Hard Salami's Perfect Cheese Pairings: A Guide

Hard salami is a delicious, complex, and savoury food with a unique flavour profile. It is an Italian cured sausage that is generally dry and hard, with a more spiced and herby taste than pepperoni. It can be challenging to find the right cheese to pair with salami, but a good pairing will create a delightful combination of flavours. So, what kind of cheese goes with hard salami?

Hard salami and cheese sandwich combinations

Hard salami is a delicious sandwich filling, and there are many types of cheese that can complement its flavour. Here are some mouth-watering hard salami and cheese sandwich combinations to try:

Provolone or Muenster Cheese

The Italian Club Salami Sandwich is a delicious combination of Italian meats like Genoa salami, prosciutto, soppressata, and black forest ham. It is a quick and easy sandwich to make. The recipe recommends provolone cheese, but if you don't have that to hand, you could use muenster cheese instead.

Havarti

Havarti is a semi-soft cheese with a buttery flavour and creamy, smooth texture. It is a great match for hard salami, especially when combined with other Italian meats like in the Italian Club Salami Sandwich. Its subtle flavour will not overpower the other ingredients.

Gouda

Gouda is a semi-hard cheese with a sweet and creamy flavour. It is a good choice for a sandwich as it complements the herbs and spices in the salami. It is a popular choice for grilled sandwiches as it melts well.

Monterey Jack

Monterey Jack is a mild and buttery cheese with a slight tang. It melts well, so it is perfect for grilled sandwiches. It is a good match for salami as it is not too strong and will not overpower the spiced, herby flavour of the meat.

Parmesan

Parmesan is a strong, tangy, nutty, sharp, and fruity cheese. It pairs well with Italian meats like prosciutto and salami. It is often served as an appetizer, stacked on top of the meat and secured with a toothpick.

Best cheese to go with hard salami

Hard salami is a delicious, complex, and savoury food with a unique flavour profile. It is often seasoned with black peppercorn, dried chilli, and wine. With such a complex taste, what are the best cheeses to pair with hard salami?

Gouda is a semi-hard Dutch cheese that is often suggested as a pairing for hard salami. Gouda comes in many varieties, including aged, smoked, spice-infused, and herb-flecked. The sweetness and nuttiness of gouda complement the savoury and spicy notes of the salami.

Monterey Jack is another cheese that is often suggested as a pairing for salami. It has a mild and buttery flavour with a slight tang and melts well, making it perfect for grilled dishes.

Other cheeses that can be paired with hard salami include Provolone, which is suggested for sandwiches, and Havarti, which is a semi-soft cow's cheese with a buttery aroma and a creamy, smooth mouthfeel.

When creating a charcuterie board with hard salami, it is recommended to include a variety of meats, cheeses, and crackers. Some popular additions to a salami and cheese board include grapes, olives, roasted red peppers, and dried fruit.

Creating a charcuterie board with hard salami

Step 1: Choose Your Salami

When it comes to selecting the perfect salami for your charcuterie board, there are many options available. Hard salami, such as Genoa salami, is a popular choice due to its firm texture, which makes it ideal for thin slicing. Other varieties include Wild Boar Salami, Soppressata, and Toscano Salami. If you want to add some spice to your board, opt for a dry salami like Soppressata Picante, which includes fennel, red wine, Grappa, and picante spices.

Step 2: Select Complementary Cheeses

The key to a successful charcuterie board is pairing your chosen salami with complementary cheeses. Here are some classic combinations:

• Wild Boar Salami with Comté, a French cheese similar to Swiss Gruyère, made from cow's milk.
• Soppressata with Havarti, a creamy and semi-soft cheese that complements the herbs and spices in the salami.
• Toscano Salami with Parmigiano Reggiano, a sharp and nutty cheese aged for a notable period, resulting in a granular texture.
• Black Truffle Salami with Trufa Negra, a sheep's milk cheese with premium black truffles woven throughout.
• Prosciutto with Parmesan, a classic Italian combination of salty and buttery flavours.
• Venison Salami with Pecorino Romano, a hard Italian sheep's milk cheese that adds a bold, salty flavour.
• Bison Salami with Gouda, a semi-hard cheese with a sweet and creamy flavour that pairs well with the peppery-garlic notes of the salami.

Step 3: Add Accompaniments

A well-rounded charcuterie board includes a variety of accompaniments to enhance the flavours of your salami and cheese. Here are some ideas:

• Crackers: Rustic Bakery Organic Sourdough Flatbread Bites, or French Butter Sea Salt crackers.
• Fruits: Grapes, melon slices, figs, strawberries, blueberries, and kiwis add a touch of sweetness.
• Vegetables: Olives, artichoke paste, sundried tomatoes, and cornichons provide a savoury contrast.
• Nuts: Pistachios, cashews, and candied pecans offer a crunchy texture and additional flavour.
• Condiments: Honey, jam, or olive oil can be drizzled or used as a dip.

Step 4: Arrange Your Board

Now it's time to assemble your charcuterie board! Here are some tips for arranging your hard salami and accompaniments:

• Fold or roll your salami: You can create a "salami river" by folding the salami slices into quarters and arranging them in an S-curve down the centre of the board. Alternatively, try making "salami roses" by folding and layering the slices over a wine glass, then placing the rose-shaped salami on your board.
• Create variety: Vary the textures and colours on your board by fanning out slices of salami, stacking crackers, and grouping similar items together.
• Add some height: Place taller items, such as crackers or small bowls of condiments, at the back of the board to add visual interest.
• Fill in gaps: Use smaller items like nuts, olives, or cubes of cheese to fill in any empty spaces.

With these steps in mind, you're ready to create a stunning and delicious charcuterie board featuring hard salami! Don't be afraid to experiment with different combinations of meats, cheeses, and accompaniments to find your favourite pairings.

Wine pairings with hard salami and cheese

When it comes to wine pairings, it's important to consider the flavours and textures of the food, as well as its saltiness, fat content and acidity. Choose wines that are more acidic than the food, and remember that high-fat foods go well with bolder reds or crisp, acidic whites, while spicy, bitter foods don't pair well with high-tannin wines.

A classic Italian hard salami, such as Toscano salami, pairs well with a sharp, fruity and nutty cheese like Parmigiano Reggiano. This combination of flavours goes well with a full-bodied red like Cabernet Sauvignon, or a sparkling wine like Prosecco or Lambrusco. The saltiness of the salami and cheese will bring out the fruitiness of the wine, while the age of the cheese can mellow out the tannins in the red wine.

If you're looking for a white wine, a light-bodied Pinot Blanc or Chardonnay will complement the tanginess of a semi-soft cheese like Fontina, which goes well with salami. A Chardonnay will also pair nicely with a bolder, black truffle salami.

For a softer cheese, such as mozzarella, ricotta or mascarpone, a light-bodied Riesling or sparkling wine like Prosecco is a good choice. These wines will also complement the saltiness of the salami.

If you want to include some fruit on your charcuterie board, try grapes, raspberries, blueberries or figs, and pair these with a versatile Pinot Noir. This type of wine goes well with softer cheeses like Brie and Camembert, as well as semi-hard cheeses such as Gouda, Swiss and Provolone.

Hard salami and cheese as part of a meal

Hard salami and cheese are a classic combination for a quick and easy meal, whether it's a sandwich, a charcuterie board, or a more substantial dish. Here are some ideas for incorporating hard salami and cheese into your meals:

Sandwiches

Sandwiches are a convenient and versatile option for a quick meal. You can pair hard salami with various cheeses to create a delicious and satisfying sandwich. Here are some cheese options to consider:

• Provolone: This cheese is a popular choice for sandwiches, as it has a subtle flavour that pairs well with salami.
• Gouda: Gouda is a semi-hard cheese with a sweet and creamy flavour that can add a nice touch to your sandwich.
• Havarti: The buttery and creamy texture of Havarti cheese complements the spices and herbs in hard salami, such as soppressata.
• Muenster: If you're looking for a milder option, muenster cheese is a good choice, adding a soft and gooey texture to your sandwich.
• Monterey Jack: This cheese has a mild, buttery flavour and melts well, making it a great addition to a grilled sandwich or tortilla.

Charcuterie Boards

A charcuterie board is a delightful way to showcase hard salami and cheese as part of a meal or appetizer. Here are some tips to create a delicious spread:

• Variety is key: Offer a selection of different types of hard salami and cheese, such as Genoa salami, soppressata, and cheddar or fontina cheese.
• Crackers: Include some crackers or flatbreads, such as sourdough or butter sea salt crackers, for a textural contrast.
• Accompaniments: Enhance your board with grapes, olives, roasted red peppers, dried fruit, or cornichons.
• Wine pairings: A fresh, light Italian red wine like Dolcetto or a sparkling wine like Prosecco can complement the spicy and salty flavours of the salami and cheese.

Heartier Dishes

Hard salami and cheese can also be incorporated into more substantial dishes to elevate your meal:

• Pasta: Combine hard salami, cheese, and pasta for a flavourful dish. For example, try making stuffed shells with ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, and ground beef.
• Salami and Cheese Frico: Create a crispy, cheesy treat by melting hard salami and cheese, such as gouda, together in a skillet.
• Meat and Cheese Roll-ups: Wrap slices of hard salami, such as prosciutto, around sharp cheeses like Swiss cheese for a tasty appetizer or snack.

Frequently asked questions