Cheese And Honey: A Match Made In Heaven

what cheese goes well with honey

Honey and cheese is a classic combination that can be traced back to early Roman times. The sweetness of honey is the perfect contrast to the saltiness of cheese, and it works well with almost any type of cheese. From mild and creamy cheeses to sharp blues and aged varieties, honey can enhance the flavour of cheese and create a unique taste experience. For example, blue cheese pairs perfectly with honey as the sweet notes of honey mellow the intense flavour of blue cheese. Similarly, honey can be paired with goat cheese, brie, ricotta, and aged cheeses like cheddar. The best part? There are no strict rules when it comes to pairing honey and cheese, so feel free to experiment and find your favourite combinations!

Characteristics Values
Best cheeses to pair with honey Ricotta, Cottage Cheese, Burrata, La Tur, Selles-sur-Cher, Gorgonzola Dolce, Pecorino, Cheddar, Isle of Mull, Fiore Sardo, Comte, Roquefort, Stilton, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Sharp Cheddar, Goat Cheese, Feta, Brie, Blue Cheese, Manchego, Camembert, Parmesan, St. Agur, Tête de Moine, Fromage d'Affinois, Chevre
Best honeys to pair with cheese Hungarian Acacia Honey, British Blossom Honey, Spanish Thyme Honey, Organic Fairtrade Honey, Clover Honey, Blueberry Honey, Bamboo or Buckwheat Honey, Wildflower Honey, Lavender Honey, Oregon Blackberry Honey, Florida Orange Blossom Honey
Best accompaniments Baguette, Crackers, Nuts (Walnuts, Toasted Pine Nuts, Pignoli Nuts, Cashews, Spiced Marcona Almonds), Cured Meat (Salami, Serrano Ham, Prosciutto), Olives (Kalamata, Manzanilla), Fruits (Figs, Apricots, Apples, Pears, Berries, Grapes)

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Ricotta cheese with honey for breakfast or dessert

Ricotta and honey is a classic combination, whether you prefer it sweet or spicy. It can be served for breakfast or even as a dessert.

For breakfast, you can make a delicious and healthy ricotta, honey, and banana toast. Simply toast your bread of choice, mix ricotta with cinnamon and honey, and spread the mixture on the toast. Top it off with sliced bananas, cinnamon, and more honey. This breakfast option is not only tasty but also nutritious and filling.

If you're looking for a more indulgent breakfast or dessert, you can try making whipped ricotta with honey. This recipe is easy to make and can be served as a dip, spread, or crostini appetizer. You'll need whole milk ricotta, olive oil, honey, and optionally, some fresh herbs like rosemary, mint, or parsley, and lemon zest. Blend the ricotta with olive oil and honey, and any additional ingredients you choose, until smooth and creamy. Serve it with grilled baguette slices, crackers, or fresh fruits like strawberries.

Ricotta and honey is a versatile combination that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, making it a perfect choice for a sweet breakfast or a delightful dessert.

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Honey and cheese pairings

Honey and cheese is a pairing that dates back to early Roman times. The sweetness of honey is a perfect contrast to the saltiness of cheese. The practice of eating cheese and honey together is common in many parts of Europe, such as France, Italy, and Greece.

Honey can be drizzled over a wedge of cheese or served on the side of a cheese plate. Leaving the honeycomb whole is a visually stunning way to present honey on a cheese plate, and guests can cut off pieces to eat with the cheese. Slices of baguette or crackers can also be served alongside the cheese and honey, providing a solid foundation to build on.

Honey pairs well with almost any type of cheese but is especially good with mild and creamy cheeses, sharp blues, aged cheeses, or tangy and acidic cheeses. Here are some specific honey and cheese pairings to try:

  • Ricotta drizzled with honey can be served for breakfast or dessert. This pairing goes well with fruits like figs, apricots, and berries, and a salty element like prosciutto on the side.
  • Brie and other soft cheeses are delicious with a drizzle of richer honey, such as British Blossom Honey, and a garnish of nuts like walnuts or toasted pine nuts.
  • Blue cheese is a perfect match for honey, as the sweet honey will mellow out the strong flavour of the cheese. Blue cheese pairs particularly well with honeycomb, as the textures go well together.
  • Aged cheeses like sharp cheddar go well with a drizzle of Spanish Thyme Honey or honeycomb. The thyme honey has a strong herbal flavour and a delightful floral aroma.
  • Goat cheese and other tangy, acidic cheeses like feta are excellent with a drizzle of honey, which subdues their strong flavours.

When pairing honey and cheese, it is important to remember that honey should enhance the flavour of the cheese, not smother it. There are no hard and fast rules, and experimentation is encouraged. However, some guidelines include balancing the flavours, contrasting flavours and textures, and experimenting with different combinations to discover personal preferences.

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Blue cheese and honey

Honey is the one universal condiment when it comes to cheese, and blue cheese is no exception. The sweet notes of honey mellow the intense flavour and fragrance of blue cheese, creating flavours you've never experienced before.

If you usually shy away from strong blue cheese, this is the perfect way to change your mind. The sweet honey will mellow out the strong flavour and create a match made in heaven. This is because the sweet honey contrasts with the salty tanginess of the cheese, creating a harmonious pairing.

When it comes to pairing blue cheese and honey, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, you could opt for a honey with a lighter flavour, such as acacia honey or clover honey, which will complement the cheese without overpowering it. Alternatively, you could go for a darker honey, such as Spanish Thyme Honey, which has a delightful floral aroma and a strong herbal flavour that can really enhance the blue cheese. Another option is to pair blue cheese with lavender honey. The bold and salty flavours of the blue cheese are beautifully balanced by the floral and delicate sweetness of lavender honey.

In terms of presentation, you can simply drizzle the honey over the blue cheese minutes before serving. You could also serve a jar of honey on the side of the cheese plate, or even leave the honeycomb whole, which is visually stunning and allows guests to cut off pieces of honeycomb to eat with the cheese. To make it easier for your guests to eat, serve slices of baguette or crackers alongside the blue cheese and honey.

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Brie and honey

The salty, creamy mouthfeel of cheese is a perfect match for honey's sweetness and unctuousness. This combination can be traced back to the early Roman times and the days of the epicure Marcus Apicus, who included recipes for drizzling honey over cottage cheese and a type of cheesecake in his cookbooks.

Creamy cheeses like Brie pair well with lighter honeys like citrusy sweet orange blossom or mild raspberry blossom. Brie and honey is a delightful combination, with the salty, creamy mouthfeel of the cheese perfectly complemented by the sweetness of honey. The mild flavour of Brie also goes well with the mild flavour of honey, creating a harmonious pairing.

When serving Brie and honey, it is best to use honey sparingly as it is meant to enhance the flavour of the cheese, not smother it. A drizzle of honey over a wedge of Brie or a small jar of honey on the side of a cheese plate are both simple and effective ways to present this pairing.

To add some texture to the pairing, consider serving slices of baguette or crackers alongside the Brie and honey. This will provide a solid foundation for the creamy cheese and sticky honey, making it easier to eat.

For a more decorative presentation, a piece of honeycomb can be added to the cheese plate. This not only looks stunning but also allows guests to cut off pieces of honeycomb to eat with the Brie.

For a more indulgent treat, try drizzling honey over a baked Brie or incorporating it into a grilled apple and Brie flatbread. The warmth of the baked cheese will help to bring out the flavours of the honey, creating a truly decadent flavour experience.

Whether served simply or as part of a more elaborate dish, Brie and honey is a classic combination that showcases the magic of pairing cheese with honey.

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Honey and cheese charcuterie

Honey and cheese is a classic combination that can be traced back to early Roman times. The sweetness of honey is the perfect contrast to the saltiness of cheese. When creating a honey and cheese charcuterie board, it is important to remember that there are no strict rules, but rather some general guidelines to consider.

Firstly, balance the flavours by choosing a honey that complements the cheese without overpowering it. The goal is to enhance the cheese's taste, not mask it. This can be achieved by using honey sparingly, as it is meant to enhance the flavour of the cheese, not smother it. For instance, a mild honey like Hungarian Acacia honey or Italian Clover honey will complement young, creamy, milky cheeses such as Ricotta, Cottage Cheese, Burrata, or even warm Camembert. On the other hand, stronger-flavoured honeys like Spanish Thyme honey or Scottish Heather honey will stand up to more mature and intense cheeses like La Tur, Selles-sur-Cher, Gorgonzola Dolce, Pecorino, or a sharp cheddar.

Secondly, contrast flavours and textures by pairing creamy and mild cheeses with slightly tangy or floral honey, and pairing stronger and more aged cheeses with robust and intense honey flavours. For example, a smooth liquid honey will complement a crumbly blue cheese or Parmigiano, while a piece of fresh honeycomb will pair well with ricotta cheese and pignoli nuts. Blue cheese, a strong-flavoured cheese, is heavenly with honey as the sweet honey will mellow out the strong flavour. Baked goat cheese and honey tart is another delicious combination.

Thirdly, experiment and explore by tasting different combinations to discover personal preferences. Triple-cream cheeses, such as Brie, pair exceptionally well with honey, especially a darker honey with a floral flavour like British Blossom Honey, and a garnish of nuts. Honeycomb, the purest form of honey, pairs well with blue cheese as the textures go great together. Honey with a distinctive flavour profile, such as French Chestnut honey, will stand up to strong cheeses like Roquefort or Gorgonzola.

In addition to the honey and cheese, a well-rounded charcuterie board will include other foods such as nuts, fruits, crackers or bread, cured meats, and olives. Nuts such as walnuts, almonds, or pecans will add a crunchy texture and nutty flavour. Fresh fruits like pears, apples, grapes, figs, apricots, and berries will complement both the cheese and honey. Sliced baguette or crackers will provide a neutral base, allowing the cheese, honey, and other foods to shine. Cured meats such as salami, serrano ham, and prosciutto will add variety and richness to the charcuterie board. Lastly, olives such as Kalamata and Manzanilla will bring different colours and flavours to the plate.

Frequently asked questions

Honey pairs well with almost any type of cheese, but especially mild and creamy cheeses, tangy and acidic cheeses, blue cheeses, and aged cheeses.

Some cheeses that go well with honey include ricotta, brie, blue cheese, parmesan, cheddar, goat cheese, and feta.

Honey can be drizzled over a wedge of cheese or served on the side of a cheese plate. It can also be served with a jar of honey or a piece of honeycomb. Slices of baguette or crackers can also be served alongside to provide a solid foundation for the cheese and honey.

Lighter honeys tend to have milder flavours, while darker honeys have a more distinctive aroma and taste. However, there are no strict rules when it comes to pairing honey and cheese, and experimentation is encouraged.

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