Creating The Perfect Cheese Plate: Delicious Pairing Ideas

A cheese plate is a great centrepiece for any gathering, whether it's a cocktail party or an intimate dinner. The perfect cheese plate has a variety of cheeses, textures, and flavours. A good rule of thumb is to have one familiar cheese, like Gouda or Brie, and then choose a few from different categories, such as aged or hard cheese, soft or creamy cheese, firm cheese, blue cheese, and goat or sheep's milk cheese.

To add some extra flavour to your cheese plate, you can pair it with a selection of breads, crackers, jarred condiments, and meats. Something salty, like cured meats or nuts, and something sweet, like honey or jams, can also enhance the flavours of the cheese. If you're feeling adventurous, you can try unique accompaniments like pickled fruit, caramel corn, or miso-glazed carrots.

So, the next time you're hosting a gathering, consider creating a delicious and diverse cheese plate that will impress your guests and keep the conversation flowing.

Breads: sliced baguettes, bread sticks, crackers

Breads are a great way to bulk up a cheese plate and provide a textural contrast to the cheeses. Here are some ideas for including sliced baguettes, breadsticks, and crackers on your cheese plate:

Sliced Baguettes

A sliced baguette is a classic accompaniment to a cheese plate. Look for a crusty baguette, preferably a day old, to provide a textural contrast to the cheeses. Baguettes pair well with a variety of cheeses, but they go especially well with buttery French Brie, creamy goat cheese, or strong, hard cheeses like sharp cheddar or Parmigiano-Reggiano. To elevate your baguette slices, drizzle them with flavoured honey, such as chilli honey, or olive oil.

Breadsticks

Breadsticks provide a similar crunch to crackers but with a longer shape that can be elegant and fun to eat. Look for breadsticks made with simple, high-quality ingredients, such as flour, olive oil, and salt. Breadsticks can be paired with a variety of cheeses but are especially good with creamy cheeses like Brie or Camembert. For an extra touch of elegance, wrap breadsticks with sliced prosciutto or other charcuterie meats.

Crackers

When selecting crackers for your cheese plate, look for simple, elegant options that won't overwhelm the cheese. Avoid heavily seasoned crackers or mass-produced varieties. Instead, opt for entertainment crackers or gourmet crackers, which are designed to pair well with unique cheeses. Plain crackers or those made with neutral flavours like sourdough or French bread are also good choices. However, don't be afraid to experiment with flavoured crackers, such as those containing walnuts, dried fruit, or olives, which can complement certain cheeses. When in doubt, ask your local cheesemonger for advice on pairing crackers with cheese.

When serving breads with your cheese plate, consider providing a variety of options, including sliced baguettes, breadsticks, and crackers of different shapes and sizes. This will add interest and texture to your cheese plate. Remember to serve the breads in a separate basket or bowl to avoid overcrowding the cheese platter.

Cured meats: prosciutto, salami, speck, Serrano ham

Cured meats are a delicious addition to a cheese plate, and prosciutto, salami, speck, and Serrano ham are all excellent choices. These meats provide a savoury, salty contrast to the creaminess of cheese, making for a well-rounded and flavourful pairing. Here are some tips to create a delightful cheese plate with these cured meats:

Variety is the Spice of Life: Offer a variety of cured meats to cater to different tastes and create a visually appealing platter. Prosciutto, known for its delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture, pairs beautifully with milder cheeses such as mozzarella or burrata. Salami, on the other hand, with its robust flavour and chewy texture, stands up well to stronger cheeses like aged cheddar or gouda. Speck, a smoked and spiced ham, adds a unique flavour profile to your plate and goes well with nutty cheeses like Gruyère or Comte. Serrano ham, a Spanish delicacy, is leaner and has a more subtle flavour, making it a good match for creamy cheeses like Brie or Camembert.

Preparation and Presentation: When preparing your cheese plate, aim for a balanced composition. Arrange the meats in a way that showcases each one attractively. Roll or fold the prosciutto slices to highlight their delicate texture. Cut the salami and Serrano ham into thin slices and fan them out on the plate. Speck can be cut into cubes or thin strips. Leave some space between the meats to avoid overcrowding and to showcase the variety of options.

Complementary Accompaniments: Enhance your cured meat and cheese pairing by adding complementary accompaniments. Consider adding some crusty bread, such as a baguette, or breadsticks. Dried fruits like apricots, dates, and cherries also pair well with cured meats and can be stuffed inside a piece of prosciutto for a tasty bite. Nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and pecans add crunch and texture to your plate. Don't forget the condiments! Mustard, chutney, and fruit jams can elevate your pairings and provide a range of flavours for your guests to explore.

Cheese Texture and Flavour: When selecting cheeses to pair with your cured meats, consider a variety of textures and flavours. Include a mix of soft, creamy cheeses like Brie, harder cheeses like cheddar, and crumbly blue cheeses. This will give your guests a range of options to explore. Remember, the key is to provide a contrast of flavours and textures, creating a well-rounded and satisfying culinary experience.

Amount and Occasion: Finally, consider the amount of cheese and cured meat to serve, as well as the occasion. As a general rule, plan for 1-2 ounces of each cheese per person if served as a hors d'oeuvre and 1-1.5 ounces if served as an after-dinner course. If you're serving the cheese plate as an appetizer, you may want to offer a greater variety of meats and cheeses to cater to different tastes. For a more intimate dinner setting, a simpler selection can suffice.

Nuts: almonds, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, pistachios, candied nuts

Nuts are a great addition to a cheese plate, providing a crunchy texture and a sweet, creamy, or salty flavour to complement the cheese. When selecting nuts to accompany a cheese plate, consider almonds, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, pistachios, and candied nuts.

Almonds, especially the Marcona variety, are a great salty addition to a cheese plate. They pair well with cheeses like Manchego, a strong sheep's milk cheese, and can be served on their own or as candied nuts. Walnuts are another nut that can add a nice crunch and creamy texture to a cheese plate. They pair well with mild cheeses such as goat cheese or fresh mozzarella.

Pecans are a versatile nut that can be used in sweet or savoury dishes. They have a rich, buttery flavour and a crisp texture, making them a great addition to a cheese plate. Pecans pair well with creamy cheeses like Brie or Camembert, as well as stronger cheeses like blue cheese. Hazelnuts, with their sweet and buttery flavour, are another nut that can complement a variety of cheeses. They go especially well with soft, creamy cheeses like Brie or goat cheese.

Pistachios, with their unique flavour and vibrant green colour, can add a nice touch to a cheese plate. They pair well with stronger cheeses like blue cheese or aged cheddar. Candied nuts are a great way to add a sweet element to a cheese plate. They can be made with a variety of nuts, including almonds, walnuts, or pecans, and pair well with saltier cheeses.

Fruits: figs, grapes, apples, peaches, berries, pears, dried fruit

When creating a cheese plate, it's important to remember that the cheese is the star of the show. The goal of pairing gourmet cheeses with accompaniments is to offer different tastes throughout the evening. That means anything too overpowering could spoil the palate.

Fruits are a great complement to cheese. Fresh, seasonal fruit works well, but only if the flavours can balance out. Fruits with a more subtle flavour, such as figs, grapes, and berries, pair well with milk and creamy cheeses. Harder and semi-hard cheeses go better with apples, melons, and pears.

Dried fruits are also a good option. Tart apricots, dates, and Montmorency cherries can be stuffed with cheese and wrapped in prosciutto or other charcuterie meats. You can also serve cheese on top of dried fruit. Adding nuts like almonds, walnuts, pecans, and hazelnuts will give your cheese plate a crunchy texture.

For a springtime cheese plate, you could include fresh goat cheese, chives, and pickled asparagus. In the summer, add some honey to your plate to go with your berries and Brie. In autumn, try alpine cheeses, dried figs, nuts, and grapes. In winter, serve an aged cheddar with jam, pears, and crackers.

If you're serving cheese before dinner, choose lighter cheeses such as an herb-coated goat cheese or fresh mozzarella. After-dinner cheeses can be richer and creamier, like triple-crème St. Andre, or full-flavoured, like Manchego, cheddar, aged gouda, or blue cheeses.

Condiments: mustard, chutney, honey, jams, quince paste, guava paste

When creating a cheese plate, the condiments you choose can elevate the flavour of the cheese by contrasting its saltiness with some sugar, bringing out unexpected notes like grassiness or nuttiness, and adding textural complexity to each mouthful. They can also help to cut a cheese's richness with acidity or spice, or balance its funk and earthiness with a touch of sweetness.

Mustard is a great condiment to pair with cheese. A spicy brown mustard can go well with a bold cheese. If you're a fan of dill pickles, a garlic dill mustard can be a good choice, especially if paired with a strongly flavoured cheese.

Chutney is another classic condiment for a cheese plate. Chutneys can range from tart to spicy, and pair well with mild cheeses. Caramelised onions are another option in this category, and they complement most cheese plates.

Honey is a classic charcuterie staple and can be paired with saltier cheeses. A sweet-spicy honey can be amazing on anything that likes a little sugar and heat, such as chicken, salad, pizza, or cocktails.

Jams are also a great choice to include on a cheese plate. Apple and horseradish jam, for example, can smooth over the barnyardy notes of sheep's cheeses like Manchego. Its sugary-tart apples also latch onto the sweet, nutty character of Gouda. Alternatively, a sweet cherry preserve can be a good choice to cut through creamy, buttery cheeses like Brie or play up the nuttiness of a mild Swiss cheese.

Quince and guava paste are also mentioned as condiments to include on a cheese plate.

Frequently asked questions