preparing the Pastry
Preheat your oven to 400°F. On a lightly floured surface, unfold the puff pastry and roll it into a 12-inch square. Cut the pastry into four 6-inch squares, then cut those squares in half to make eight rectangles.
Making the Mini Burgers
In a bowl, mix ground beef with salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Form the mixture into 20 mini patties. You can also use premade meatballs or make your own turkey meatballs.
Assembling the Bites
Place a burger patty on one end of each pastry rectangle. Top the patty with cheese and your choice of toppings, such as bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, or pickles. Brush the edges of the pastry with a beaten egg mixed with water, then fold the pastry over the burger to enclose it. Press the edges with a fork to seal the pocket.
Baking and Serving
Bake the mini burger bites in the oven until the pastry is golden brown and cooked through. Serve with assorted dipping sauces, such as ketchup, mustard, or guacamole. These mini burger bites are perfect for parties, and you can customise them with any toppings you like!
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Cheese sauce: Havarti's creaminess pairs well with grilled chicken and vegetables, especially cauliflower
Havarti cheese is a semi-soft Danish cow's milk cheese with a rindless, smooth surface and a creamy flavour. Its creaminess pairs well with grilled chicken and vegetables. Here are some ways to incorporate Havarti cheese into your grilled chicken and vegetable dishes:
Chicken & Avocado Havarti Grilled Cheese Sandwich
This sandwich is a blend of savoury, cheesy, tangy, and sweet flavours. It combines grilled chicken, Havarti cheese, avocado, tomato slices, sun-dried tomatoes, pepperoncini peppers, pickled onions, and microgreens. You can also add garlic salt and pepper to the chicken for extra flavour. The outside of the sandwich has crispy grilled bread, while the inside has gooey melted cheese.
Bacon Havarti Grilled Cheese
This sandwich is filled with two kinds of cheese, crispy bacon, sweet caramelized onions, whole-grain dijon mustard, and Emmental cheese. It is a sophisticated and flavourful twist on the traditional grilled cheese sandwich.
Chicken with Havarti Cheese Sauce
This recipe involves making a cheese sauce with butter, flour, garlic powder, dill weed, milk, and Havarti cheese. The sauce is then served over breaded chicken pieces. You can also add some chilli or horseradish to the sauce for a spicy kick.
Vegetables with Havarti Cheese Sauce
Similar to the chicken dish, you can make a cheese sauce with Havarti and serve it as a bed for roasted vegetables or with crudités for dipping. Cauliflower is a vegetable that pairs particularly well with Havarti, especially when combined with dill.
When serving Havarti as part of a cheeseboard, slice off a few thin slices from the block to showcase the ideal way to enjoy this creamy cheese. In terms of beverage pairings, Havarti goes well with most red wines, such as Zinfandel, Shiraz, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon. If you prefer white wine, try a Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling to complement the cheese's buttery notes.
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Wine pairings: Havarti's smooth, creamy flavour complements most red wines and fruity whites like Sauvignon Blanc
When it comes to wine, Havarti's smooth and creamy flavour profile offers a lot of flexibility. Its mild and buttery notes are complemented by fruity whites like Sauvignon Blanc, which provide a refreshing contrast to the cheese's richness. The vibrant acidity, herbaceous notes, and citrus flavours of a Sauvignon Blanc pair harmoniously with Havarti.
For a distinctive experience, a California Zinfandel is a bold choice, with its rich, jammy fruit flavours of red and black berries, and layers of licorice, black pepper, and spice. The complexity of these flavours adds an intriguing contrast to the mildness of Havarti. Oak influences in the wine, such as vanilla and mocha, further enhance the tasting experience by providing a sweet and slightly smoky undertone.
If you're looking for a less typical pairing, Merwah from Lebanon offers an intriguing option. The rich citrus and nutty notes in Merwah complement Havarti's buttery flavours, while its refreshing acidity enhances the cheese's creamy texture. This pairing showcases the unique terroir of Lebanon, resulting in a memorable combination.
While Havarti is versatile with reds, not all whites are a good match. Its mild flavour means that whites with bold flavours may not be the best choice. However, a lightly oaked or unoaked Chardonnay can still work well. Look for Chardonnays with balanced acidity and subtle fruit flavours, as the wine's smoothness and hints of tropical fruit can complement Havarti's creamy nature.
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Frequently asked questions
Havarti is a semi-soft Danish cow's milk cheese with a rindless, smooth, and creamy texture. It is usually cream or yellow in colour. The pungent variety may have a strong, sharp taste.
The creaminess of Havarti cheese means it pairs well with spicy foods. It can also be used in cheese sauces, grilled cheese sandwiches, or served as part of a cheeseboard.
You can use pungent Havarti cheese in recipes that call for melted cheese, such as grilled cheese sandwiches, cheeseboard selections, or mini burger bites. For something more indulgent, you can make a fondue with cream, milk, and black pepper, and serve it with roasted vegetables or crudités for dipping.
Havarti cheese goes well with most red wines, including Zinfandel, Shiraz, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. If you prefer white wine, a Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling will complement the cheese's buttery flavour.
You can buy pungent Havarti cheese at most specialty cheese shops or grocers. Some online retailers may also stock it.
