The Perfect Cheese Partners For Hot Sauce

Hot sauce and cheese are a match made in heaven. From grilled cheese sandwiches to pizza, hot sauce and cheese are a classic combination. But what type of cheese goes best with hot sauce?

For those who appreciate a touch of spice, a milder hot sauce can enhance the flavour of cheese without overwhelming it. A herby or fruity hot sauce can cut through the richness of cheese, while a smoky sauce can add depth to its flavour. When it comes to specific cheeses, gouda, smoked gouda, and aged cheddar are all popular choices to pair with hot sauce. For a real treat, try a grilled cheese sandwich with young gouda and a generous drizzle of hot sauce.

If you're feeling adventurous, there are also a variety of hot sauces to choose from, each with its own unique flavour profile. From the gentle heat of harissa to the intense spice of chili crisp, the right hot sauce can elevate your cheese experience. So, whether you're a fan of mild or mouth-watering spice, there's a hot sauce and cheese combination to suit your taste buds.

Hot sauce and cheese on pizza

Choosing the Right Cheese

The type of cheese you select for your pizza plays a crucial role in determining the overall taste and texture. Here are some popular cheese options that pair well with hot sauce:

• Mozzarella: This classic pizza cheese is a go-to for a reason. Its mild flavour and stretchy texture make it an excellent base for your pizza.
• Parmigiano Reggiano: Also known as Parmesan, this cheese adds a sharp, nutty flavour and a crunchy texture to your pizza.
• Asiago: Asiago cheese has a rich, buttery flavour and a slightly grainy texture, making it a tasty addition to your pizza.
• Aged Cheddar: Cheddar cheese comes in various ages, offering different flavour profiles. An aged cheddar will have a sharper, more pronounced flavour that can stand up to the heat of the hot sauce.
• Smoked Provolone: Smoked provolone adds a smoky flavour dimension to your pizza, complementing the spiciness of the hot sauce.

Selecting the Perfect Hot Sauce

When it comes to hot sauce, there are countless options available, each with its unique flavour profile. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a hot sauce for your pizza:

• Heat Level: Hot sauces vary significantly in their spiciness. If you prefer a milder experience, opt for a milder hot sauce, such as those made with jalapeños or chilli peppers. For those who crave intense heat, choose sauces made with habaneros or Scotch bonnet peppers.
• Flavour Profile: Hot sauces can have fruity, smoky, tangy, or garlicky notes, among others. Consider the specific flavour profile you want to achieve. For example, a smoky hot sauce pairs well with grilled toppings, while a fruity hot sauce can complement sweeter ingredients.
• Texture: Hot sauces also differ in their texture. Some are thinner and more liquid, while others are thicker and chunkier. Choose a texture that appeals to you and complements the overall mouthfeel of your pizza.

Creating Balance

When pairing hot sauce with cheese on a pizza, it's essential to consider the concept of balance. Here are some tips for creating a harmonious combination:

• Contrast: Look for contrasting elements between the cheese and hot sauce. For example, pair a rich, creamy cheese with a tangy, vinegar-based hot sauce. The coolness of the cheese will balance the heat of the sauce.
• Similarities: On the other hand, you can also play with similarities. Choose a cheese with nutty or spicy notes to amplify the spiciness of the hot sauce. This creates a synergistic effect, enhancing the overall flavour profile.
• Terroir-Driven Pairings: Consider pairing hot sauces and cheeses that share a similar regional origin. For instance, an Italian hot sauce made with Calabrian chillies could pair beautifully with an Italian cheese like Parmigiano Reggiano.

Topping Suggestions

In addition to cheese and hot sauce, the choice of toppings can make or break your pizza. Here are some topping ideas that work well with a spicy profile:

• Meats: Spicy pizzas often pair well with meats like pepperoni, Italian sausage, or grilled chicken. These toppings add savoury notes that complement the heat.
• Vegetables: Consider vegetables like onions, peppers, or mushrooms, which offer a contrast of textures and flavours to the spicy foundation.
• Herbs: Don't underestimate the power of herbs! Fresh basil, oregano, or parsley can add a burst of freshness to your pizza, providing a respite from the heat.

Remember, when crafting your hot sauce and cheese pizza, feel free to experiment and trust your taste buds. Everyone's preferences are unique, so customise your pizza to suit your palate. Enjoy the journey of discovering the perfect hot sauce and cheese combination for your ultimate spicy pizza!

Hot sauce and cheese on a cheeseboard

Hot sauce and cheese are a match made in heaven. The contrasting flavours of rich, creamy cheese and spicy, tangy hot sauce complement each other perfectly. Here are some tips and ideas for creating a unique and delicious hot sauce and cheese platter:

Choosing the Right Cheeses

Select a variety of cheeses with different textures and flavours to keep things interesting. Soft, creamy cheeses like Camembert, Brie, and young gouda pair well with hot sauce, as their cool mouthfeel can help take the edge off the spice. Harder cheeses like Manchego, Ossau-Iraty, and aged cheddars also work well, adding a nice contrast to the sauce. For something different, try a blue cheese like Cambozola Black Label, which has a sweet and spicy flavour that can amplify the heat.

Selecting the Perfect Hot Sauces

When it comes to hot sauce, there are endless options to choose from. Consider the level of spice you prefer, as well as the flavour profile. For a gentle kick, opt for a mild and fruity sriracha or a hot sauce with coriander or lemongrass. If you're feeling adventurous, go for something spicier like a habanero or chili oil-based sauce. You can even find unique hot sauces with ingredients like coconut, olive oil, or garlic.

Putting It All Together

Now, it's time to assemble your cheeseboard. Here are some ideas for pairing hot sauces with cheeses:

• Tomatillo, lime, cilantro, onion, and jalapeño hot sauce with a salty cheese like Dante, Pecorino Toscano, or Fiore Sardo.
• Smoky tomato and poblano hot sauce with an aged Irish cheddar or a creamy Manchego.
• Orange, clementine, olive oil, and habanero hot sauce with a young Camembert or an English-style clothbound cheddar.
• Harissa, a North African hot sauce, with Fontina or Tetilla melted over a pita "pizza".
• Sriracha with Yancey's Fancy Smoked Gouda With Bacon—the meatiness of the cheese meets the garlicky sweetness of the sauce.
• A super hot sauce like Chili Crisp with Mt Tam, a cow's milk triple crème, to soften the spice and provide a contrasting texture.

Remember, these are just suggestions. Get creative and experiment with different combinations to find your favourite pairings!

Hot sauce and cheese in a grilled cheese sandwich

A grilled cheese sandwich is a classic, comforting dish that can be adapted in numerous ways to suit your taste. Adding hot sauce to your grilled cheese sandwich is a great way to give it a spicy kick. Here are some tips and ideas for creating the perfect hot sauce and cheese grilled cheese sandwich:

Choosing the Right Cheese

When it comes to grilled cheese sandwiches, you can use almost any type of cheese that melts well. However, some cheeses work better than others when paired with hot sauce. Here are some recommendations:

• Sharp Cheddar: Cheddar is a classic choice for grilled cheese sandwiches, and its sharp, nutty flavour works well with hot sauce.
• Gruyère or Raclette: These Alpine-style Swiss cheeses are excellent melters and have a salty, nutty flavour with a bit of funk. They add complexity to the sandwich while still providing that gooey, classic grilled cheese texture.
• Mozzarella: As suggested by Tony Gemignani, an award-winning pizzaiolo, mozzarella pairs beautifully with hot sauce.
• Monterey Jack: This cheese melts well and has a mild, creamy flavour that can help balance the heat of the hot sauce.
• Blue Cheese: Blue cheese is a like-with-like pairing for hot sauce. The rich, nutty paste streaked with piquant, peppery blue mold amplifies the heat rather than cooling it down.
• Manchego: A good Manchego cheese can stand up to the heat of hot sauce and provides a creamy, earthy richness.
• Camembert: A young Camembert can also work well with hot sauce, offering a mix of buttery and peanut-y flavours.
• Smoked Gouda: The smokiness of this cheese can pair well with the spice of hot sauce, especially if you're using a sauce with smoky flavours.

Selecting the Perfect Hot Sauce

When choosing a hot sauce to pair with your grilled cheese sandwich, consider the flavour profiles of both the sauce and the cheese. Here are some tips:

• Contrast: Look for hot sauces that provide a contrast to the rich, creamy characteristics of the cheese. Sauces made with ground chilli peppers and vinegar can offer a nice contrast to the cheese.
• Flavour Enhancers: Hot sauces can enhance the flavour of the cheese. A herby sriracha, for example, can cut through the richness of the cheese, while a fruity sauce adds a sweet contrast.
• Heat Level: Consider the heat level of the hot sauce, especially if you're serving older folks who may not appreciate too much spice. You can choose a mild and fruity or herby sriracha for a subtler kick.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe

Now that you've chosen your cheese and hot sauce, it's time to assemble and cook your sandwich. Here's a basic recipe for a grilled cheese sandwich:

Ingredients:

• Bread (sourdough, Texas toast, or thick-sliced sandwich bread)
• Butter (unsalted or salted)
• Cheese (see recommendations above)
• Hot Sauce (chosen based on flavour profile and heat level)

Instructions:

• Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread.
• Place a skillet over medium/low heat and add the bread, buttered side down.
• Add your chosen cheese to one slice of bread, creating a small mound. You can grate the cheese or use slices, depending on the type of cheese.
• Drizzle your chosen hot sauce over the cheese, adding as much or as little as you like.
• Top with another slice of bread, buttered side up.
• Cook the sandwich until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted, flipping once during cooking.
• Remove from the pan and serve immediately.

Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese and hot sauce combinations to find your favourite pairing! You can also add other ingredients to your sandwich, such as vegetables, fruit, or pickles, to create a unique grilled cheese experience.

Hot sauce and cheese in a mac and cheese

Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food, and a favourite for both adults and children. While the boxed version with powdered cheese can be convenient, making your own mac and cheese from scratch is a more rewarding and delicious option. The key to a great mac and cheese is a rich and creamy sauce, and one way to achieve that is by adding hot sauce.

The Role of Hot Sauce

Hot sauce is an old chef's trick to enhance the flavour of cheese. It adds a kick to the dish, bringing out the sweetness of the cheese and creating a contrast between the rich dairy and the spicy heat of the sauce. The specific type of hot sauce you use can vary depending on your taste preferences, but some popular options include Cholula, Tabasco, and Frank's Red Hot.

Cheese Selection

When it comes to cheese selection, a sharp cheddar cheese is a classic choice for mac and cheese due to its smooth melting ability and tangy flavour. However, you can also experiment with other cheeses such as white cheddar, Monterey Jack, Gruyere, Gouda, provolone, brie, or fontina. These cheeses offer different flavour profiles and melting abilities, so feel free to mix and match to find your perfect combination.

Creating the Perfect Sauce

To make the perfect cheese sauce for your mac and cheese, start by creating a roux. Melt unsalted butter in a saucepan, then sprinkle in flour and whisk until smooth. This step is crucial for thickening the sauce and ensuring the cheese melts evenly. Next, slowly add whole milk to the roux while whisking to prevent lumps. Add spices such as garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, and paprika to enhance the flavour. Finally, stir in your shredded cheese until it melts completely.

Putting It All Together

Once you've prepared your cheese sauce, it's time to combine it with the pasta. Cook your desired type of pasta until it's al dente, then drain and pour the cheese sauce over the noodles, stirring to coat them evenly. You can serve it as is, or for an extra touch, bake it in the oven for a few minutes to create a warm and gooey dish.

Customisation

Feel free to customise your mac and cheese to your taste preferences. You can adjust the amount of hot sauce to make it spicier or milder, or experiment with different types of cheese to find your perfect combination. You can also add other ingredients like vegetables, meats, or breadcrumbs on top for a crunchy texture.

Storage and Reheating

The cheese sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When ready to use, simply warm it over low heat, adding a small amount of milk if it has thickened too much. You can also freeze the sauce by transferring it to a freezer-safe container once it has cooled completely.

Hot sauce and cheese in a quesadilla

Quesadillas are a versatile dish that can be made in many ways, with a variety of ingredients. Here is a recipe for a delicious hot sauce and cheese quesadilla.

Ingredients:

• Large flour tortillas
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Finely chopped onion
• Finely chopped green chilli pepper
• Butter
• Sour cream (optional)
• Guacamole (optional)

Method:

• Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over one flour tortilla, leaving a half-inch gap around the edge.
• Sprinkle the finely chopped onion and green chilli pepper on top of the cheese.
• Place another flour tortilla on top.
• Melt butter in a pan on medium-low heat and place the quesadilla in the pan.
• Add the remaining butter on top of the tortilla and cook for several minutes. As the butter softens, spread it over the tortilla.
• Once the bottom is browned and the cheese is mostly melted, flip the quesadilla over.
• Cook until the cheese is fully melted and the bottom is nicely browned.
• Remove from the pan and serve with sour cream and guacamole, if desired.

Hot Sauce Recommendations:

When choosing a hot sauce to pair with cheese, consider the flavour profiles of both the hot sauce and the cheese. A contrasting pairing, such as a salty cheese with a sweet and citrusy hot sauce, can be very effective. Alternatively, a like-with-like pairing, such as a smoky hot sauce with a smoky cheese, can also be delicious.

• Tomatillo, lime, cilantro, onion, and jalapeño hot sauce with a salty cheese like Dante, Pecorino Toscano, or Fiore Sardo.
• Tomato, poblano, onion, and apple cider vinegar hot sauce with a hard, creamy, and earthy sheep's milk cheese like Manchego or Ossau-Iraty.
• Orange, clementine, olive oil, habanero, and chilli oil hot sauce with a youngish Camembert-style cheese like Moses Sleeper or an English-style clothbound cheddar like Cabot Clothbound or Montgomery's Cheddar.
• Chipotle ranch hot sauce with cheddar cheese.
• Cholula hot sauce with cheddar cheese.
• Buffalo sauce with chicken seasoned with cumin, chilli powder, and garlic powder.
• Sriracha mixed with sour cream.
• Tapatio, Valentina, or Crystal hot sauce.
• Smoky barbecue sauce.

Customising Your Quesadilla:

Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese and hot sauce to find your favourite combinations. You can also add other ingredients to your quesadilla, such as chicken, beef, or vegetables. Enjoy!

Frequently asked questions