How to pair cheeses, sausages and jams?
As with traditional wine and food pairings, when pairing cheeses and jams it is essential to pay attention to the interaction between flavors and textures. The key is to find the perfect balance between the intensity of each cheese and sausage in contrast or congruence with the aromatic profile of the jam. Soft and creamy cheeses, such as brie or camembert, as well as softer sausages, such as Chicken and turkey find their best combination with jams with sweet and fruity flavors, capable of enhancing their unctuousness without masking their flavor. On the other hand, cured cheeses and sausages with a more intense flavor require jams with a point of acidity or bitter notes that can counteract their potency. —"One of the most common mistakes when pairing cheeses and jams is to overload with sweetness a combination that is already soft" —explain the experts at La Cave Gillet—. "For this reason, we always recommend playing with contrasts, looking for that point of balance where each flavor has its space, and if you also add a good sourdough bread or a few pieces of fresh fruit, we have no doubt that you will be able to elevate the experience to another level". Likewise, if you accompany it with some crusty bread toast, nuts or even a well-selected wine or cocktail you can give it the perfect finish to enjoy this type of pairing as if it were a ritual gourmet . Remember that flavors and textures are aspects to which you should pay crucial attention.Jams to pair with cheeses
When we talk about jams to pair with cheeses, it is inevitable to start by mentioning one of the great classics: fruit jams reds. Strawberries, raspberries, cherries or blueberries are infallible options to accompany soft cheeses such as brie, the camembert or even a good fresh goat cheese. The combination of creaminess of the cheese with the acid sweetness of these fruits is capable of creating a synergy in the mouth that is irresistible to the senses.
For harder and more intensely flavored cheeses, such as a cured manchego, pepper or tomato jams can be an excellent choice. These less conventional flavors allow for a contrasting pairing where the sweet and slightly acidic notes of the jam manage to balance the power of flavor and texture of the cheese. Of course, apricot, mango, plum or bitter orange jams are also positioned as perfect allies to accompany this type of cheese.
—"Our selection of gourmet jams is designed with precisely these types of combinations in mind"—they highlight from La Cave Gillet—. "It is not just about offering quality products, but about providing jam options that are capable of adapting to each occasion and each cheese profile, with natural ingredients that respect the original flavor."
If you want to explore some of the best options for gourmet jams for your cheese and sausage boards, we recommend you go for artisan preparations, where fruit and the balance of flavors are the true protagonists.
Other ways to pair cheeses and jams
But if we are looking for more daring combinations, blue cheese or Roquefort open the door to pairings of much more extreme contrasts. These cheeses, characterized by their salty and umami flavor, require sweet and fruity jams that are capable of softening their intensity on the palate. In this sense, fig jams can become an unbeatable option. Its natural sweetness, combined with a slightly crunchy texture, merges perfectly with the strength of a blue cheese, creating an experience of contrasts that is surprisingly balanced on the palate. Cherry, orange or raspberry jams are also options to take into account to combine with this type of cheese. —"Pairing powerful cheeses such as Roquefort with sweet jams is a way to achieve a set of textures capable of conquering the palate from the first bite" —comment from La Cave Gillet—. "It is that combination between the creaminess and salty flavor of the cheese and the fruity sweetness provided by the jam that is capable of providing an enormously special balance of flavors."We must not forget that these combinations can also be taken to select sausage tables, where the contrast between the saltiness of the Iberian ham or the cured loin with spiced jams can offer a most sophisticated and surprising result with which to please the palate.How to prepare a board of cheeses and jams to pair?
Of course, we must not forget that presentation is a fundamental factor in this type of gourmet gastronomic experiences with jams to pair. Without a doubt, we want to make a board of gourmet cheeses and jams, to be up to par it must be as visually attractive as it is pleasant to taste its flavors and textures on the palate.
Therefore, we recommend that you choose a wooden or slate base, and have a varied selection of cheeses, cut into small portions to facilitate their tasting and ensure that your guests do not end up stuffed and can try them all. You can play with textures, such as soft, semi-cured, cured, blue, spicy, basil cheeses, etc.
On each portion of cheese, we recommend placing a small amount of jam (a dessert spoon would be enough), taking into account the combinations that we have already mentioned above. If you wish, you can complete the presentationn by adding some dried fruits, such as walnuts, almonds or cashews, and pieces of fresh fruit that provide greater freshness and color to the whole.