Unusual and Uncommon Cheese Varieties
Delicious, Unusual Cheeses For Your Next Meal or Glass of Wine
Aug 5, 2009
Anyone of European heritage will declare that cheese is simply a part of life, not unlike breathing. Cheese can accompany any meal in some form, whether it be cream cheese on a morning bagel, mozzarella cheese on pizza or cottage cheese mixed with fruit for lunch or an evening snack. But why only the common cheese varieties? Why not taste some uncommon or unusual cheeses with your next meal?
Include More Than Cream Cheese on the Breakfast Menu
Cream cheese is great on bagels but how about trying some Welsh Rarebit, a delicious Cheshire cheese creation, instead? Cheshire is classified as a firm-to-hard cheese but has a crumbly texture, making it ideal for melting and pouring over thick toast for a very tasty breakfast. After a few additional ingredients, the result is a wonderfully warm breakfast that is far superior to oatmeal.
Recipe for Classic Welsh Rarebit
- 1/4 cup butter (not margarine)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup milk, heated just before the point of scalding
- 1/2 cup beer (or an additional 1/2 cup milk)
- 1/2 pound Cheshire (or medium to sharp cheddar) cheese, shredded or crumbled
Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat; blend in the flour, salt pepper, mustard and Worcestershire sauce, stirring continuously for about 5 minutes or until the mixture is smooth and bubbling. Remove from the heat and slowly stir in the first amount of milk if using beer; if not using beer, add all the milk at this point but gradually. Return to the heat until the mixture thickens and boils. If using beer, stir in slowly and cook one minute more. Add the cheese into the sauce and continue stirring until completely melted. Remove from heat. Serve over thick toast. Makes 2 - 2 1/2 cups.
Instead of cream cheese or cottage cheese, unusual cheese for breakfast could be:
- Gruyere (gree-air') - Swiss origin - delicious in omelettes or with fruit
- Port du Salut (por-du-salu) - French origin - can be mild or robust; excellent with peaches, nectarines or sweet apples
- Samsoe - Danish origin - similar to Swiss but softer and milder in flavor
There Are More Additions For Sandwiches Than Cheddar or Swiss Cheese
The most popular cheese inclusions for sandwiches are Cheddar and Swiss because they are easily the better known varieties. Breaking with tradition can lead to all sorts of tasty discoveries in the cheese aisle at the grocery store. Mix up the bread choices as well; may as well go all the way!
Some uncommon cheese ideas for sandwiches could include:
- Smoked ham, Muenster (mun'-ster, German origin), radish slices and romaine lettuce on rye
- Salami, Provolone (pro-vo-lo'-nee, Italian origin), sliced olives and pepper rings on a baguette
- Turkey breast, Pepper Jack (California origin) and sliced tomato on pumpernickel
When making a familiar grilled cheese sandwich, add a second cheese to accompany the traditional cheddar. Try including Swiss, Monterey Jack or Dutch Edam or Gouda for a completely different taste. Make a grilled cheese with seeded, chopped tomato or include pepper rings for an extra kick of flavor.
Dinner and Dessert Cheeses Can Be Enjoyed With or Without Wine
The next time scalloped potatoes are on the dinner menu, include some extra sharp Cheddar in the layers for a flavor boost that is sure to be remembered. Grate some Slavic Kashkaval (kotch-kah-vaih') to perfectly compliment stew or goulash. Include thin wedges of mild Italian Fontina (fahn-tee'-nah) next to the black and green olives on the relish tray.
Some of the most delicious unusual cheese varieties are to be found at wine and cheese parties or on spare-no-expense buffet tables. Inclusions at adventurous wine and cheese parties may include some uncommon choices from France or even Norway and ought not to be missed. Again, the choices are truly limitless so keep your eyes and your taste buds at the ready.
Gourmandise (goor-mun-dees'), of French origin, is a truly decadent semi-soft cheese that actually has a cherry brandy flavor. Take some time to find it as it is well worth the search. Gruyere (gree-air'), of Swiss origin as previously stated, can be bought in variety pack wheels and is often wine-soaked for extra flavor.
One of the most surprising and unusual cheeses to try is Norwegian Gjetost (yate'-ohst) which will delight with its magnificent caramel flavor. French Brie (bree) can be baked in a crust with cranberries and caramelized onions and served with fancy crackers. Such a choice only appears on the buffet tables of the most discerning of hostesses.
There are limitless varieties of uncommon and unusual cheeses waiting to be tried and included in future menus. Head to the market and spend some extra time in the deli aisle to discover some of the varieties available.
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