Cheese And Walnut Pairing: The Perfect Flavor Combination

Walnuts have an earthy flavour and a dry texture, making them a versatile nut to pair with a variety of cheeses. Their bitterness is an excellent complement to aged cheddar, with the nuttiness of the walnut enhancing the savoury tang of the cheese. Walnuts are also a good match for blue cheeses such as Gorgonzola or Roquefort, especially when drizzled with honey. For a tangy twist, pair walnuts with sheep's milk cheeses like Petite Basque and Pecorino Ginepro.

Walnuts and goat cheese

To elevate this pairing, consider adding a drizzle of honey, which will add a touch of sweetness to the mix. You can also experiment with different types of bread or crackers to serve this delicious duo on. A crisp slice of baguette, for instance, makes an excellent base for a goat cheese crostini topped with walnuts and honey.

If you're feeling creative, try making Warm Walnut Goat Cheese Bites. This easy-to-make appetizer combines the flavours of goat cheese, honey, spices, and walnuts in a bite-sized treat. Simply mix the goat cheese with honey and spices, roll the mixture into balls, coat them with whisked egg, and then roll them in crushed walnuts. After freezing for a couple of hours, bake these bites for about 10 minutes and serve them warm or at room temperature.

For a more sophisticated presentation, you can also try making goat cheese crostini. Start by toasting slices of baguette and walnuts in the oven. Then, spread a layer of goat cheese on the baguette slices, top with the toasted walnuts, and finish with a drizzle of honey. This elegant appetizer is sure to impress your guests!

Walnuts and honey

Honey-glazed walnuts are a quick and easy snack that can be made in a frying pan or oven. Simply heat butter, honey, and walnuts over medium heat, stirring until the nuts are coated and toasted. You can also add spices like cinnamon, cayenne pepper, or sea salt to give them a sweet and spicy kick. Once cooked, these walnuts can be enjoyed as a snack or used as a crunchy, sweet addition to salads.

Walnuts and blue cheese

Salads

A walnut and blue cheese salad is a simple, tasty, and healthy option for a quick lunch. To make this salad, combine lettuce, spinach, and/or arugula with blue cheese and walnuts. You can also add sliced pear or apple for a touch of sweetness. For a more substantial meal, serve it with a mini spinach feta quiche or roasted chicken.

Pizzas

For something more indulgent, try a blue cheese, walnut, and pear pizza. This unique combination of ingredients creates a fresh and tasty appetizer. The sweetness of the pear balances the sharpness of the blue cheese, while the walnuts add a satisfying crunch.

Other Pairings

For a sweeter option, drizzle walnuts with honey and serve them with soft blue cheese like Gorgonzola or Roquefort. The honey will complement the saltiness of the cheese and the earthiness of the walnuts.

Walnuts and aged cheddar

Aged cheddars are matured for longer periods, typically 12 months or more, and this process gives the cheese a deeper, more intricate taste. The longer ageing also results in a crumbly or grainy texture that is firmer than younger cheddars. The concentration of flavours in aged cheddars adds nutty, earthy, or even caramel-like notes, making them a perfect match for the rich, slightly bitter taste of walnuts.

When creating a cheese platter, consider the contrast of textures and flavours. The crunch of walnuts provides a tasty contrast to the creaminess of aged cheddar. To elevate your cheese experience, try drizzling honey on top of the walnuts and cheddar, adding a sweet and milder dimension to the pairing.

For a spicier take on this classic combination, try fiery hot cheddar walnuts. This recipe calls for walnuts tossed in a mixture of white cheddar popcorn seasoning, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and oil, resulting in a tasty, spicy alternative.

If you're looking for a cheese with walnuts already incorporated, look no further than Walnut Cheddar from Ireland. This award-winning cheese is produced by J.O.D. Foods in Effin, Kilmallock, Ireland, under the brand name "Old Irish Creamery". It has a crunchy nutty flavour and a semi-hard, artisan texture, offering a delicious blend of walnuts and cheddar in every bite.

Walnuts and sheep's milk cheese

Sheep's milk cheese, or ewe's milk cheese, is made from the milk of domestic sheep and is often used to make cultured dairy products. Sheep's milk has nearly twice the fat and protein content of cow or goat milk, giving sheep's cheese a rich, opulent, and tangy character. When paired with the nutty notes of walnuts, the result is a delightful combination of flavours.

Some specific types of sheep's milk cheese that go well with walnuts include:

• Petite Basque
• Pecorino Ginepro
• Brebisrousse d'Argental
• Pecorino Toscano
• Manchego
• Roquefort

When serving walnuts with sheep's milk cheese, consider drizzling the walnuts with honey to add a touch of sweetness to the pairing. This can be especially delicious when combined with blue cheese varieties of sheep's milk cheese, such as Roquefort or Gorgonzola. Remember to provide napkins for sticky fingers!

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