When it comes to food, some pairings are just meant to be; wine and cheese, strawberries and cream, and peanut butter and jelly, just to name a few. However, there is another great combination that I wasn’t aware of, until recently, and that’s chocolate and cheese. While this pairing may seem unusual at first, it has this great synergy of flavors and textures that is highly addictive, when you first develop a taste for it (spoiler alert: I did).
I think the reason why chocolate and cheese work so well together lies in the interplay of contrasting and complementary flavors. The rich, sweet, taste of chocolate, and the savory, sometimes tangy, flavor of cheese, take your tastebuds on an an interesting and surprisingly delicious flavor journey. I’ve been playing around with different kinds of cheese and chocolate, and I’ve found that the key to a successful chocolate and cheese pairing is to find the right balance between the two ingredients. Here are some of my favorite pairings:
Dark Chocolate and Blue Cheese: I’m not usually a blue cheese person, but the strong, pungent flavor of blue cheese, such as Gorgonzola or Roquefort, is just amazing together with the bitterness of dark chocolate, and the two flavors really enhance each other.
Milk Chocolate and Brie: The creamy, buttery texture of Brie pairs wonderfully with the smooth sweetness of milk chocolate. This combination offers a milder, more delicate taste that is perfect for those new to the chocolate + cheese combo. I also really like the Methodical + Lumineux Coffee Chocolate with brie and fresh strawberries (the photos in this post). It’s delicious.
White Chocolate and Aged Gouda: White chocolate has more sweetness that traditional chocolate, and it goes really well with the savory, nutty notes of aged Gouda. This pairing is perfect for those who are after a sweeter flavor profile.
Chocolate with Sea Salt and Goat Cheese: The tanginess of goat cheese is complemented by the sweet and salty notes found in chocolate with sea salt. The two prominent flavors create a really unique taste sensation, that might not be for everyone. Goat cheese is also good with chocolate with dried fruit or berries.