Seafood and cheese may seem like an odd combination, however, if paired correctly it can make for a very good match. In addition, there are a variety of great dishes that do match seafood and cheese well, for example, fish pie. Alternatively, prawns are added as a great twist to mac and cheese. In this article, we look at the best cheese that goes with prawns.
What Cheese goes with Prawns?
To choose the perfect prawn and cheese pairing, look at what cheese is used in key seafood dishes. For example, cheddar is used most commonly in fish pie and mac and cheese. Cheddar is also a very mild cheese, and will not overpower the salty sea flavour, but enhance it due to the buttery sweetness of the cheddar.
Top 5 Cheeses to Pair with Prawns are:
- Cheddar
- Light cream cheese
- Mozzarella
- Parmigiano Reggiano
- Mild Blue cheese
Tip:
Use cheese types that are mild in flavour, so that they do not overpower the flavour of the prawns.
Cheddar Cheese:
Cheddar is the best cheese to pair with prawns. This is because it is light, mild, but still has some flavour, and will not be washed out by the strong salty flavours of the prawns. To add a little more depth of flavour, you can choose an aged cheddar, which will be sharper in flavour. Cheddar is also great for melting and therefore perfect to use alongside a fish pie or in mac and cheese.
A Lighter Pairing:
For a lighter cheese, choose cream cheese. This combination can be enjoyed cold, or use the cream cheese as a base for a sauce. Cream cheese (brands such as Philadelphia) are fresh cheeses, designed to be light, creamy and a little acidic, therefore they will appeal to all.
Similar to cheddar, cream cheese is mild and therefore will not wash out the salty flavours of the fish.
What is a Great Fresh Cheese?
An alternative cheese to use is mozzarella. Mozzarella is a great cheese to pair with prawns because of its rich and salty flavours. Also, this is a great pairing as mozzarella often features on seafood pizzas. Mozzarella is a fresh cheese, great for melting, as well as having similar complimenting flavours to prawns. Made traditionally in Italy with either water buffalo or cows milk, this cheese is easy to get your hands on and will be a great addition to any prawn based dish.
Would a Classic Cheese go well with Prawns?
Another great cheese to pair with prawns is Parmigiano Reggiano, more commonly known as parmesan. This traditional Italian cheese can be on the richer side, therefore should be used in moderation depending on the other ingredients to your dish. Parmesan is ideal for grating and is best to enhance the salty flavours in a seafood pasta dish.
Looking to Try Something a Little Different?
Lastly, a choice for the more adventurous taste buds. A very mild blue cheese is a great pairing with prawns. This is because blue cheese has complimenting flavours to seafood, that being very salty. The creaminess of the blue cheese however will help to balance out the strong salty flavour. It is recommended to choose a mild blue cheese so as not to wash out the prawn or seafood flavour and become too overpowering. Supermarket blue cheeses will be great, as they are designed to please all and not be too strong. If you are unsure of the best blue cheese to pick, consult your local cheesemonger, who will be able to guide you.
Can’t get enough of cheese and seafood? Check out some great cheese and seafood recipes here.
