Cheese And Pate: The Perfect Pairing Guide

Pâté is a rich and flavourful spread made from ground meat, poultry, or seafood. It is often served as an appetiser or hors d'oeuvre, and can be paired with a variety of side dishes to create a satisfying meal. While pâté can stand alone as a delicious treat, pairing it with cheese can take it to the next level. Hard cheeses like Parmesan go well with creamy and decadent mousse pâtés, while soft cheeses like Brie and Camembert are perfect for coarse cut pâtés. Smoked cheeses, such as smoked cheddar or blue cheese, also complement the robust flavour of pâté, creating a decadent and gourmet combination.

Hard cheese with creamy, decadent mousse pâtés

Hard cheese, such as Parmesan, is a perfect match for creamy and decadent mousse pâtés. The firmness and savoury notes of hard cheese provide a delightful contrast to the smooth and rich texture of mousse pâtés. Here are some specific pairings to consider:

Parmesan and Black Peppercorn Pâté

The salty, nutty flavour of Parmesan cheese pairs exceptionally well with black peppercorn pâté. The peppercorns add a spicy kick to the pâté, creating a bold and savoury blend that complements the hard cheese.

Gouda and Chicken Liver Pâté

Gouda, a semi-hard cheese, is an excellent choice to pair with chicken liver pâté. Gouda has a mild, slightly sweet flavour that balances the richness of chicken liver. Its creamy texture also provides a nice contrast to the smooth pâté.

Smoked Cheddar and Pheasant Rosemary Pâté

Smoked cheddar has a robust, nutty, and smoky flavour that stands up to the bold flavours of pheasant rosemary pâté. The combination creates a decadent and savoury blend, full of bold flavours and mellow undertones.

Smoked Blue Cheese and Country-Style Pâté

Smoked blue cheese has a delicate piquant flavour that becomes more pronounced after being smoke-cured. Pairing it with a country-style pâté, such as pâté de campagne, creates an intriguing contrast between the creamy pâté and the pungent, smoky cheese.

When serving these pairings, consider presenting them with complementary accompaniments. For example, serve smoked cheddar and pheasant rosemary pâté with baguette slices or crackers. Alternatively, offer red grapes or cherry tomatoes alongside smoked blue cheese and country-style pâté to temper the flavour.

Soft cheeses with coarse-cut pâtés

Soft cheeses are a perfect match for coarse-cut pâtés. Here are some delicious combinations to try:

Brie and Coarse-Cut Pâté

Brie is a soft, spreadable cheese with a buttery flavour and a strong aroma. It is an excellent choice to pair with coarse-cut pâté. The strong flavour of the cheese will stand up to the robust flavour of the pâté, creating a delightful contrast. The smooth, creamy texture of the Brie will also provide a nice balance to the coarser pâté.

Burrata and Coarse-Cut Pâté

Burrata is a type of fresh mozzarella, often served with salads, fresh tomatoes, herbs, or bread. Its soft, creamy texture and mild flavour make it a perfect match for coarse-cut pâté. The pâté will add a nice contrast to the freshness of the Burrata, without overwhelming its more delicate flavour.

Camembert and Coarse-Cut Pâté

Camembert is a soft, cow's milk cheese with a rich, buttery texture and an earthy flavour. It is similar to Brie but even softer and more buttery. This cheese pairs exceptionally well with coarse-cut pâté, as its strong flavour can stand up to the robust flavour of the pâté. It is also best enjoyed with a glass of red wine, making it an elegant and indulgent pairing.

Boldly Flavoured Pâtés and Milder Cheeses

When it comes to boldly flavoured pâtés, such as Pheasant Rosemary or Duck Liver Mousse with Cognac, it is best to pair them with milder cheeses. The strong flavours of the pâté will be complemented by a softer, less intense cheese. This creates a nice contrast and allows both the cheese and the pâté to shine.

Softer-Flavoured Pâtés and Stronger Cheeses

On the other hand, when enjoying softer-flavoured pâtés, such as Chicken Liver or Vegetable pâtés, a stronger cheese is a better choice. The more intense flavour of the cheese will add depth and interest to the milder pâté, creating a well-rounded and satisfying combination.

Smoked cheese with pâté

Smoked cheese and pâté is a match made in heaven. The rich, robust, nutty, and smoky flavour of smoked cheese pairs beautifully with the creamy and decadent pâté. The two complement each other, creating a delightful gourmet experience.

When it comes to smoked cheese, there are many varieties to choose from. Common types include smoked cheddar, smoked gouda (or rookkaas), smoked provolone, smoked blue cheese, and smoked pepper jack. These cheeses are smoke-cured, giving them a unique flavour and aroma distinct from fresh cheese. The curing process can be done through cold-smoking or hot-smoking, with the former taking longer but resulting in a more intense smoky flavour.

• Smoked Cheddar with Pheasant Rosemary Pâté: This pairing offers a lovely blend of bold flavours and mellow undertones. Serve it with baguette or crackers for a crunchy contrast.
• Smoked Pepper Jack with Duck Rillette: The smooth flavour of smoked pepper jack is the perfect complement to the rich duck meat in the Duck Rillette. Add some sweet fruit preserves on the side to balance the savoury notes.
• Smoked Blue Cheese with Cubed Country-Style Pâté: Smoked blue cheese has a delicate piquant flavour that becomes more pronounced after smoke-curing. Pair it with a country-style pâté and some red grapes or cherry tomatoes to temper the strong flavours.
• Smoked Gouda with Chicken Liver Pâté: Smoked gouda has a rich, nutty flavour that goes well with the savoury notes of chicken liver pâté. The semi-hard texture of smoked gouda also provides a nice contrast to the creamy pâté.

When creating your own pairings, remember that boldly-flavoured pâtés go best with milder cheeses, while softer-flavoured pâtés can stand up to stronger cheeses. So whether you're a foodie or just looking to elevate your next gourmet gathering, don't be afraid to experiment with different combinations of smoked cheese and pâté—your taste buds will thank you!

Salty and sweet combinations

Smoked Blue Cheese and Country-Style Pâté

Blue cheese is a popular choice for a salty and sweet combination. The delicate piquant flavours of blue cheese are enhanced when it is smoke-cured. Cube some country-style pâté and serve it alongside blue cheese and grapes or cherry tomatoes to balance the strong flavours.

Brie or Camembert and Coarse-Cut Pâté

Brie and Camembert are soft, spreadable cheeses with buttery flavours and strong aromas. They are excellent choices to pair with coarse-cut pâtés. Camembert, in particular, is softer and more buttery than Brie, with an earthy flavour. It is best paired with red wine.

Hard Cheese and Mousse Pâté

Hard cheeses like Parmesan go well with creamy and decadent mousse pâtés. Opt for a boldly-flavoured pâté like Pheasant Rosemary or Duck Liver Mousse with Cognac and pair it with a milder, harder cheese.

Semi-Hard Cheese and Chicken Liver Pâté

Semi-hard cheeses like Gouda are a good match for chicken liver pâté. The savoury, semi-hard cheese provides a nice contrast to the creamy, decadent pâté.

When creating your cheese and pâté pairings, don't forget the condiments! Mustard, chutneys, fruit spreads, dried fruits, and nuts can all add texture and enhance your pairing.

Toothsome and creamy combinations

Pâté is a rich and flavourful spread made from ground meat, poultry, or seafood. It can be creamy and smooth or coarse and rustic in texture. Like cheese, it can be enjoyed on its own, but combining the two can create a delightful contrast of flavours and textures. Here are some toothsome and creamy cheese and pâté combinations to indulge in:

Hard Cheese with Mousse Pâtés

Hard cheeses, such as Parmesan, provide a savoury contrast to creamy and decadent mousse pâtés. For example, try pairing Parmesan with a black peppercorn mousse pâté.

Semi-Hard Cheese with Chicken Liver Pâté

Semi-hard cheeses like Gouda have a milder flavour that complements the stronger flavour of chicken liver pâté.

Soft Cheese with Coarse Cut Pâtés

Soft cheeses, such as Brie and Burrata, pair excellently with coarse cut pâtés. Their buttery flavour and aroma create a delightful contrast to the rustic texture of the pâté.

Camembert with Red Wine

Camembert, a soft and buttery French cheese made from cow's milk, is another excellent choice to pair with coarse cut pâtés. Its earthy flavour is enhanced when enjoyed with a glass of red wine.

Bold Pâtés with Milder Cheeses

When enjoying a boldly flavoured pâté, such as Pheasant Rosemary or Duck Liver Mousse with Cognac, opt for a milder cheese to balance the flavours.

Soft-Flavoured Pâtés with Strong-Flavoured Cheeses

On the other hand, when indulging in a softer-flavoured pâté, like Chicken Liver or Vegetable pâté, choose a strong-flavoured cheese to create an intriguing contrast.

Smoked Cheese with Pâté

Smoked cheeses have a nutty and smoky flavour that is a delightful contrast to the smoothness of pâté. Try pairing smoked cheddar with Pheasant Rosemary pâté, or smoked blue cheese with a country-style pâté.

Frequently asked questions