The Fresh Loaf

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Cheese to Compliment Rye Bread

Ricko's picture
Ricko

Cheese to Compliment Rye Bread

After working in the garden, I came in for a quick lunch. I was thinking maybe a piece of pickled bologna, a slice or two of rye bread and a piece of cheese. Unfortunately, I didn't have any cheese on hand, and vowed that my next trip to my local "Cheese Lady" (importer of fine cheeses) would remedy that problem. My question then is what cheese do you like that compliments your rye bread? 

 

Lechem's picture
Lechem (not verified)

It really is what you like at the end of the day but Swiss cheeses with rye do seem to be popular. I'm fussy when it comes to dairy stuff and the cheeses I prefer tend to be medium hard and not too pungent. One cheese that fits all these categories and is one of my favourites is Emmenthal. A lovely nutty flavour which goes well with rye breads. 

So there's something to try and start you down your rye and cheese journey. 

Another cheese I like which is of a similar medium hard texture (although more crumbly) and is available from mild to strong is cheddar cheese. My favourite is 'Cathedral City', a British cheese, which I'm not sure if it's available outside the UK but try and get hold of some if you can.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_City_Cheddar

http://cathedralcity.co.uk

Ricko's picture
Ricko

Thank you Lechem for the cheese start. I'll check with my cheese lady to see if the Cathedral City is available. 

Lechem's picture
Lechem (not verified)

But if you can't find it then you can go for any good quality mature cheddar she has. I love the crumbly texture. 

clazar123's picture
clazar123

I love a schmear of goat cheese sometimes, very thin smear of vegemite and orange marmalade on toasted chewy rye at others (I know it is not a cheese but it is delicious), and even a young manchego is delightful. My rye is mostly a thick, chewy type but sandwich rye with pickled bologna sounds appetizing with a creamy-type mild cheese- swiss?gruyere? gouda?

Have fun!

dabrownman's picture
dabrownman

will know what goes well with what plus you can taste what ever she recommends to get the one you like the best.   But, there are only about 50 really good choices for rye bread and that is just from France:-)  Abe is right about the Swiss and cheddar.  From Ireland you can get Irish Swiss and Ancient Cheddar from Kerrygold - both are as good as anything form anywhere else. Gouda would be nice and Remington is a favorite for an aged one, You can never go wrong with Emmenthaller Swiss or Raclette.  Then there are all the stinky cheeses, bries and the blues too.  I prefer a nice cheese spread with some fruits and berries to go along with the bread and smoked / cured meats.  One cheese just won't do with a good rye bread! 

drogon's picture
drogon

Living in the county next to the one that is the home of Cheddar Gorge - where Cheddar originally comes from, I know a good (DOP) "Farmhouse Cheddar" when I taste one... :) However in Devon, we have "North Devon Cheddar" which you can only get in 3 shops - I get through about a kilo a week - mostly in my cheese breads. Devon makes 100's of cheeses now. More than France by some accounts... It's a funny old cheese world!

My rye bread is a relatively malty thing (made with barley malt extract, molasses and caraway) goes with just about anything ...

-Gordon