Cheese Appetizer Recipes | cheese pairings and snack ideas

Cheese Appetizer Recipes – Cheese Pairings and Snack Ideas | This post brought to you by Sargento. All opinions are 100% mine.

When you’re looking for a quick tasty snack it’s hard to go wrong with cheese. Around here it’s quite normal for us to slice it right off the block- though sometimes it’s fun to take a few extra minutes and serve it a touch of simple sophistication.

While cheese is such a savory, full-filling snack all on its own – pairing it with simple accompaniments highlights the unique textures and flavors of each variety.

This time of year we spend a fair amount of time outdoors casually entertaining our family, friends, or simply ourselves. In honor of our carefree summers I’ve put together a few incredibly easy cheese appetizers that can be prepared and ready to serve in just a few minutes. Each appetizer is made with the new line of Sargento Tastings cut from real block cheese. The eight different varieties of speciality cheeses are conveniently sized and perfect to pick up and have on hand. Whether your planning a casual get together or a solo anytime snack, these bite size cheese appetizers are perfectly paired to transform the ordinary into a delectable indulgence.

New Zealander

Sweet and Nutty Flavor – combining the creamy flavor of Gouda with the sharpness of Cheddar

Distinct Flavor Comes from the Diet of Fresh Grasses the Cows Feed on

Goes well with:

(food) Sweet Fruits, Marmalades, and Crisp Crackers

(wine) Sangiovese

New Zealander Cheese and Crackers

Baked Pita Chips

Baby Spinach

Sargento Tastings New Zealander Cheese, Sliced

Orange Marmalade

Directions: Layer the cheese slices and baby spinach ontop of the baked pita chips and top with a dollop of orange marmalade

Parmentino

Full-bodied Italian Flavor – consisting of nutty Parmesan and tangy Cheddar

Firm Texture

Goes well with:

(food) Figs, Raisins, and Walnuts

(wine) Sangiovese

Fig and Cheese Bruschetta

French Baguette Bread, Sliced

Fig Preserves

Raisins

Sargento Tastings Parmentino Cheese

Chopped Walnuts

Directions: Spread the fig preserves on top of the bread slices and top with raisins. Layer on the cheese slices, sprinkle with chopped walnuts and bake in a 350° oven for about 10 minutes, until the cheese is slightly melted.

Aged Wisconsin Cheddar

Rich Nutty Flavor

Complements Savory & Sweet Items

Goes well with:

(food) Apples and Roasted Nuts

(wine) Gewürztraminer

Cheddar Apple Cheese Slices

Granny Smith Apples, Sliced Thin

Sargento Tastings Aged Wisconsin Cheddar, Sliced

Roasted Nuts, Chopped

Directions: Layer the cheese on top the apple slices and sprinkle with chopped nuts. To keep the apple slices from turning brown, dip them a solution of 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1/2 cup of water immediately after cutting.

Aged Vermont White Cheddar

Tangy Flavor – with a finish of savory notes

Firm Dry Texture

Goes well with:

(food) Roasted Nuts and Fruit

(wine) Gewürztraminer

Nut and Honey Topped Cheese Slices

Sargento Tastings Aged Vermont White Cheddar Cheese, Sliced

Roasted Nut Blend, Chopped

Honey Granny Smith Apples, Sliced

Directions: Place the cheese slices in a dish, top with the chopped nuts and drizzle with honey. Serve with the apple slices.

Bruschetta Jack

Natural Monterey Jack Flavor – with a blend of sun-dried tomato, garlic, basil and seasonings

Semi-soft, Creamy in Texture

Goes well with:

(food) Crisp Bread Slices, Flatbreads, or Crackers

(wine) Zinfandel

Bruschetta Cheese Toast Stacks

Melba Toast

Sargento Tastings Bruschetta Jack Cheese, Sliced

Fresh Basil

Grape Tomatoes, Sliced

Directions: Stack the cheese, tomatoes and basil on a toothpick and place on top the melba toast.

Fiesta Pepper Jack

Natural Monterey Jack Flavor – with a blend of four fiery pepper varieties

Spicy Delicate Balance

Goes well with:

(food) Pinapple, Melon, and Grapes

(wine) Zinfandel

Pepper Jack Cheese and Fruit Skewers

Sargento Tastings Pepper Jack Cheese, Sliced

Red and White Grapes

Melon, Balled

Pineapple, Cubed

Directions: Stack the grapes, melon and pineapple on wooden skewers and serve with cheese slices.

Medium Asiago

Deep, Sharp, Buttery Flavor – with nutty tones

Semi-Hard Texture

Goes well with:

(food) Roasted Peppers and Spicy Nuts

(wine) Sauvignon Blanc

Cheese Stuffed Roasted Red Pepper Slices

Red Bell Peppers, Roasted (see below)

Sargento Tastings Medium Asiago Cheese, Sliced

Nuts, Chopped

Directions: Clean and slice peppers. Set the oven to broil. Lay the peppers flat, skin side up, on a baking sheet. Broil until the skin is charred, rotating the pan as needed. Remove from oven and let the peppers sit for 10-15 minutes. Gently remove the blackened skin.

Stuff the peppers with the cheese slices, top with the chopped nuts and place back under the broiler for a few minutes, until the cheese has slightly melted.

Creamy Havarti

Buttery Natural Rich Flavor

Soft and Creamy Melt-in-Your-Mouth Texture

Goes well with:

(food) Rye Bread and Roasted Peppers

(wine) Sauvignon Blanc

Toasted Havarti Cheese Rounds

Rye Bread, Cut

Baby Spinach

Sargento Tastings Creamy Havarti Cheese, Sliced

Bell Peppers, Roasted and Chopped

Directions: Roast peppers (see recipe above) let cool and chop. Using a round cookie cutter, cut the bread into circles. Layer the spinach and cheese on each bread round and top with the chopped peppers. Place in a 350° oven for 10 minutes, until the cheese has slightly melted.

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