Beetroot's Best Cheese Companion: Finding The Perfect Pair

Beetroot is a versatile ingredient that can be used in both sweet and savoury dishes, from brownies to tzatziki. Its natural sweetness and earthy flavour make it a great pairing for cheese. But which cheese is the best match?

A popular choice is goat's cheese, which can be found paired with beetroot in salads, tarts, bagels and hummus. Blue cheese is another option, with its rich, crumbly texture and strong flavour. For a simple beetroot salad, crumbled blue cheese, a swirl of balsamic vinegar and a drizzle of olive oil are all you need.

Beetroot also goes well with feta, as seen in recipes for pasta, risotto, and a colourful seasonal salad with lentils, walnuts and rocket. For a meat-free main course, a vegan beetroot and feta tart is a show-stopping centrepiece.

Goat's cheese

For a refreshing lunch option, try a beet, avocado, and fried goat's cheese salad. You could also make beet, goat's cheese, and honey bagels or tarts. For a more savoury option, try a beet and goat's cheese hummus.

If you're looking for a more substantial meal, a beetroot risotto with goat's cheese is a great option. You can also try a beetroot, goat's cheese, and walnut tart.

So, if you're looking to add some goat's cheese to your beetroot dish, there are plenty of creative and delicious options to choose from!

Feta

A popular choice is a roasted beetroot and feta salad. This dish combines the earthy sweetness of beetroot with the salty, creamy feta, often alongside lentils, walnuts, and rocket. The colours are vibrant, and the flavours are well-balanced.

For a heartier meal, you can incorporate feta and beetroot into a pasta dish. The creaminess of the feta blends beautifully with the beetroot, creating a colourful and nutrient-packed meal.

If you're feeling adventurous, try making beetroot fritters with feta. These fritters are crispy on the outside and have a creamy, tangy centre from the feta. They can be served as a tasty starter or a light meal, perhaps with a squeeze of lemon.

For a more indulgent option, consider a beetroot and feta tart. This dish combines the sweetness of beetroot with the salty, creamy feta, all encased in a buttery pastry. It's a stunning dish, perfect for a winter lunch or as a side with roast meats.

Finally, for a simple yet elegant appetiser, try a cheese board with beet whipped feta. This dish showcases the versatility of feta, as the beetroot adds a beautiful colour and subtle earthy sweetness to the cheese. It's an excellent way to impress your guests with minimal effort.

Blue cheese

Start with small, fresh beetroots, about the size of a golf ball. Wrap each one in tin foil and roast them in the oven for around an hour. This will ensure they are cooked through and ready to be used throughout the week.

When it comes to blue cheese, opt for a crumbly, rich variety. If you can, source a sheep's milk blue cheese, which will have a unique and intense flavour. Conciato di San Vittorio, for example, is a sheep's milk cheese encrusted with wild herbs and spices, including fennel and marjoram, which complement the beetroot beautifully.

To assemble the salad, thinly slice the beets and lay them on a platter. Drizzle with a high-quality extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and season with sea salt. Finally, crumble the blue cheese over the top.

This simple combination of flavours allows the ingredients to shine, creating a dish that is far more than the sum of its parts.

Brie

Beetroot and brie is a classic combination that can be used to make a variety of dishes, from salads to snacks and even desserts. Here are some ideas for how to use brie and beetroot together:

Baked Brie with Beetroot Chutney

This recipe involves baking brie in puff pastry and serving it with a beetroot chutney. The combination of oozy brie and buttery pastry is a match made in heaven, and the beetroot chutney adds a touch of sweetness and a vibrant colour contrast. This dish can be served as an appetiser or a main course and is perfect for a festive occasion.

Beetroot and Brie on Toast

For a quick and easy snack, try spreading some butter or olive oil on a slice of bread, topping it with sliced or grated beetroot, and melted brie. You can grill the toast until the brie is golden and bubbly, and garnish it with fresh chives or serve it with a green salad. This open-faced sandwich is a great way to use up leftover beetroot and brie, and it's a delicious and nutritious snack or light meal.

Roasted Beet and Brie Salad

This salad combines roasted beetroot with toasted walnuts, crisp lettuce, and creamy brie cheese. The sweetness of the beetroot pairs perfectly with the rich, creamy brie, and the walnuts add a nice crunchy texture. You can make a balsamic allspice dressing to go with this salad, which adds a tangy and spicy flavour. This salad is a great way to showcase beetroot and brie as the star ingredients and is perfect for a winter lunch or dinner.

Other Ideas

In addition to these dishes, you can also try adding beetroot and brie to a grilled cheese sandwich, using them as toppings for a pizza, or even making a beetroot and brie soup. The combination of sweet, earthy beetroot and creamy, rich brie is versatile and can be adapted to suit your taste preferences and culinary skills.

Burrata

When preparing a beetroot and burrata dish, it is important to use high-quality ingredients to elevate the flavours and create a truly special culinary experience. This combination of ingredients can be used in a variety of ways, from a simple salad to a more complex starter or side dish.

For example, a beetroot and burrata salad can be created by roasting or pickling beetroots, then slicing them into wedges or quarters. The burrata can be torn into pieces and arranged on a platter with the beetroots, along with toppings such as pistachios, pomegranate seeds, and fresh basil. A pistachio vinaigrette can be drizzled on top, adding a creamy texture and nutty flavour to the dish.

The versatility of burrata and its ability to enhance the flavours of beetroot make it an excellent choice for creating delicious and impressive culinary creations.

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