The Perfect Breads To Pair With A Cheese Platter

A cheese platter is a delightful thing, and the perfect accompaniment to a get-together or party. But what type of bread should you serve?

Bread is an essential element of any cheese board, acting as a vehicle for the cheese and other toppings. A seeded sourdough is an excellent choice, as its nuttiness pairs well with creamy cheeses. However, variety is key, so consider including a crusty baguette for crunch, and a soft ciabatta.

If you're feeling adventurous, try a cinnamon raisin bread with fresh goat's cheese, or a seeded loaf with a smooth Alpine cheese like Gruyere. For a truly special occasion, pair your cheese with an Irish brown bread and a creamy blue cheese.

Breads to pair with blue cheese

Blue cheese is a flavour powerhouse with a bold, spicy profile and a creamy texture. When selecting a bread to pair with blue cheese, it's important to consider the intensity of the cheese and choose a bread that can stand up to its strong taste. Here are some suggestions for breads that will complement and enhance the flavour of blue cheese:

• Rye bread – The robust, earthy flavour of rye pairs well with the intensity of blue cheese. It also provides a good texture contrast to creamy blue cheeses.
• Fruit and nut bread – The sweetness of dried fruits in this bread will balance the saltiness of blue cheese, while the nuts will add a crunchy texture.
• Sourdough – The tangy flavour of sourdough can hold its own against the strong taste of blue cheese. It also has a crispy crust that can contrast nicely with the creaminess of some blue cheeses.
• Pumpernickel – The dense texture and strong flavour of pumpernickel make it a good match for blue cheese.
• Walnut bread – The nuttiness of walnut bread complements the strong flavour of blue cheese. This pairing is especially recommended for crumbled blue cheese drizzled with honey.

When creating a cheese platter, it's a good idea to include a variety of breads, crackers, and accompaniments to provide different textures and flavours for your guests to enjoy.

Breads to pair with soft cheese

When creating a cheese platter, it's important to remember that bread is a crucial element, serving as the perfect vehicle for the cheese and other accompaniments. Here are some ideas for breads to pair with soft cheese:

Seeded Sourdough

A seeded sourdough bread is an excellent choice for a cheese platter as its nuttiness contrasts beautifully with the creaminess of soft cheeses. The crunchy texture of the seeds also adds a delightful bite.

Baguette

A crusty baguette is a classic choice for any cheese platter, and its crunchy texture can provide a nice contrast to softer cheeses. For an extra special touch, look for a baguette with a proper snap to its crust.

Ciabatta

If you prefer a softer bread option to pair with your soft cheese, ciabatta is a great choice. It has a delicate, airy texture that won't compete with the softness of the cheese.

Focaccia

Focaccia is another soft bread option that can pair well with soft cheese. It often includes herbs and other toppings that can add a burst of flavor to your platter.

Irish Brown Bread

Irish Brown Bread, also known as Guinness Bread, is a dense and slightly sweet bread that can complement soft cheeses. Its malty flavor and moist texture make it a unique and delicious choice.

When creating your cheese platter, consider offering a variety of breads to provide different flavors and textures to your guests. Don't be afraid to experiment and trust your instincts to create a combination that tastes good to you!

Breads to pair with hard cheese

When creating a cheese platter, it's important to consider the different textures and flavours of the cheeses and how they will complement the bread. Hard cheeses like Parmesan, aged cheddar, and Gouda pair well with crusty breads such as sourdough or whole grain. Here are some specific bread and hard cheese combinations to elevate your cheese platter:

Sourdough and Aged Cheddar

The tangy flavour of sourdough enhances the sharp flavour of cheddar. The dense texture of rye bread provides a sturdy base for the creamy or crumbly texture of cheddar, creating a delightful texture contrast. The aromatic caraway seeds often found in rye bread also pair nicely with the rich aroma of cheddar.

Rye Bread and Parmesan

The earthy, slightly sour taste of rye bread complements the salty, sharp flavour of Parmesan. This combination offers a flavour contrast and a texture balance, as the hard and dense Parmesan cheese is offset by the soft and airy rye bread.

Whole Grain Bread and Gouda

The nutty flavours in whole grain bread pair well with the rich, semi-hard texture of Gouda. This combination creates a harmonious blend of flavours and textures, as the slight crunch of the whole grain bread complements the smooth, creamy mouthfeel of Gouda.

Focaccia and Fiore Sardo

Focaccia, with its flat, herb-infused shape, is a great match for a hard, salty sheep's milk cheese like Fiore Sardo. The saltiness of the cheese is balanced by the slight sweetness of the focaccia, resulting in a savoury delight.

Miche and Dubliner

Miche, a type of bread made with a blend of flours, has a slightly sweet flavour that pairs well with a sweet cheddar like Dubliner. The mild flavour of the bread enhances the cheese's robust taste, creating a delightful contrast of sweet and savoury.

When creating a cheese platter, feel free to experiment with different types of bread and cheese to find your favourite combinations. Remember, the best pairing is the one that tastes good to you, so trust your instincts and enjoy the process of discovering new flavour profiles!

Breads to avoid

When creating a cheese platter, the bread you choose is important. While there are many types of bread that go well with cheese, there are some that you should avoid.

Firstly, it is best to avoid bread that is too soft or fluffy, such as sandwich bread or dinner rolls. These types of bread can be bland and lack the texture needed to stand up to the cheese. They also tend to fall apart easily, making them impractical for a platter.

Bread with strong flavours or an overwhelming amount of spices should also be avoided. A strong-flavoured bread can overpower the taste of the cheese, especially if it is a milder variety. Breads with strong spices can also be too harsh when paired with certain cheeses, detracting from the overall taste experience.

In addition, it is best to steer clear of pre-sliced or pre-packaged bread. These tend to be lower quality and can be dry and less flavourful. They also often contain preservatives, which can affect the taste and texture negatively.

Finally, while it may be tempting to include a variety of breads, it is important not to go overboard. A cheese platter should have a balance of bread and cheese, so avoid including too many types of bread, which could overwhelm the platter and leave you with an excess of bread.

Remember, the key to a successful cheese platter is balance and complementing the cheese, so avoid any bread that might detract from the overall taste experience.

Breads to pair with goat's cheese

When creating a cheese platter, it's important to consider the different textures and flavours of the cheeses and how they will pair with the bread. A seeded sourdough bread is a great choice for a cheese platter as its nuttiness pairs well with creamy cheeses. Variety is key, so consider including a mix of different types of bread, such as a crusty baguette or a softer ciabatta.

Goat's cheese is light, fresh, tangy, fruity and creamy, and it is a popular choice for those who are lactose intolerant. When it comes to pairing bread with goat's cheese, here are some options to consider:

Cinnamon Raisin Bread

The slight tang of fresh goat cheese pairs wonderfully with the sweetness of cinnamon raisin bread. This combination offers a delightful contrast of flavours and textures.

Seeded or Nutty Breads

Goat's cheese also goes well with seeded or nutty breads. The crunch of seeds or nuts provides a nice textural contrast to the creamy cheese. A smooth Alpine cheese, such as Comte or Gruyere, is a perfect match for these types of bread.

Sourdough

Sourdough bread, with its tangy flavour, can be an excellent complement to goat's cheese. The combination of tangy bread and tangy cheese creates a delightful flavour profile.

Focaccia

Focaccia, with its dense and slightly chewy texture, can also be a good option to pair with goat's cheese. The flat, oven-baked Italian bread often includes herbs and other ingredients, which can add depth of flavour to the pairing.

Quick Breads

Quick breads, such as the goat cheese, fig and herb quick bread, can be a delicious pairing with goat's cheese. The sweetness of the figs and the savoury notes of the herbs create a complex flavour profile that complements the tanginess of the goat's cheese.

When creating a cheese platter with goat's cheese, consider including a variety of these breads to offer your guests a range of flavour and texture combinations. Experimentation is key, and you can always trust your instincts to create pairings that appeal to your taste buds.

Frequently asked questions