The Perfect Pairings For A Cheese Board

A cheese board is a great way to impress your guests, whether it's for a dinner party or a simple get-together. The best cheese boards have a variety of cheeses, textures, and flavours. You can include aged or hard cheeses like Asiago, Parmesan, and Reggiano; soft or creamy cheeses like Brie, Camembert, and Brillat-Savarin; and firm cheeses like Gouda, Aged Cheddar, Manchego, and Swiss. Blue cheese is also a popular choice, with varieties like Gorgonzola, Dolce, Valdeón, and Stilton. You can also add some cured meats like prosciutto and salami, as well as crackers, breads, nuts, and fruits like apples, pears, and grapes. Don't forget to include some condiments like honey, jams, and mustards to round out the flavours.

Breads and crackers

When it comes to crackers, variety is key. Aim for a mix of different crackers in terms of flavour, texture, and shape. You could include some basic sea salt crackers, some multigrain or wheat crackers, and perhaps a nutty cracker with dried fruits or other unusual ingredients. If you're feeling fancy, you could include some unusual crackers like raisin rosemary crisps. Breadsticks are another fun option, adding a bit of height and crunch to your board.

When it comes to bread, a crusty baguette is a classic choice and pairs perfectly with creamy cheeses like brie. You could also warm up some pita bread or naan flatbread and tear it into rustic pieces. Sliced baguette, breadsticks, and crackers can be served in a separate basket or bowl, or arranged around the perimeter of the board.

If you want to get creative, you could include some toasted slices of leftover baguette or other interesting breads like walnut, dried fruit, or olive bread. These more strongly flavoured breads can stand up to the strong flavours of cheese and even complement them.

So, to summarise, here are some ideas for breads and crackers to accompany your cheese board:

• Sea salt crackers
• Multigrain or wheat crackers
• Nutty crackers with dried fruits or other unusual ingredients
• Breadsticks
• Crusty baguette
• Warm pita bread
• Naan flatbread
• Toasted slices of baguette or other interesting breads like walnut, dried fruit, or olive bread

Fruits

In winter, sliced persimmons, pears, apples and pomegranate quarters are excellent choices, along with dried fruits like apricots or cherries. These fruits pair well with soft cheeses such as goat cheese, burrata or camembert.

For summer, berries and stone fruits like plums or cherries are ideal. Avoid very juicy fruits like watermelon or peaches, which can make a mess. Instead, opt for grapes, which are a classic choice, or apricots, which go well with goat cheese.

Some other fruit options that pair well with cheese include:

• Apples: Thinly sliced apples go with almost any cheese, especially when paired with fig jam or honey. They can also stand up to stronger cheeses like Gruyere or sharp cheddar.
• Pears: Bosc, D'Anjou, Barlett or Comice pears are great choices and particularly delicious with brie and gouda.
• Plums: Bold, sweet plums are a good match for strong, salty cheeses like Manchego or Fontina.
• Pomegranates: These sweet-tart fruits have a burst of juice that pairs well with goat cheese, feta or Swiss.
• Oranges and blood oranges: While some people dislike the combination of citrus and dairy, others enjoy the sweet citrus of oranges with the salty creaminess of brie.
• Cherries: Fresh or dried cherries are a classic combination with brie, camembert or goat cheese.
• Figs: Fresh or dried figs go well with Manchego cheese and are a visually stunning addition to the board.

When creating a cheese board, it's a good idea to offer a variety of cheeses with different textures, shapes and strengths, as well as cheeses made from different types of milk (cow, goat, sheep). Aim for odd numbers of cheeses, and don't forget to remove them from the fridge about 30 minutes before serving to allow them to come to room temperature.

Savoury items

A cheese board is a great way to showcase your creativity and culinary skills. Here are some savoury items that will take your cheese board to the next level:

Meats

Meats are a classic addition to any cheese board and offer a nice contrast to the cheeses. Go for cured meats like prosciutto, salami, chorizo, coppa, mortadella, or pancetta. These meats provide a nice salty contrast to the other items on the board. If you want to keep things simple, just choose one or two varieties of meat to include.

Crackers and Breads

Crackers and breads are essential for any cheese board, as they provide a base for all the delicious toppings. Offer a variety of textures and flavours with crackers, such as buttery, thin and mild, or seedy and grainy. A fresh baguette is always a good option, and you can also offer breadsticks, crostini, or sliced and toasted baguette.

Pickles and Olives

Pickles and olives add a briny, savoury touch to your cheese board. Pickled vegetables like cornichons, onions, radishes, or capers are perfect, as are marinated vegetables like artichokes or roasted peppers. Olives are a must-have for their salty, tangy flavour.

Nuts

Nuts provide a crunchy texture and a savoury flavour to your cheese board. Try Marcona almonds, walnuts, pistachios, or candied or spiced nuts for an extra flavour boost.

Dips and Spreads

While cheese is delicious on its own, offering some dips and spreads can take your cheese board to the next level. Honey, mustard, and fruit preserves like jam or chutney are all excellent choices. If you want to get creative, you can even make your own dips or spreads, like a cheese ball or dill pickle dip.

Condiments

Sweet Condiments

• Honey: A delicious counterpoint with both strong and mild cheeses. Try it with strong blue cheeses like Cabrales, Roquefort, Gorgonzola and Stilton; and with fresh goat cheeses.
• Maple Syrup: Beyond breakfast syrup, it’s delicious with both strong and mild cheeses.
• Quince Paste: Sold at cheese counters, quince paste is traditionally a Spanish cheese accompaniment. It has a sweet and tart taste and looks like a brick of gelatin. Any salty or blue cheese pairs well with quince paste, but it works best with Spanish cheeses like Roncal, Mahón or Manchego.
• Jams: Try fig jam with stronger blue cheeses, golden raspberry jam with fresh goat cheeses, and spiced quince preserve with Cheddar, Manchego, firm, aged cheeses and dry, salty cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano and aged Gouda.
• Sour Cherry Spiced Wine Fruit Compote: Pairs beautifully with a variety of cheese from Blue Cheese to Goats Cheese to Baked Brie.
• Cranberry Chutney: Ideal for soft bloomy rind cheeses such as Brie and Camembert.
• Rum Toddy Toffee Dessert Sauce: Amazing on a dessert cheese board, especially with a salty pungent blue cheese.

Savoury Condiments

• Mustard: English and Scottish mustards pair well with strong Cheddars like Gloucester. Pair the slightly more delicate French mustards with Port Salut or the grassy Le Berger Basque.
• Pesto: One of the most versatile options to add to the cheese board. It’s herby, nutty, and already slightly cheesy.
• Aioli: A creamy, rich texture and robust flavour, which makes it a nigh-ideal dip for most types of cheese, from mellow to sharp.
• Chutneys: Look for fruit-based chutneys when pairing with cheese. Pair with creamy young cheeses, Fontina or mild Swiss cheeses. Tomato chutney pairs well with sharp Cheddars.
• Olive Oil: Fresh cheeses like mozzarella, ricotta and goat cheese act like a canvas for the complexities of a good olive oil.
• Tapenade: A thick dip made with mashed olives, capers, herbs, and spices. Robust but not sharp, it’s an ideal pairing for most blue cheese varieties, Grana cheese, and Aged European-style cheese.
• Hummus: Works best with cheese of medium sharpness, like Provolone, Havarti, Moliterno, and Gruyere, but it can work with Grana Padano and Parmigiano-Reggiano as well.
• Garlic (or Onion) Jam: Roasted garlic jam is more pungent and smoky, while onion jam is sweeter. They’re both considered some of the most versatile condiments that work excellently with any cheese with a bit of sharpness and nuttiness to it.

Meats

Cured Meats

Cured meats, such as bacon, salami, prosciutto, and chorizo, are a popular choice for cheese boards due to their salty, savoury flavour and varied textures. The curing process, which can involve drying, smoking, or adding spices, results in a depth of flavour that pairs well with cheeses. Look for options like dry-cured chorizo, hard Genoa salami, or the spicy and tender Italian ham, capicola.

Whole Muscle Meats

Whole muscle meats, such as prosciutto and capicola, are sliced and served as part of the charcuterie board. These meats offer a different texture and appearance from the encased meats, adding variety to your board.

Encased Meats

Encased meats include hard sausages like salami and pepperoni, as well as softer options like mortadella or bologna. These meats are typically sliced or served in small cubes, making them easy to eat and providing a nice contrast to the other textures on the board.

Condiments

When selecting condiments for your meat and cheese board, consider offering a range of sweet and sour options. Honey, for example, is a popular choice as it adds a touch of sweetness that balances the salty meats. You could also offer a tart condiment like Dijon mustard, which will cut through the richness of the meats.

Breads and Crackers

Breads and crackers are essential for a meat and cheese board, providing a vehicle for your guests to enjoy the meats and cheeses. Offer a variety of plain crackers, as strongly flavoured options can overwhelm the other flavours. A sliced baguette is always a good choice, and you can also offer something a little different, like sweet potato biscuits.

Presentation Tips

When arranging your meats on the board, fan out the individual slices or cubes to make them easily accessible to your guests. You can also separate the different types of meat and cheese to create a visually appealing display. Don't forget to provide small knives or spreaders for soft cheeses and condiments, as well as small plates or napkins for your guests.

Frequently asked questions