Andy Montoya
Swiss cheese is a semi-hard, creamy-coloured cheese with a nutty, slightly piquant flavour. Its mild, nutty, and buttery flavour makes it a great choice for cheese sauces, sandwiches, and pasta. It is often paired with ham in omelettes, savoury pastries, and Chicken Cordon Bleu. Swiss cheese also goes well with Belgian ales, creamy beers, light red wines, crisp white wines, and apple cider. It can be incorporated into dishes like mushroom and Swiss cheese omelette, French onion soup, mac and cheese, and more.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Mild, nutty, buttery, slightly piquant, creamy |
| Texture | Semi-hard, holey |
| Color | Creamy |
| Melting | Melts well |
| Food Pairings | Ham, chicken, beef, mushrooms, omelettes, savory pastries, sandwiches, pasta, French onion soup, mac and cheese, Belgian ales, creamy beers, light red wines, crisp white wines, apple cider |
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What You'll Learn
French onion soup
To prepare the onions, peel them, cut them in half, and then slice into 1/4" pieces. Next, you'll want to soften the onions. To do this, melt butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until they are soft and translucent, stirring frequently. This should take about 20 minutes. Be careful not to brown the onions.
Once the onions are soft, it's time to caramelise them. Turn the heat up to medium-high and add salt. Stir the onions frequently for 15 minutes. At this point, you can also add a clove of garlic if you like. Then, add a pinch of sugar and continue to cook until the onions are caramelised, which should take about another 15 minutes.
Now it's time to deglaze the pot. Add a splash of white wine and use a spatula to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Then, add your beef broth, along with pepper, bay leaves, and thyme. If you don't have white wine, you can use Chardonnay instead of Sherry, or even just chicken or beef broth. Bring the soup to a boil, then turn down the heat and let it simmer for 30 minutes.
While the soup is simmering, prepare your bread and cheese topping. Cut a French baguette, or any bread of your choice, into slices and place them on a baking sheet. You can toast the bread slices beforehand, or leave them fresh—either works! Top each slice of bread with Swiss cheese, or a combination of cheeses—French onion soup typically calls for three cheeses, so you can also add Parmesan, provolone, Fontina, mozzarella, or gouda. Place the baking sheet under the broiler until the cheese is melted and slightly browned, which should take about 2-3 minutes.
Ladle the soup into oven-safe serving bowls and place one slice of bread and cheese on top of each bowl. Serve hot and enjoy the rich, indulgent flavours of your French onion soup!
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Sandwiches
Swiss cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of sandwiches. Its mild, nutty, and buttery flavour, along with its melting texture, makes it a great choice for grilled sandwiches. Here are some sandwich ideas with Swiss cheese:
Classic French Onion Soup Grilled Sandwich
This sandwich is a twist on the classic French onion soup. Start by making the soup with sliced onions, beef broth, garlic, and thyme. For the sandwich, thinly slice some French bread and top it with grated Swiss cheese. Grill the bread until the cheese is melted and golden. Serve the grilled sandwich with a bowl of the soup for a delicious and comforting meal.
Mushroom Swiss Burger
This sandwich is a hearty and flavourful option. Start by cooking mushrooms, butter, and thyme in a pan until browned. Set the mushroom mixture aside and cook your desired amount of ground beef in the pan to form burger patties. Assemble the burger by placing the patty on a bun, topping it with the mushroom mixture, and adding shredded Swiss cheese. You can also add additional toppings like lettuce, tomato, or pickles.
Ham and Swiss Sandwich
A classic combination, the ham and Swiss sandwich is a simple yet tasty option. Layer sliced ham and Swiss cheese on your favourite bread. You can add some condiments like mustard or mayonnaise, and fresh toppings like lettuce, tomato, or onion. This sandwich can be grilled to enhance the flavour and melting texture of the cheese.
Swiss Chicken Cordon Bleu
This sandwich is an indulgent and elegant option. Start by preparing chicken breasts that have been stuffed with Swiss cheese and ham. Coat the chicken in breadcrumbs and fry until golden and crispy. Assemble the sandwich by placing the chicken on a bun or bread of your choice, adding some lettuce and tomato, and spreading a creamy sauce like mayonnaise or aioli.
Swiss Cheese and Fruit Sandwich
A unique and refreshing option, this sandwich combines Swiss cheese with sweet and tangy fruits. Layer sliced Swiss cheese with your choice of fruits like apples, pears, or grapes. You can also add some nuts and a drizzle of honey for extra flavour. This sandwich is best served on a hearty bread like multigrain or rye.
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Pasta
Swiss cheese is a semi-hard, holey cheese with a creamy colour and a nutty, slightly piquant flavour. Its mild, nutty, and buttery flavour makes it a great choice for pasta. Swiss cheese melts well, making it ideal for cheese sauces.
A simple Swiss cheese pasta recipe involves cooking broad egg noodles, making a cheese sauce with Swiss cheese, and baking the mixture until golden brown. You can add vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, or mushrooms. Just cook them first to ensure they’re tender before adding them to the pasta. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the cheese sauce for an extra kick.
Swiss cheese pasta is a delicious dish perfect for a small gathering. With its creamy sauce and rich melt-in-your-mouth texture, this recipe can serve four people and bring a touch of elegance to any meal. It combines simplicity with extraordinary flavour.
You can also add Swiss cheese to your favourite mac and cheese recipe by grating it in or adding it to breadcrumbs for an extra crunchy topping. Swiss cheese is a versatile ingredient that can enhance the flavour of many dishes, including pasta.
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Belgian ales
Swiss cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from sandwiches to burgers to potato pancakes. It is known for its rich, creamy flavour and its distinctive holes. When creating a Swiss cheese board, consider adding some pickled items, as Swiss cheese is often brine-washed during aging. Other condiments that pair well with Swiss cheese include raw and pickled onions, slightly sweetened confits and jams made from onions or shallots, and caramelized and roasted onion flavours. On the sweeter side, Swiss cheese goes well with bitter chocolate.
When it comes to beer, Swiss cheese pairs well with Belgian ales, which have sweetish and toasty malt overtones, a yeasty character, and natural spice notes anchored in bright acidity. These ales emphasize the natural flavour profile of medium to intense Swiss cheeses. The delicate hop and fruit profiles of the ale complement the cheese's sweetness.
Some specific examples of Belgian ales that may pair well with Swiss cheese include Belgian-style wits, Belgian-style blondes, and Belgian fruit beers. These beers tend to have a light, refreshing character while still offering complex flavours that can stand up to the Swiss cheese.
In addition to Belgian ales, other beer styles that can pair well with Swiss cheese include German-style pilsners, American-style pale ales, and tripels. For a stronger flavour profile, consider an imperial IPA, barley wine, or even a Baltic-style porter or imperial stout.
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Chicken
Swiss cheese is a popular ingredient in chicken recipes, especially bakes and casseroles. The cheese is known to add a nutty flavour to the dish. A common recipe for Swiss cheese chicken bake involves layering Swiss cheese over chicken breasts, creating a creamy sauce with mayonnaise, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and spreading this mixture over the chicken. The dish is then baked and served with rice, noodles, or roasted vegetables.
Another variation of the Swiss cheese chicken bake includes browning chicken in bacon drippings, which adds flavour to the dish. Swiss cheese is placed over the chicken, and bacon is crumbled on top. This recipe is served with pasta.
Swiss cheese chicken casseroles are also popular and typically include a layer of chicken, Swiss cheese, and a creamy sauce made with cream of chicken soup and milk. The dish is then topped with stuffing mix and baked. This casserole can be frozen and baked at a later date.
Swiss cheese chicken is a versatile dish that can be adapted to personal preferences and dietary restrictions. For example, light dairy products can be used to reduce calories, and yogurt can be used instead of sour cream to prevent curdling. Additionally, the dish can be made in a slow cooker or baked in the oven.
Overall, Swiss cheese chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make meal that can be tailored to suit various tastes and dietary needs. It is a great option for a quick weeknight dinner or a dish to serve at a dinner party.
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Frequently asked questions
Swiss cheese is a semi-hard, creamy-coloured cheese with holes, known for its nutty, buttery, and slightly piquant flavour.
Swiss cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in various dishes. It pairs well with ham, chicken, eggs, and mushrooms. It is also commonly used in sandwiches, omelettes, and pastries.
Swiss cheese is a key ingredient in the classic Swiss mountain dish called Rösti, a potato pancake often served with bratwurst. It is also used in French onion soup, where it is grilled on top of bread and served with the soup. For a heartier option, try a mushroom Swiss burger or a chicken cordon bleu.
When it comes to beverages, Swiss cheese pairs well with Belgian ales, creamy beers like pale ales, and light red wines such as Pinot Noir or Zinfandel. Crisp white wines like Rieslings and non-alcoholic apple ciders can also complement the cheese's flavour profile.
Yes, Amish Swiss cheese, made in Northeastern Ohio, is known for its distinct flavour due to a longer ageing process at higher temperatures, resulting in larger holes and a more intense taste experience.
