Pump up the Jam and Cheese
In search of an appetizer for easy entertaining? Pairing jam and cheese offers endless possibilities.
By Mandy Makinen
In the tradition of foods that hit that harmonious spot between sweet and salty comes an idea so easy, so elegant, yet based on two staples most Americans have on hand: cheese and jam. This may sound like an unlikely duet, but after you sample a few of these pairings you might just change your tune.
These combinations work for an elegant cheese plate, served with crackers or slices of baguette, but some pairings are also nice for a jazzed-up grilled cheese sandwich. While most jams and jellies are made with fruits, savory preserves like pepper jelly, tomato jam and red onion marmalade are also excellent natural pairs for a variety of cheeses.
Look for these specialty items in the jams and jellies aisle, but be sure to check out the cheese department for unique spreads as well.
Easy, breezy brie
Similar to goat cheese, the
mild flavor and luxurious mouthfeel of brie cheese pairs well with nearly any sweet or savory jam. When in doubt, go with red fruits:
Brie and red fruits
Brie and strawberry jam is a perennial favorite with or without a glass of Champagne
Brie and cherry preserves — try them baked together in puff pastry
Brie with red currant jelly is perfect on a fresh baguette
A strong combination
Generally speaking, strongly flavored cheeses pair well with assertively flavored jams, and the opposite is also true: Mild cheeses marry well with delicately flavored jams. If you neglect this rule, you run the risk of one flavor dominating, thus losing some of that magic that happens when good flavors complement each other. Try these assertive combinations:
Bold pairings
Blue cheese or Gouda with marmalade, black currant, peach, plum, or red onion jam
Aged cheddar with apple jelly, apple butter, huckleberry or tomato jam
Manchego cheese with blueberry jam or its traditional Spanish pairing, quince jelly (membrillo)
Cheesy dessert ideas
Mascarpone, a rich and smooth fresh Italian cheese, is delicious with just about any jam. It’s less tangy and more spreadable than cream cheese and has a mild, creamy flavor. Here are some suggestions for pairing this delectable cheese:
Elegant desserts
Mascarpone with blueberry jam and fresh baguette or brioche buns
Mascarpone with strawberry jam and shortbread cookies
Mascarpone with lemon curd and oat crackers
Go for the goat
Fresh goat cheese, or chevre, seems like it was made for jam — a spreadable, smooth cheese with just enough tang to keep it on the savory side. In a pinch, nearly all jams pair with goat cheese, here are a few favorites:
Goat cheese combos
Goat cheese and fig jam (add caramelized onions and you’ve got the makings of a sandwich)
Goat cheese with cranberry sauce or jelly is excellent on a turkey sandwich
Goat cheese and marmalade (orange, lemon or grapefruit)