The Perfect Pairings For Taleggio Cheese: A Guide

Taleggio is a soft Italian cheese with a fruity and nutty flavour and a strong aroma. Its texture ranges from semi-soft to soft and creamy, and it is known for its excellent melting qualities. So, what goes well with Taleggio cheese? The options are surprisingly diverse! For drinks, medium or full-bodied red wines like Merlot, Barbaresco, Barolo, and Chianti are good choices, as are white wines such as Franciacorta and Pinot Noir. When it comes to food pairings, Taleggio is a versatile cheese that can be enjoyed with neutral ingredients like leafy greens and vegetables, or more flavourful options. It pairs well with cured meats like prosciutto, pancetta, and mortadella, and makes a great addition to dishes such as polenta, pizza, and risotto. It can also be used in savoury dishes like quiches, gratins, pasta sauces, and soups, or grated on top of salads, pizza, or risotto. For dessert, Taleggio can be enjoyed with moderately sweet and crisp fruits like apples, pears, berries, and grapes.

Wine, such as Pinot Noir, Soave, or Vin Santo

Wine is a great pairing with Taleggio cheese, and there are several varieties that work well. The cheese's mellow, creamy flavour and strong aroma make it a good match for medium or full-bodied reds, such as Merlot, Barbaresco, Barolo, and Chianti. However, it is also often paired with Pinot Noir, a lighter red with a more delicate flavour profile. This variety can complement the cheese's subtle fruitiness without overwhelming it. Soave, a white wine, is another option that can bring out the cheese's fruity and buttery notes. For a sweet wine pairing, Vin Santo is a favourite.

Bread, including rustic bread or sourdough

Bread—including rustic bread or sourdough—is an excellent pairing with Taleggio cheese. The cheese has a strong aroma, but its flavour is comparatively mild and creamy, making it a good match for bread. Its soft, spreadable texture also makes it ideal for spreading on a hunk of rustic bread. This brings out the rich, meaty primary flavour of the cheese, while also making its subdued fruitiness more noticeable, but less intense.

Taleggio is also a good choice for grilled cheese sandwiches. Try it with sourdough, or a ciabatta, and add some onion jam, escarole, and speck. Alternatively, for a sweet and salty combination, pair Taleggio with a flatbread, seedless red grapes, and some salty, cured Italian meats, such as prosciutto or mortadella.

If you're looking for a more indulgent option, try a grilled cheese sandwich with Taleggio, short rib, and a drizzle of honey. Or, for a more sophisticated take on a classic, make a grilled cheese with Taleggio, onion jam, and escarole, served on sourdough.

Fruit, including grapes, currants, or apples

Taleggio is a soft Italian cheese with a fruity and nutty flavour profile. Its aroma is strong, but its taste is comparatively mild and creamy. It is a versatile cheese that can be paired with sweet and savoury ingredients.

Fruits that pair well with Taleggio include grapes, currants, and apples. The sweetness of the fruit can help to balance the cheese's strong aroma and accentuate its fruity notes. For instance, the Grape and Taleggio Flatbread recipe from The Kitchn combines taleggio cheese, seedless red grapes, olive oil, and salt on pizza dough.

Taleggio is also commonly enjoyed as a dessert, either by itself with some wine or with moderately sweet, crisp, and tangy fruit. Apples, pears, and berries are all good options to serve alongside the cheese.

In addition, the cheese's softness makes it easy to melt, so it can be incorporated into a variety of dishes. For a sweet breakfast or dessert, try spreading some Taleggio on a slice of rustic bread and pairing it with sweet grapes, currants, or pine nuts.

Vegetables, like spinach, zucchini, or eggplant

Taleggio cheese is a soft Italian cheese with a strong aroma and a mild, fruity, and nutty flavour. It is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, including grilled cheese sandwiches, pizza, and risotto. Here are some ideas for pairing Taleggio cheese with vegetables like spinach, zucchini, or eggplant:

Spinach

Spinach and Taleggio make a great combination in a variety of dishes. You can try making a spinach and Taleggio quesadilla by filling a flour tortilla with spinach leaves, olive oil, and Taleggio cheese, and grilling it until the cheese is melted. Another option is to make a spinach and Taleggio tart, or add Taleggio to a spinach quiche. The mild, creamy flavour of Taleggio complements the spinach without overpowering it.

Zucchini

Grilled zucchini and Taleggio is a classic combination. You can also try making zucchini fritters or cakes with Taleggio cheese, or adding Taleggio to a zucchini gratin. The melted Taleggio adds a luxurious, stretchy texture and extra flavour to the zucchini.

Eggplant

Taleggio and eggplant is another delicious pairing. You can make an eggplant and Taleggio pasta bake, or an eggplant and Taleggio lasagna. The mild, nutty flavour of Taleggio goes well with the slightly sweet taste of eggplant. You can also try grilling or roasting eggplant slices and topping them with melted Taleggio for a simple, tasty side dish.

In general, Taleggio is an excellent cheese to pair with vegetables due to its mellow flavour and excellent melting qualities. It can add a creamy, stretchy texture and a rich, savoury taste to a variety of vegetable dishes.

Meat, for example, prosciutto, pancetta, or mortadella

Taleggio is a soft Italian cheese with a creamy texture and a complex, fruity, nutty flavour. It is very versatile and can be paired with a wide range of ingredients.

Prosciutto is made from the hind legs of pigs and is dry-cured. It has a thick, buttery, and smooth texture and is typically cut into very thin slices. It is usually served raw and is perfect for charcuterie and antipasto boards. Prosciutto takes about a year to cure and can be cooked or uncooked.

Pancetta is made from pork belly and is salt-cured but not smoked. It has a strong pork flavour and a high salt content. It can also be eaten cooked or uncooked and is sold sliced or cubed. Sliced pancetta is great for sandwiches or antipasto boards, while cubed pancetta adds flavour to dishes like carbonara or stewed beans and greens.

Mortadella is a large sausage made of finely hashed or ground cured pork, with at least 15% small cubes of pork fat. It is traditionally flavoured with peppercorns, but modern versions may also include pistachios or myrtle berries. Mortadella is cooked and is often served in sandwiches.

When paired with Taleggio, these meats create a delicious combination of flavours and textures, making them a perfect choice for a charcuterie board or a savoury dish.

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