Fruit & Cheese: Unexpected Combinations to Delight Your Palate

What do you get when you combine nature's treat, fruits, with delicious cheeses? A burst of flavour and manifold of possibilities! Cheese boards have seen a resurgence in popularity over the last couple of years. This combination of crackers, nuts, fruits and cheese platters has grown to become a staple at sophisticated gatherings. Such a mix of elements offers an exquisite balance of flavours and textures that one simply cannot miss out on. Which is where we come in! Be it tart pineapple or sweet figs, this guide on harmonious pairings of melt-in-your-mouth cheeses with glorious fruits has it all. Follow along for the complete rundown.

Unexpected Fruit and Cheese Combinations to Delight Your Palate

Now, finally, let’s head first into some unexpected fruit and cheese combinations that will inspire you to create your own signature cheeseboard this season:

1.Brie with Mango Bits and Chutney

Brie is a buttery cheese that aligns beautifully with the tropical notes of the lusciously sweet mango. To amplify the flavours on your plate, try incorporating a touch of heat with spicy mango chutney drizzled over the top of mango bits. This twist of spicy, sweet and tangy notes complements the mild flavours of brie to perfection.

2.Smoked Gouda and Grilled Pineapple

Gouda is certainly a fan favourite due to its rich flavour and subtle smoky notes. This creamy cheese finds an intriguing companion in the grilled pineapple. The fruit's acidity cuts sharply through the richness of the cheese, leaving you with a tropical delight, waiting to be savoured.

3. Feta with Watermelon and Mint

If you are a cheese fanatic, then you will be familiar with the briny texture of feta cheese. While delicious on its own, pair this salty treat with a slab of cold, juicy watermelon and a twisted mint leaf. While the watermelon hydrates and supports the crumbly texture of cheese, mint cools down your palate, delivering a refreshed mouthfeel.

4. Gorgonzola with Pear and Walnuts

Based on the type of Gorgonzola you prefer, sweet (Dolce) or pungent (Piccante), the flavour profile of your pairing will differ greatly. If you are a fanatic of the intense flavour and crumble texture, then piccante can be a great pick to pair with sweet juicy pear. The interplay between textures and flavours is amplified further when a sprinkle of toasted walnuts is added on top for crunch.

5. Burrata and Roasted Apricot with Honey

Being a luxurious treat, this fresh Italian cheese is a common sight these days in salads and pastas. The next time you make cheese with a fruit platter, pair this creamy burrata with sliced, roasted apricots and honey. Once cooked, the flavours of the fruit intensify, pairing beautifully with the buttery flavour of the cheese. Dip a cracker in this mix and gobble away!

6. Ricotta and Grilled Peaches with a Balsamic glaze

If you had to choose one dish to be the star of your fruit and cheese platter ideas, then this is it. Fresh ricotta cheese has a sweet, milky flavour that marries gloriously with smoky grilled peaches. The grilling process is ultimately essential as it caramelises the natural sugars of the fruit, which, when paired with tangy balsamic glaze, makes for not only a mouthwatering delicacy but also a visual treat on your platter.

If you have an extra batch of fruit and cheese at home, why not look at it as an invitation to have your own little sophisticated dinner party? This blog with its fruit and cheese tray ideas will help you make the most of your raw materials to create innovative combinations that will have you and your guests on an unforgettable flavourful adventure.

The Fundamentals of a Cheese Board

Before we set our eyes on fruit and cheese pairings, let us first understand the fundamentals of a cheese board. Your platter will often include types of cheeses, fruits, jams, nuts, crackers or bread. The star of the show, cheese, is a readily available product and can be found in an array of types at a local mart. Hence, familiarising yourself with the basics, such as the texture and flavour notes is key to a harmonious pairing.

Cheeses can be categorised into four groups: soft, semi-hard, hard and blue. We are quite familiar with the first category, soft cheeses. These include selections like brie, burrata or camembert. While semi-hard cheese includes creamy Gouda and Gruyere. On the other hand, hard cheeses are sharper, like parmesan and cheddar, for instance. Lastly, blue cheeses are characterised by their bluish-green veins and pungent aromas, such as Gorgonzola, Roquefort and Stilton.

Fruits bring an interesting twist to the palate, relying heavily on the interplay between sweetness, acidity and texture. While cheese can get a little heavy after a while, fruits flip these notes, bringing complexity into the pairing. These can include grapes for a burst of sweetness, apples for the essential crunch and figs for luxurious sweetness to balance the saltiness of cheese.

FAQs

1. What cheese goes with cranberries?

Cranberries have a sweet and tart flavour that pairs well with a variety of cheeses. You may either have it as a compote or with aged cheddar, Manchego or Wensleydale with a side of crackers or bread.

2. How do I make a cheese and fruit platter for a party?

Creating a fruit and cheese platter for a party requires a thorough understanding of the ingredients, flavours and your guest's palate. Once you have selected a board, begin with choosing from different types of cheeses. Arrange these over the board with a vibrant mix of sweet, tangy and tart fruits. These may include grapes, figs, seasonal options like strawberries and mangoes or grilled tropical fruits such as pineapple or peaches. Consequently, place crackers, slices of bread, jams, as well as nuts in your cheese board to ensure a balance of flavours and textures.
 

3. Can you make a cheese and fruit platter ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can make your cheese and fruit appetisers ahead of time and store them before the day of your party. One of the ways you can ensure that the ingredients stay fresh is by storing them way ahead of time. Individually wrap the cheeses and place them in your refrigerator. Set them out only an hour or so before the party. Similarly, do so with your fruits. However, ensure that you don’t slice your fruits beforehand, as fruits like apples and pears may brown quickly. Before your party, simply slice the fruits and arrange them on the cheese and fruit platter with a drizzle of honey and nuts before serving.