When serving honey ham, a sweet glazed ham, it’s important to pair it with cheeses that can stand up to the honey’s sweetness. The right cheese pairing can take your honey ham appetizer or entrée to the next level. In the opening paragraphs, we’ll provide a quick overview of the best cheeses to serve with honey ham.
Quick Answer: Havarti, Gouda, and Swiss cheeses pair well with honey ham
Havarti, Gouda, and Swiss cheeses are all good options for serving with honey ham. The subtle nuttiness and creamy textures of these cheeses balance well with the sweet glaze. Havarti and Gouda also have a buttery quality that complements honey ham. Swiss cheese has those distinctive holes and a mild nutty flavor that doesn’t overpower the ham. When building a cheese platter to accompany honey ham, be sure to include at least one of these three excellent cheese choices.
What factors make a cheese pair well with honey ham?
There are a few key factors that determine if a cheese will pair well with honey ham or not:
- Can stand up to sweetness – The cheese needs a potent enough flavor to not be overpowered by the sweet glaze on the ham.
- Creamy texture – The richness of a creamy cheese helps cut through the sweetness.
- Saltiness – A little bit of saltiness in the cheese balances the honey’s sweetness.
- Nutty flavors – Nutty cheese notes complement the ham’s meatiness.
Havarti, Gouda, and Swiss all check the boxes for these criteria. The following sections go into more detail on each cheese and why it makes a good match for honey ham.
Havarti
Havarti is a semi-soft Danish cheese that has a creamy, smooth texture. It offers a subtle nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with honey ham. Havarti’s creamy mouthfeel helps tone down the sweetness of the ham’s glaze. It also has a touch of saltiness and buttery notes that complement the ham.
There are different types of Havarti that can work:
- Plain Havarti – Versatile and can be paired with any type of honey ham.
- Herb Havarti – Dill, chives, or other herbs add more dimension. The herby flavors pair well with honey glazes made using those same herbs.
- Aged Havarti – Sharp notes cut through the sweetness nicely.
When building a cheese tray, Havarti is a foolproof choice to include with the honey ham. It has the creamy texture and nutty flavor that matches beautifully.
Gouda
Gouda originates from the Netherlands and comes in a range of styles from mild to aged. Young goudas have a creamy texture and mild nutty sweetness. Aged goudas develop a crystalline crunch and more potent nutty caramel flavors. All types of gouda pair nicely with honey ham.
Here are some specific kinds of gouda to consider:
- Young gouda – Its creamy and mildly nutty notes complement the ham glaze.
- Aged gouda – The rich caramel flavors and salt crystals can stand up to the honey’s sweetness.
- Smoked gouda – The smoky flavor adds another dimension that pairs well with the ham.
- Pesto gouda – Herby pesto flavors in the cheese complement a honey glaze made with herbs.
Gouda is a versatile pairing option. Its creamy mouthfeel helps mellow the sweet glaze, while the nutty notes enhance the ham’s meatiness. Add a wedge of gouda to any honey ham platter.
Swiss Cheese
Swiss cheese is known for its distinctive holes and nutty flavor. When pairing with honey ham, the nuttiness complements the ham while the holes allow the cheese to capture some of the honey glaze’s sweetness. Swiss cheese also has a firm texture that doesn’t get lost next to the ham.
There are a few variations of Swiss that all work well with honey ham:
- Baby Swiss – Mild nutty flavor
- Aged Swiss – Sharp nutty flavor
- Smoked Swiss – Smokiness adds another layer
Swiss may be a simple choice, but it’s an excellent pairing for honey ham. The nutty qualities balance the sweet glaze beautifully. Try thin slices of Swiss on a honey ham sandwich or pair wedges with sliced ham for an appetizer.
Other cheeses that pair well with honey ham
While Havarti, Gouda, and Swiss are top choices, other cheeses can also complement honey ham’s flavor profile. Here are some runners up to consider:
- Brie – Soft and creamy brie helps tone down the honey sweetness.
- Goat cheese – Tangy and herby flavors cut through the glaze.
- Gruyere – Nutty and slightly salty Gruyere balances the ham.
- Monterey Jack – Mild flavor highlighted by the honey glaze.
- Manchego – Spanish cheese with nutty sheep’s milk notes.
- Blue cheese – Bold enough to not get overpowered by sweetness.
While not as classic pairings, these cheeses can work nicely with honey ham depending on your preferences. Feel free to experiment with other cheese varieties as well.
Cheeses that don’t pair as well with honey ham
On the flip side, there are some cheeses that are not great matches for honey ham:
- Cream cheese -Too soft and mild to stand up to the honey.
- Cheddar – Sharp cheddar overpowers instead of complementing.
- Mozzarella – Too mild and gets lost next to the ham.
- Feta – Briny flavor clashes with the sweetness.
- Cottage cheese – Watery curds don’t complement the ham.
As a general rule, avoid softer, milder cheeses as they won’t be able to balance the intense honey flavor. Stick to cheeses with some nuttiness, saltiness, and texture to match with the ham.
Tips for serving cheese with honey ham
Here are some tips to get the most out of your honey ham and cheese pairings:
- Purchase high-quality artisan cheeses for the best flavor.
- Serve cheeses at room temperature so the textures and flavors come through.
- Offer a cheese knife for easy spreading of soft cheeses.
- Provide crackers or bread to allow guests to create bites with the ham and cheese.
- Layer honey ham slices and cheese cubes on toothpicks for easy finger food.
- Offer a range of cheese types and flavors to appeal to different preferences.
- Consider adding fruit, nuts, or chutney to the cheese board to complement the ham.
- For plated entrees, top the ham with cheese slices or a dollop of soft cheese.
Taking steps like these will ensure your cheeses pair perfectly with the honey ham. The cheeses will complement rather than compete with the glazed ham’s sweet flavors.
Honey Ham and Cheese Pairing Table
Here is a quick reference table summarizing the best cheeses to pair with honey ham:
| Best Pairings | Description |
|---|---|
| Havarti | Creamy, nutty, buttery |
| Gouda | Rich, caramel nuttiness |
| Swiss | Nutty with distinctive holes |
| Second-Best Pairings | Description |
| Brie | Soft, creamy |
| Goat Cheese | Tangy, herby |
| Gruyere | Slightly salty, nutty |
| Cheeses to Avoid | Description |
| Cream Cheese | Too mild |
| Cheddar | Too sharp |
| Mozzarella | Too mild |
Sample honey ham and cheese appetizer
Based on the cheese pairings we’ve covered, here is an example of how you could create an appetizer platter with honey ham and cheeses:
- Honey ham slices
- Havarti cheese – Offer a plain Havarti and an herbed Havarti
- Gouda – Provide a young gouda and an aged smoked gouda
- Swiss cheese – Baby Swiss and sliced aged Swiss
- Spicy mustard and fig jam for drizzling over the ham and cheese
- Arrange on a platter with crackers and bread slices
This gives guests a variety of cheeses to try with the honey ham. The mix of creamy Havarti, nutty Gouda, and classic Swiss covers complementary flavors. The mustard and fig jam add some tangy and sweet contrasts to the cheese and ham.
Conclusion
Honey ham is a delightfully sweet glazed ham that pairs best with cheeses that have enough flavor and texture to balance out the honey’s sweetness. Havarti, Gouda, and Swiss are classic pairings that complement honey ham beautifully. Their creamy, nutty profiles match the ham’s flavors perfectly. Havarti provides buttery notes, Gouda offers caramelized nuttiness, and Swiss has that iconic holey texture and nutty sweetness. Beyond the classics, cheeses like brie, goat cheese, Gruyere, and Manchego can also make great partners for honey ham. However, mild cheeses like mozzarella and cottage cheese do not stand up as well to the honey. Pairing honey ham with the right cheeses can take your meal to the next level. The complementary flavors and textures will have guests looking forward to every bite.