The Perfect Cheese Pairing For Mandarin Oranges

While it may seem counterintuitive to pair cheese with citrus, there are some spectacular combinations of the two. However, pairing cheese with citrus can be challenging because citrus fruits are very acidic and can be more bitter than sweet. One way to avoid the bitterness is to pair the cheese with a sweeter citrus fruit. Another option is to add a third ingredient, such as honey, to balance the flavours. A popular pairing is a palate-coating aged cheddar with spice-stewed mandarins.

Aged cheddar with stewed mandarins

For this pairing, a nutty and slightly sharp aged cheddar is recommended. Beecher's Flagship, for example, is a suitable variety. The mandarins should be stewed in water, sugar, vanilla, and a selection of spices including whole cloves, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. This combination of spices adds a delightful holiday twist to the dish.

The creamy and dense texture of the cheddar blends beautifully with the smooth, sweet, and spiced mandarins. The sharpness of the cheddar is mellowed by the mandarin's sweetness, creating a well-rounded and indulgent flavour profile.

This pairing is a wonderful way to incorporate citrus into your cheese course during the holiday season or any time you crave a unique and satisfying culinary experience. The combination of aged cheddar and stewed mandarins is a perfect blend of savoury and sweet, showcasing the versatility of both ingredients.

To elevate this pairing, consider serving the cheddar at room temperature to enhance its creamy texture and flavour. Additionally, a drizzle of honey or a sweet citrus preserve can be added to the mandarins for an extra touch of decadence. Enjoy this dish on its own or with a selection of crackers or bread for a more substantial treat.

Flavoured cheeses with mandarin

While it may seem counterintuitive to pair cheese with citrus fruits like mandarin, there are some excellent pairings to try. One of the simplest ways to pair mandarin with cheese is to opt for a flavoured cheese that already has citrus notes. Although purists may scoff at flavoured cheeses, they can be a great way to complement the sweetness of the fruit.

Soft, fresh goat's cheeses are the most likely to have citrus incorporated into them, either in the form of chunks or blended-in bits. Often, honey is also part of the equation, such as in honey and orange chèvre. Crumbly white Stiltons and Wensleydales are another common variety of cheese that will come flavoured with chunks of citrus.

If you're looking for a more complex pairing, try stewing mandarins in water, a little sugar, vanilla, and holiday spices like whole cloves, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. This combination of sweet and spiced citrus is delicious with a palate-coating aged cheddar.

Soft goat's cheese with mandarin

Combining citrus with cheese can be challenging because citrus fruits are very acidic and can be more bitter than sweet. However, soft goat's cheese and mandarin complement each other well. The mild yet tart flavour of the cheese allows the mandarin's natural sweetness to shine through.

One way to pair mandarin with soft goat's cheese is to choose a flavoured cheese. For example, a mandarin slice pairs well with a plain chèvre, a soft goat's cheese. You can also try a honeyed chèvre, which is another type of soft goat's cheese, with mandarin. Adding a drizzle of honey to a plain chèvre and mandarin can also help to balance the flavours.

Another option is to incorporate the mandarin into the cheese itself. For example, Laura Chenel's Grapefruit and Fig Chèvre Medallion, a soft goat's cheese, tastes more like a creamy dessert than a goat cheese. You can also try blending mandarin into a soft goat's cheese, or adding mandarin chunks to the cheese.

When pairing citrus with cheese, it's best to choose a sweeter citrus fruit. If your mandarin is tart, try adding honey, agave syrup, or maple syrup to balance the flavours.

Alpine-style cheeses with mandarin

Alpine-style cheeses are a great match with mandarin. The relatively mild but tart flavour of the cheese allows the fruit's natural sweetness to shine through.

When pairing mandarins with Alpine-style cheeses, look for cheeses that are nutty, sweet, and milky in flavour, rather than those with earthy, sharp, or strong flavours. Harder Alpine-style cheeses with a more complex flavour profile, such as aged Gouda or Gruyère, can also complement the sweetness of the mandarin.

To enhance the pairing, consider stewing the mandarins with holiday spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. This adds a layer of complexity to the flavour combination, creating an explosion of holiday flavours that will delight your palate.

Additionally, a drizzle of honey can help calm any bitterness that may occur when pairing cheese with citrus fruit. Honey will also act as a natural "glue" to keep the mandarin and cheese together on a cracker or bread.

When creating this pairing, remember that the sweetness of the mandarin is key. If your mandarin is tart, you can sweeten it by adding a drizzle of honey or another sweetener like agave or maple syrup.

So, the next time you're looking for a unique and delicious flavour combination, why not try pairing Alpine-style cheeses with mandarins? With their mild and nutty flavours, these cheeses will complement the sweetness of the mandarin, creating a refreshing and exciting taste experience.

Mandarin with honey or syrup

Mandarin oranges can be canned in water, but they won't be very sweet. To make them sweeter, you can use a light syrup made with either sugar or honey. To make a light syrup with sugar, mix two cups of sugar with four cups of water and bring to a boil. To make light syrup with honey, mix one and a half cups of honey with four cups of water and bring to a boil. You can also make mandarin syrup by sieving freshly squeezed mandarin juice and bringing it to a boil over medium heat with sugar and honey.

Mandarin oranges also go well with cheese, specifically a nutty, slightly sharp aged cheddar. You can stew the mandarins in water, a little sugar, vanilla, and spices like cloves, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg, to create an explosion of holiday flavors. The combination of creamy, dense cheddar with smooth, sweet, and spiced citrus is complex and otherworldly.

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