Bushra Griffith
Adding cheese to a salad can turn a plate of roughage into a protein-packed, creamy meal. With up to 2,000 varieties of cheese to choose from, each with a unique flavour, texture, and origin, choosing the right cheese for your salad can be challenging. When in doubt, opt for a cheese from the same region as your salad—for example, feta in a Greek salad or Parmesan in a Caesar salad. You should also consider the texture of the cheese and how it will complement the other ingredients in your salad. For instance, harder cheeses like Parmesan can be shaved or grated over greens, while softer cheeses like goat cheese or feta can be crumbled.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese type | Feta, Blue Cheese, Goat Cheese, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Swiss Cheese, Cottage Cheese, Cheddar, Boursin, Halloumi |
| Flavour | Tangy, Salty, Funky, Cheesy, Creamy, Mild, Rich, Sharp, Sweet, Nutty, Peppery, Zesty, Fruity |
| Texture | Crumbly, Shredded, Grated, Soft, Semi-soft, Semi-hard, Hard, Creamy, Dense, Grainy |
| Origin | Greek, Mediterranean, Italian, Middle Eastern, Spanish, Swiss |
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What You'll Learn
Goat and sheep cheeses
Goat cheese, or chèvre, is known for its tangy, grassy, and creamy flavour, and crumbly texture, making it perfect for salads. One example of goat cheese is Drunken Goat, a Spanish cheese with a violet rind and a mildly fruity flavour. It soaks in red wine for two to three days, giving it a semi-soft texture and a wonderful creaminess. Its grape-y notes make it a great addition to salads with peppery or bitter greens, like arugula with stone fruit or heirloom tomatoes.
Goat cheese can also come in different flavours, such as herbed, sweet, or truffle. For instance, Boursin is a thick, crumbly, whipped cream cheese that comes in multiple flavours, including truffle and garlic and herbs.
Sheep's milk cheeses include feta, as mentioned earlier, and halloumi. Halloumi has a high melting point, so it can be grilled, fried, or eaten raw. It's a great choice if you're looking for a salty cheese with a unique texture.
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Feta
When choosing feta for a salad, it is important to consider its texture and flavour. Feta made with sheep's milk tends to be tangier and is a good choice for crumbling over a salad. Aged feta that is slightly harder is also better for crumbling, while softer feta can be spreadable.
Overall, feta is a versatile and popular choice for salads, adding a salty, tangy flavour and a contrasting texture that elevates the dish.
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Blue cheese
When using blue cheese as a salad topping, it is typically crumbled over the other ingredients. It can be paired with ingredients like sunflower seeds, bacon bits, and romaine lettuce. Blue cheese can also be used in a Caprese-style salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, and a herby vinaigrette.
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Mozzarella
For a traditional Caprese salad, thick slices of vine tomatoes are paired with sliced mozzarella and larger pieces of basil, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper. However, there are many variations of this salad, such as using cherry or grape tomatoes, or adding avocado or avocado cream cheese for a vegan option.
Buffalo mozzarella, made from buffalo milk, is a particularly rich and creamy variety that adds a luxurious texture and flavour to salads. It can be used in a sun-dried tomato pasta salad, where its mild flavour complements ingredients like pine nuts, capers, and basil.
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Parmesan
When adding Parmesan to a salad, it is best to shave or grate it over the greens. This ensures that the cheese has a nice presence in the salad, without overwhelming the other ingredients or becoming gloppy. Shaved Parmesan is also elegant and can be used to top off a salad.
One popular salad that uses Parmesan is the 5-minute lemon Parmesan lettuce salad. This simple salad combines romaine and red leaf lettuce with a lemon dressing and a good sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. It can be served as a side or topped with grilled fish, chicken salad, chicken kabobs, shrimp, or tuna for a more substantial meal.
Another option is to pair a Parmesan salad with a pasta dish, homemade pizza, or a choice of protein. For example, a simple lemon Parmesan salad can be served as a side dish or topped with a protein of choice.
In addition to these specific recipes, Parmesan can be added to a variety of salads to enhance their flavour and texture. For example, a Reddit user mentions using Parmesan in their daily broccoli slaw, which also includes Rao's tomato sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese. Another user suggests adding Parmesan to a Caesar salad, along with Greek yogurt dressing and bacon bits.
When using Parmesan in a salad, it is important to consider the quantity and nutritional value. Parmesan can be high in calories and sodium, so it should be used in moderation and weighed on a food scale to ensure accurate logging.
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Frequently asked questions
Feta, goat, blue, mozzarella, and Parmesan are some of the most popular cheeses to add to a salad.
Feta is a semi-soft, tangy, and slightly salty cheese that is made with goat, sheep, or cow milk. It is traditionally used in Greek and Mediterranean dishes.
If you are looking for a substitute for feta, goat cheese is a good option. It has a similar tangy taste and creamy texture.
Blue cheese has a strong, tangy flavor and a unique look due to its blue veins. It is best used sparingly as it can be overwhelming. It goes well with salads that have sweet ingredients like roasted beets or peaches.
Parmesan is a classic cheese to sprinkle on a Caesar salad. It has a grainy texture and a rich, nutty flavor.
