The Perfect Cheese Pairing For Pistachios

Pistachios and cheese are a match made in heaven. The versatile and ever-popular pistachio, with its vibrant colour and rich flavour, brings a delightful contrast to both fresh and sharp cheeses. But which cheeses go best with pistachios?

Pistachios and creamy, light-coloured cheeses

Ricotta

Ricotta is a soft, creamy, and mild-flavoured cheese that pairs wonderfully with pistachios. The tanginess of ricotta can be enhanced by the nutty sweetness of pistachios, resulting in a delightful combination of flavours and textures.

Goat Cheese

Goat cheese, also known as chèvre, is another excellent match for pistachios. The creamy and tangy qualities of goat cheese create a lovely contrast to the rich and slightly sweet taste of pistachios. The crumbly texture of goat cheese also complements the satisfying crunch of pistachios.

Feta

Feta cheese is a tangy and slightly salty cheese that pairs beautifully with pistachios. The creamy and crumbly texture of feta provides an interesting contrast to the crunchy pistachios. The salty and sharp profile of feta can be balanced by the rich and buttery taste of pistachios, resulting in a savoury and flavourful combination.

Triple Crème Cheeses

Triple crème cheeses, known for their rich and creamy texture, are also excellent partners for pistachios. The full-flavoured pistachios can stand up to the decadence of triple crème cheeses, creating a harmonious pairing that delights the palate.

When serving pistachios with any of these cheeses, remember to provide a bowl for discarding the pistachio shells. Additionally, consider experimenting with different varieties of pistachios, such as roasted, candied, or spiced pistachios, to add even more depth of flavour to your cheese platter.

Pistachios and ricotta

Pistachios lend their lovely greenish-purple colour and delicious flavour to cheese plates. The nut looks and tastes its best when paired with creamy, light-coloured cheeses. Ricotta is a creamy, light-coloured cheese, making it a perfect match for pistachios. The crunch of nuts is a tasty contrast to the creaminess of the cheese.

If you are serving pistachios and ricotta together, remember to include a shell bowl for discarding the outside shells of the pistachios. You could also try making a Turkish kunefe dessert, which combines the flavours of pistachio and cheese.

For a sweet-savoury snack, spread a toasted baguette with a dollop of ricotta and top with mango-citrus jam. You could also try drizzling rosemary- or herb-flavoured honey over ricotta.

Pistachios and goat's cheese

Goat's cheese, or chèvre, is a versatile cheese that can be paired with a variety of nuts. Its creamy and tangy qualities harmonise exceptionally well with the mild bitterness of walnuts, and it can also be paired with pecans for a dynamic flavour combination. However, when it comes to pistachios, goat's cheese is an excellent choice.

The vibrant colour and rich flavour of pistachios bring a delightful contrast to both fresh and sharp cheeses, and goat's cheese is no exception. The tanginess of the cheese complements the slight sweetness of the pistachios, while the creamy texture of the cheese is offset by the crunch of the nuts.

When serving pistachios and goat's cheese, it is important to remember to include a bowl for discarding the pistachio shells. You may also want to experiment with other ingredients to enhance the flavours of the pairing. For example, drizzling honey over the combination can add a sweet and sticky dimension to the savoury notes of the cheese and nuts.

So, if you're looking for a delicious and sophisticated pairing, look no further than pistachios and goat's cheese. The combination of flavours and textures is sure to delight your senses and elevate your snacking experience.

Pistachios and feta

Feta is a Greek brined curd cheese traditionally made from sheep's milk, or a mixture of sheep and goat's milk. It has a salty, tangy taste, a crumbly texture, and works well with salty, crunchy pistachios.

When serving pistachios and feta together, it is important to remember to include a bowl for discarding the pistachio shells. You could also try scattering chopped pistachios over cubes of feta for a tasty snack.

If you are looking for other cheeses to pair with pistachios, they also go well with creamy, tangy goat's cheese and super-creamy soft cheeses. For a wine pairing, choose a light, zesty, summery white.

Pistachios and triple crème cheeses

Pistachios and cheese is a classic combination. The salty, meaty pistachio is the perfect nut to serve with cheese, and its vibrant colour and rich flavour bring a delightful contrast to both fresh and sharp cheeses.

Pistachios lend themselves particularly well to creamy, light-coloured cheeses. These include ricotta, fresh goat cheese, feta, and triple crème cheeses. The creamy and tangy qualities of feta cheese provide a lovely contrast to the rich and slightly sweet taste of pistachios. The crumbly texture of feta complements the crunch of pistachios.

Triple crème cheeses are soft, creamy, and rich. They are made with a high proportion of cream, which gives them their rich, indulgent texture. They are often tangy, and their flavour is often described as buttery. Their creamy texture and flavour are enhanced by the salty, buttery taste of pistachios. The crunch of the pistachio adds a textural contrast to the creaminess of the cheese, creating a harmonious and indulgent experience.

When serving pistachios with triple crème cheeses, it is important to remember to include a bowl for discarding the shells. To elevate your cheese and pistachio pairing even further, try drizzling the combination with honey.

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