The Perfect Cheese To Cool Down That Hot Honey

Honey and cheese is a classic combination, with the sweetness of honey complementing the saltiness of cheese. But what about hot honey? Mike's Hot Honey Grilled Cheese Recipe combines American cheese, bacon, and a generous drizzle of hot honey. But what other cheeses go well with hot honey? The Blanche from Three Graces Dairy is a cow's milk soft-ripened cheese that pairs well with Firecracker Hot Honey. For those who like blue cheese, the sweet honey will mellow out the strong flavor.

Ricotta topped with honey, fruit, and prosciutto

Ingredients:

• Sourdough bread or French bread/baguette
• Ricotta cheese
• Honey
• Fruits of your choice (such as apricots, peaches, plums, figs, or strawberries)
• Prosciutto
• Arugula (optional)
• Olive oil
• Flaky salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

• Start by slicing the bread into 1/2-inch thick slices. You can use a baguette and slice it diagonally to make around 20 pieces.
• Lightly brush each slice of bread with olive oil.
• Heat a large skillet or oven to 350 degrees F and toast the bread slices until they are golden brown or just beginning to toast around the edges.
• Spread a dollop or about 1/4 cup of ricotta cheese onto each warmed toast or crostini.
• Add your choice of sliced fruit and prosciutto on top of the ricotta.
• Drizzle honey over the ricotta, fruit, and prosciutto.
• Finish with a sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of flaky salt.
• Serve and enjoy the sweet and savoury flavours!

This simple recipe is a beautiful and tasty way to impress your guests or treat yourself to something special. The combination of creamy ricotta, sweet honey, juicy fruit, and salty prosciutto is a delight for the senses. You can also add arugula leaves for a touch of bitterness and a crunchy texture.

Blue cheese with honey and walnuts

When preparing this dish, it is essential to use good-quality ingredients. For the blue cheese, opt for a strong but soft variety like Cambozola, Brie, or Saint Andre. As for the honey, choose a good-quality, flavourful variety such as orange blossom, lavender, or clover honey, which will add nuanced flavours to the dish. Finally, select fresh walnuts and either dry toast them or use them raw.

There are several ways to serve blue cheese with honey and walnuts. One option is to arrange the blue cheese on a serving platter, drizzle it liberally with honey, and sprinkle the walnuts on top. Alternatively, you can serve the blue cheese in a small oven-proof dish, crumble the walnuts on top, and drizzle with honey before baking in the oven at 300 degrees Celsius for about 5 minutes until melted and gooey. This baked version is perfect for dipping slices of apple or pear into.

When serving this dish, consider providing some crackers or crusty bread on the side. These can be used as a base for the cheese, honey, and walnuts, making it easier for your guests to enjoy this delicious combination.

Whether served as an appetizer or a dessert, blue cheese with honey and walnuts is sure to impress and satisfy your guests' sweet, salty, or savoury cravings.

Honey and brie grilled cheese

Ingredients:

• 8 slices of bread (hearty white country loaf, French bread, sourdough or rye)
• 2 apples, thinly sliced (such as Fuji, Gala, Cosmic Crisp, or Granny Smith for a tart flavour)
• 250g of Brie, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons of butter for spreading
• 4 tablespoons of hot honey butter (made by mixing butter with honey and chilli flakes)
• 2 tablespoons of salted butter, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons of mild honey (optional)

Method:

• Lightly butter one side of each slice of bread.
• Place 4 slices of bread, buttered side down, in a large frying pan over medium-low heat.
• Spread ½ tablespoon of honey butter on each slice in the pan.
• Layer 2 slices of Brie and fan out the apple slices on top.
• Add another layer of Brie on top of the apples.
• Spread the remaining honey butter on the unbuttered side of the remaining slices of bread.
• Place the bread, honey butter side down, on top of the sandwiches.
• Cook the sandwiches until golden brown on both sides, flipping carefully (approximately 5 minutes per side).
• Let the sandwiches cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Tips and Variations:

• You can also add a sprinkle of cinnamon or a tablespoon of caramelized onions to the sandwich for extra flavour.
• If you prefer a different type of cheese, cheddar is a great substitute for the brie.
• If you don't have honey on hand, you can try jalapeno jelly, fig jam, or cranberry jelly instead.
• For a lighter option, use margarine or olive oil instead of butter, or brush the outside of the bread with olive oil.

Honey and cheddar

Honey and cheese is a combination that dates back to ancient Rome, where it was featured in a collection of recipes by a Roman gourmand named Marcus Gavius Apicius. The sweetness of honey is the perfect contrast to the saltiness of cheese, and both have many depths and variations of flavour depending on where they are made.

Honey is meant to enhance the flavour of cheese, not smother it, so it should be used sparingly. Honey pairs well with almost any type of cheese, but it is especially good with mild and creamy cheeses, a sharp blue, aged cheeses, or any tangy and acidic cheeses.

When it comes to cheddar, a sharp, aged cheese, honey is a delicious pairing. A drizzle of honey will enhance the flavour of a simple cheddar and add an additional flavour element. For example, a Spanish Thyme Honey has a delightful floral aroma with a strong herbal flavour that can really enhance a simple cheddar. Alternatively, a bold honey with warm or vegetal notes will also work well with cheddar.

For a truly indulgent experience, try pairing honey in the comb with a mature cheddar. The texture of the honeycomb will add another dimension to the overall tasting experience.

Honey and goat's cheese

Honey and cheese is a classic combination, with a drizzle of honey enhancing the flavour of the cheese without overwhelming it. This pairing dates back to ancient Rome, where it was featured in a collection of recipes by a Roman gourmand named Marcus Gavius Apicius.

Fresh goat cheese is a tangy, acidic cheese that is perfectly complemented by a drizzle of honey. The sweetness of the honey balances the tanginess of the goat cheese, creating a delightful contrast of flavours. This combination can be served in a variety of ways, such as drizzling honey over a wedge of goat cheese, stirring honey into softened goat cheese to make a spread, or baking the two together in a tart or pastry.

When choosing a honey to pair with goat cheese, consider the intensity of the honey and aim for a balance where neither the honey nor the cheese overpowers the other. A light, delicate honey, such as acacia honey, can be a good choice for a milder flavour, while a bolder, darker honey with animal or woody notes can stand up to the tanginess of the goat cheese.

To elevate this pairing, serve it with crackers or slices of baguette, providing a solid foundation for the goat cheese and honey. Adding fresh or dried fruit, such as figs, apricots, or berries, can also enhance the flavour combination and provide a colourful and textured contrast. For a savoury element, consider including sliced meats such as prosciutto or salami.

Experimenting with different varieties of honey and cheese can lead to discovering new favourite pairings, and don't be afraid to trust your taste buds to guide you in creating delicious combinations.

Frequently asked questions