Cheese And Potato Pairings: The Best Combos To Try

Cheese and potatoes are a match made in heaven. Whether you're looking for a simple comfort food or something a little fancier, there's a cheesy potato dish for you. The classic combination is a baked potato with cheddar cheese, but there are plenty of other varieties of cheese that pair well with potatoes. For example, Gruyère, Raclette, or Parmesan can enhance the flavour of mashed potatoes without overwhelming it. If you're making scalloped potatoes, try using younger, melty cheeses like a French triple crème or something with a more savory bite like Italian Caprotto.

Cheesy potato lasagna

A twist on the classic lasagna, this recipe is gluten-free and replaces pasta sheets with potatoes. It's a hearty, comforting dish that's perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Ingredients:

• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Cloves of garlic, minced
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Jarred marinara sauce
• Ground beef
• Container ricotta cheese
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Chopped basil, plus more for garnish
• Large russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
• Shredded mozzarella cheese

Method:

• Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9"x13" baking dish with cooking spray.
• In a large skillet, heat some olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook until no longer pink, breaking up the meat with a spoon. Drain the cooked beef.
• Return the beef to the skillet and add the garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Then, add the marinara sauce and simmer until warmed through.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, an egg, Parmesan cheese, and basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
• Layer about 1/3 of the sliced potatoes, slightly overlapping, on top of the sauce.
• Spread the potatoes with 1/3 of the ricotta mixture, followed by another 1/3 of the meat sauce, and then sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese.
• Repeat these layers two more times, ending with a final layer of potatoes.
• Top the last layer of potatoes with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
• Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 25 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and the potatoes are fork-tender.
• Let the lasagna rest for at least 10 minutes before garnishing with basil and serving.

Tips and Variations:

• While this recipe uses ground beef, you can also add other meats like bacon or ham to add a savoury, salty element.
• Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese, such as cheddar, Colby-Jack, or even a mix of multiple cheeses.
• If you want to make it a complete meal, you can add vegetables like steamed broccoli or fried mushrooms to the layers.

Cheeses for mashed potatoes

Mashed potatoes are a classic side dish that can be enhanced with the addition of cheese. While some people might stick to the classic cheddar, there are many other cheeses that can take your mash to the next level. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Cheddar

Cheddar is a popular choice for adding cheese to mashed potatoes, and with good reason. It has a bold, sharp flavour that pairs well with the mildness of potatoes. It also melts easily, creating a creamy texture that is ideal for mash. When choosing cheddar, opt for a sharp variety to get the most flavour.

Gruyere

Gruyere is a Swiss cheese that is known for its nutty, slightly sweet flavour. It pairs well with potatoes, especially in dishes like scalloped potatoes or potato au gratin. Gruyere melts easily, making it a great choice for mashed potatoes. It has a more subtle flavour than cheddar, so it won't overwhelm the dish.

Raclette

Raclette is another Swiss cheese that is perfect for melting, so it's ideal for adding to mashed potatoes. It has a creamy, buttery texture and a mild, slightly nutty flavour. Raclette is often used in Alpine cuisine, where it is paired with potatoes.

Parmesan

Parmesan, or Parmigiano-Reggiano, is an Italian hard cheese with a strong, savoury flavour. While it doesn't melt as easily as some other cheeses, a small amount of grated Parmesan can enhance the flavour of mashed potatoes without overwhelming them.

Gouda

Gouda is a Dutch cheese with a mild, nutty flavour. It melts well, so it's a good choice for mashed potatoes. When choosing Gouda, look for a younger cheese, as older cheeses can have a stronger, more pungent flavour that might be too intense for mash.

Blue Cheese

If you're looking for something a little different, blue cheese can be a delicious addition to mashed potatoes. Its strong, tangy flavour can stand up to the potatoes, creating a rich and creamy dish. Just be aware that blue cheese can be quite polarising, so it might not be everyone's cup of tea.

Cheesy garlic butter potatoes

Ingredients

• New or small potatoes
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Cloves of garlic, minced
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Freshly grated parmesan
• Finely chopped parsley
• Salt
• Butter
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Cheese (mozzarella, monetary jack, gruyere, or a mix)

Method

• Preheat your oven to 375°F/190°C and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Make small slits in each potato, ensuring you don't cut all the way through. Place the potatoes on the baking sheet.
• In a small bowl, mix together melted butter, olive oil, and garlic. Brush this mixture over the potatoes, then season with salt and pepper.
• Bake for 20 minutes, or until the slits begin to separate and the potatoes turn golden.
• Brush the potatoes with more of the butter mixture, then sprinkle with mozzarella and parmesan.
• Bake for another 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
• Garnish with parsley and serve warm.

Tips

• For extra crispy potatoes, you can smash them into flat patties before baking.
• If you can't find new or baby potatoes, larger potatoes can be cut into quarters.
• For a stronger garlic flavour, add more cloves of garlic to the butter mixture.
• If you want to add more cheese, a sharp cheddar or Swiss cheese would work well.

Serving Suggestions

These cheesy garlic butter potatoes make a great side dish, especially with steak. They can also be served as a snack and are perfect for dipping!

Scalloped potatoes with cheese

Ingredients

• 2 pounds of Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes
• 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
• 2 cups of whole milk
• 1 1/2 cups of mild cheddar cheese, shredded
• 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced (optional)

Method

• Preheat your oven to 400°F and lightly grease an 8x8-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Peel and slice the potatoes into 1/4-inch thick rounds. The thickness is important to ensure even cooking.
• If desired, slice the onion into rings.
• Arrange the potatoes and onions in the prepared baking dish, staggering the layers.
• In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and salt, stirring constantly with a whisk for one minute.
• Slowly stir in the milk and continue cooking until the mixture thickens.
• Add the shredded cheese to the sauce and stir until completely melted and smooth.
• Pour the cheese sauce over the potatoes and onions in the baking dish.
• Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 85-90 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
• For a crispy topping, switch the oven to broil after baking and broil until golden brown.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve while hot!

Tips and Variations:

• For a more decadent dish, try adding some ham. Cube the ham and place it between the layers of potatoes for a heartier meal.
• While Russet and Yukon Gold potatoes are recommended, you can also use yellow potatoes or even red potatoes, but peeling is advised.
• If you want to reduce the cooking time, you can parboil the potato slices for a few minutes before assembling the dish.
• Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese, such as Gruyère, fontina, or Colby-Jack, for a sharper and saltier flavour.
• To make this dish ahead of time, simply prepare it, cool it, and refrigerate it overnight. Reheat it in the oven when ready to serve.

Cheesy potato skins

Ingredients:

• 4 large baking potatoes
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 250 g chopped bacon
• 250 g chopped mushrooms
• 4 chopped spring onions
• 50 g cream cheese
• 1 medium free-range egg
• 150 g cheddar cheese
• Sour cream
• Chives

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 220°C.
• Bake the potatoes for about an hour until they are cooked through.
• Allow the potatoes to cool slightly, then cut them in half and scoop the middle into a bowl, leaving a little behind so that the 'shell' is still sturdy.
• Put the empty potato shells onto a baking tray and pop them back into the oven for about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the bacon and mushrooms until cooked and crispy.
• Add the bacon, mushrooms, spring onions, cream cheese, egg, and half of the grated cheddar to the bowl with the potato filling. Add plenty of salt and pepper, then mash together.
• Remove the potato shells from the oven and fill them with the mixture. Top with the remaining cheese.
• Pop back into the oven for about 10 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and crispy.
• Serve with the sour cream and the extra chopped spring onions.

Tips:

• For extra flavour, use smoky bacon or pancetta cubes.
• If you don’t have any cream cheese, you can add more grated cheese, milk, cream, or crème fraîche.
• A very strong cheddar is best for flavour. Adding some mozzarella gives that extra melted stretch.
• You can swap sour cream for Greek yoghurt, crème fraîche, or mayonnaise.
• Chives make a lovely garnish but are not necessary if you don’t have any.
• For the potatoes, go for a kind that is soft and fluffy on the inside but crispy on the outside when roasted, like floury Maris Piper, King Edward, or Rooster. Salad or boiling potatoes won’t work well because they tend to dry out.

Variations:

• You can make these vegetarian or vegan if you prefer.
• Some other ideas for fillings include other kinds of vegetables or cheese, ham instead of bacon, sour cream, chorizo, chillies, or chilli beans.

Frequently asked questions