Everyone loves cheese, at least in some form or another. At some point in your cooking career, you will need to use the universally loved food, whether it's for small get-togethers with friends, or large family events.
While not everyone is a cheese expert, and creating the perfect appetizers can be time-consuming, that doesn't mean you can't be prepared for when family shows up uninvited and you need to whip up something quick to keep them satisfied. You too, can impress them with your knowledge of cheese pairings.
For such occasions, look to these five simple recipes to serve up the cheeses you should definitely have stocked somewhere in your refrigerator.
1. Mozzarella
Cheese: Mozzarella
Best paired with: Cherry tomatoes and fresh basil
Wine pairing: Sauvignon Blanc
Ingredients:
3/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
1 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp crushed red pepepr
8 ounces ciliegine mozzarella (bite-sized balls)
Best time of year: Spring/Summer
2. Ricotta
Cheese: Ricotta
Best paired with: Crostini or toast
Wine pairing: Pinot Grigio
Ingredients:
1/4 cup ricotta
2 tbsp fresh basil
1 tbsp olive oil
salt
Best time of year: Spring/Summer
3. Brie
Cheese: Brie
Best paired with: Fig jam and crackers
Wine pairing: Chardonnay
Ingredients:
fig jam
crackers or bread
brie
fruits such as apples or grapes (optional)
nuts such as almonds or cashews (optional)
Best time of year: Fall/Winter
4. Feta
Cheese: Feta
Best paired with: Watermelon and mint
Wine pairing: Beaujolais
Ingredients:
1 seedless watermelon
3 limes, juiced
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
1 1/2 cups feta cheese
thinly sliced red onion
3/4 tsp black pepper
Best time of year: Spring/Summer
5. Gouda
Cheese: Gouda
Best paired with: Apple and honey
Wine pairing: Merlot
Ingredients:
salted honey
1 apple, sliced
gouda, sliced
1 slice oat nut bread, grilled
Best time of year: Fall/Winter
Obviously this list is just a small sampling of what you can do with cheese, and I didn't even get into the semantics over whether you should use crackers or bread, depending on the hardness or softness of the cheese. However, with this small list, you too can enhance your cheeses simply through the drinks and foods you pair with it! It's that easy.