Peppercorn-Infused Cheeses: A Spicy, Savory Delight

There are several types of cheese that incorporate peppercorns, including Cheddar Peppercorn Cheese, Pecorino Pepato, and Ballard Black Pepper Cheddar Cheese. Cheddar Peppercorn Cheese is a finely aged white cheddar cheese blended with cracked black peppercorn, while Pecorino Pepato is an Italian sheep's milk cheese studded with peppercorns. Ballard Black Pepper Cheddar Cheese delivers an earthy, spicy, and smoky flavor with the addition of peppercorns.

Cracked black peppercorn cheddar cheese

Flavour Profile and Texture

The cracked black peppercorns in the cheddar cheese provide a bold, zesty, and spicy kick, creating a sharp and peppery flavour. The cheese is described as creamy and buttery, with a smooth texture that is easy to bite into. The peppercorns add a subtle crunch, and their heat lingers pleasantly on the palate. The overall effect is a complex and robust flavour with sweet, savoury, and tangy notes.

Pairings and Complementary Flavours

Accompaniments

Culinary Applications

In the kitchen, cracked black peppercorn cheddar cheese elevates sandwiches, wraps, burgers, quiches, casseroles, pasta, and potato dishes. It can be incorporated into baked goods for a unique flavour twist or used as a topping, adding a deliciously melted texture. The cheese is also suggested to be used in place of Parmesan in recipes, enhancing dishes like salads or noodles with its robust flavour.

Pecorino Pepato, an Italian sheep's milk cheese

Pecorino Pepato is a gourmet Italian sheep's milk cheese embedded with peppercorns. The name "pecorino" comes from the Italian word for sheep, "pecora", as it is made from sheep's milk. This variety of pecorino, Pecorino Pepato, is a traditional Sicilian cheese, and is part of the regional cooking.

Pecorino is an intense, salty, and dense cheese. It can be eaten on its own, but is also used as a seasoning for pasta, especially with fava beans or tomato sauce. It can also be shaved on top of fresh beans or lightly sautéed greens. It is often used in place of Parmesan, grated over a plate of hot pasta dressed with olive oil and garlic. For pepper lovers, adding a bit of coarsely ground pepper can enhance the flavour.

Pecorino is usually an oily cheese due to the high butterfat content of sheep's milk. This is also why you will often see "butterfat tears" on the cheese when it is at room temperature. These beads of oil indicate that the cheese is the perfect temperature for eating.

Pecorino Pepato is just one of the many varieties of pecorino cheese. The other five mature PDO cheeses are pecorino romano, pecorino sardo, pecorino toscano, pecorino siciliano, and pecorino di Filiano.

Cheddar Gruyere cheese with roasted red peppers and cracked peppercorn

This unique cheese combines the sharpness of Cheddar and the earthiness of Gruyere, enhanced with the sweetness of roasted red peppers and the savoury spice of cracked black peppercorns.

Taste and Texture

The cheese offers a pleasant sweetness from the roasted red peppers, contrasted with a punch of savoury spice from the cracked black peppercorns. The texture is indulgently meltable and bakes to perfection. It has a pleasant, creamy texture that blends well with the spicy flecks of peppercorn. The aging process provides slight hints of Parmesan, with a robust flavour of cracked black peppercorn throughout.

Pairing

This cheese pairs well with Merlot, Pilsner, or Pale Ale. It is a crowd-pleasing addition to any cheese tray or charcuterie platter. It can also be shredded on a noodle or fresh lettuce salad, or used in place of Parmesan in recipes. It is a favourite for gourmet nachos and is delicious when grilled with chicken.

Awards

This variety of cheese has won awards in both the United States Cheese Contest and the World Cheese Contest as the best-tasting Cheddar in the world.

Black pepper cheddar from Ballard Cheese

Ballard Cheese offers a Black Pepper Cheddar that delivers an earthy, spicy, and smoky flavour. The spicy flecks of peppercorn are blended with the creamy texture of the cheese, creating a delicious combination that can be enjoyed melted or on a cheese plate.

The Black Pepper Cheddar from Ballard Cheese is a unique and award-winning creation, with a flavour profile that stands out from other cheeses. The addition of peppercorns gives it a spicy kick, while the cheese itself is made from creamy, pasteurized 100% rBST-free milk from Jersey cows, ensuring a high-quality and delicious product.

This Black Pepper Cheddar is part of Ballard Cheese's assortment of cheddar flavours, which also includes Truffle Salt Cheddar. The combination of pepper and cheese creates a complex and intriguing taste experience, making it a popular choice for cheese enthusiasts and foodies alike.

The peppercorns in the Black Pepper Cheddar from Ballard Cheese are carefully selected to complement the creamy texture and flavour of the cheese. The peppercorns add a spicy kick, but also bring out the savoury notes in the cheese, creating a well-rounded and satisfying taste experience. The cheese's texture is described as medium to hard, and it may slightly crack and crumble when cut, adding to its unique character.

Ballard Cheese's Black Pepper Cheddar is a versatile option that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. It can be melted into your favourite dishes, adding a creamy and spicy element, or simply enjoyed on a cheese plate, showcasing its delicious flavour and texture combination. The cheese pairs well with a variety of foods, making it a great addition to any meal or snack.

Peppercorn Cheddar from Henning's Wisconsin Cheese

Peppercorn Cheddar from Hennings Wisconsin Cheese is an award-winning cheese with a unique flavour profile. Crafted in Kiel, Wisconsin, this cheese is produced by Henning's Cheese, a renowned cheese producer in the state that leads the US in cheddar production.

Hennings' Peppercorn Cheddar is a finely aged white cheddar blended with cracked black peppercorn. The aging process imparts subtle hints of Parmesan, creating a complex flavour profile that is both peppery and subtly nutty. The texture of this cheddar is medium to hard, delivering a satisfying bite that may cause the cheese to crack and crumble slightly when cut.

The process of crafting this cheese begins with milk sourced from small local family farmers in Wisconsin. These farmers pasture graze their cows when the weather permits, and at other times, feed them a balanced diet of natural grains. This milk is always rBST and gluten-free, ensuring the highest quality and safety standards.

Hennings then handcrafts each batch of cheese, dry-aging it and infusing it with cracked black peppercorn to create its signature flavour. This labour-intensive process has earned the cheese numerous awards, including wins in both the United States Cheese Contest and the World Cheese Contest as the best-tasting cheddar in the world.

This versatile cheese can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. It pairs well with bold red wines, artisan beers, and hearty crackers. It can be shredded or shaved onto salads, coleslaw, potatoes, soups, or risotto. For a more indulgent experience, serve it on a charcuterie board with nuts, pickles, French bread, sweet jam, and artisan meats.

Frequently asked questions