Swiss cheese is a popular cheese known for its distinctive holes and nutty, sweet flavor. It’s a versatile cheese that pairs well with many foods and ingredients. In this article, we’ll explore what goes well with Swiss cheese and provide recipe ideas to help you get the most out of this classic cheese.
Meats
Swiss cheese pairs wonderfully with cured and deli meats. The nutty sweetness of Swiss balances the saltiness of meats like ham, salami, turkey, roast beef, pastrami, and corned beef. Try Swiss on a sandwich or cheese board with your favorite cured meats. The contrasting flavors and textures complement each other beautifully.
Suggested meat and Swiss cheese pairings:
- Swiss and ham sandwich
- Swiss and salami sandwich
- Swiss and roast beef sandwich
- Swiss and turkey sandwich
- Swiss and pastrami sandwich
- Swiss and corned beef sandwich
- Swiss cheese board with prosciutto, salami, etc.
Fruits and Vegetables
The mild flavor of Swiss cheese allows the natural sweetness of fruits and vegetables to shine. Swiss pairs well with both fresh and cooked fruits and veggies. The cheese adds a creamy, savory contrast.
Fruits:
Try slicing apples, pears, or grapes to enjoy with Swiss cheese slices or cubes. The fruit juices perfectly complement the nuttiness of the cheese. For a snack or light meal, assemble Swiss cheese, fruit slices, and crunchy crackers or bread on a plate.
Vegetables:
Both raw veggies like carrots, cucumbers, and radishes and cooked veggies like roasted broccoli, sautéed spinach, and grilled zucchini taste great with Swiss. The cheese lends a savory accent to the vegetables’ fresh flavors. For a easy meal, enjoy Swiss melted over cooked vegetables.
Salads:
Toss cubes of Swiss into a salad for a protein and flavor boost. Swiss pairs well with both fruit salads and veggie-heavy salads. The cheese cubes add rich, nutty pockets of flavor and pleasant chewy-creamy texture contrast throughout the crisp greens or fruits.
Breads and Crackers
The firm yet creamy texture of Swiss cheese makes it perfect for slicing and melting onto breads and crackers. The holes allow the bread or cracker crunch to come through while the cheese contributes flavorful creaminess.
Suggested bread and cracker pairings:
- Swiss on rye bread
- Swiss on sourdough bread
- Swiss on whole grain bread
- Swiss on baguette
- Swiss on bagel
- Swiss on croissant
- Swiss on cracker varieties like Wheat Thins, Triscuits, Ritz, etc.
Try pairing with heartier breads and crackers that can stand up to the thick slice of cheese.
Wine and Beer
The complexity of Swiss cheese makes it an excellent pairing for wines and beers. The nutty, slightly sweet flavors pair well with a range of light to medium-bodied white and red wines. Crisp Pilsners and wheat beers also complement the cheese nicely.
Suggested wine varieties:
- Chardonnay
- Riesling
- Pinot Grigio
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Rosé
- Pinot Noir
- Merlot
- Zinfandel
Suggested beer styles:
- Pilsner
- Wheat Beer
- Pale Ale
- Amber Ale
- Brown Ale
Enjoy Swiss cheese cubed or sliced with a balanced white or red wine. The cheese also pairs nicely with beers like Pilsners that have a crisp, clean finish.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds make tasty additions to a Swiss cheese plate. Their crunch and flavor contrast the smooth, creamy cheese wonderfully. Pair Swiss with roasted, salted nuts like almonds, walnuts, pecans, and peanuts. Roasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds also complement the cheese’s nuttiness.
Suggested nut and seed pairings:
- Roasted almonds
- Roasted walnuts
- Roasted pecans
- Salted peanuts
- Roasted pumpkin seeds
- Roasted sunflower seeds
Enjoy a little crunch by topping crackers spread with Swiss cheese with your favorite nuts or seeds.
Dried and Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, and chives add a subtle complementary flavor when paired with Swiss cheese. Dried herbs like oregano, basil, and parsley also taste excellent sprinkled over Swiss cheese dishes. The herbs’ aromatic qualities beautifully accent the nutty cheese.
Suggested herb pairings:
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Chives
- Oregano
- Basil
- Parsley
- Chive
Try topping baked or grilled Swiss cheese sandwiches or melts with a sprinkle of fresh herbs. You can also add dried herbs to macaroni and cheese or cheese sauces made with Swiss.
Jams, Preserves, and Honey
Sweet jams, fruit preserves, and honey perfectly balance the salty, savory Swiss cheese. Fruity jams and chutneys featuring berries, stone fruits, and citrus complement the nuttiness of Swiss. Honey’s floral sweetness also makes a tasty cheese board companion.
Suggested sweet pairings:
- Strawberry jam
- Raspberry jam
- Apricot preserves
- Orange marmalade
- Fig jam
- Onion-apple chutney
- Clover honey
Serve jams and honey alongside Swiss for dipping and drizzling. Warm jam or chutney to a spreadable consistency to enjoy atop cheese on crackers or bread.
Mustard
The zing of mustard adds delightful flavor contrast to rich, savory Swiss cheese. Grainy and sharp mustards both pair well, enhancing the cheese’s nuttiness. Dijon, whole grain, or spicy brown mustards make an excellent condiment for Swiss cheese sandwiches and burgers.
Suggested mustards:
- Dijon
- Whole grain
- Spicy brown
- Stoneground
- Honey mustard
Add mustard to a Swiss cheese sandwich or burger for extra tangy flavor. You can also dip pretzels, crackers, or bread topped with Swiss cheese slices into mustard for an appetizer.
Pickles
The acidic brine of pickles balances the rich fattiness of Swiss cheese. The contrasting flavors and textures make an amazing pairing. Enjoy Swiss with all kinds of pickles like dill, sweet, sour, bread & butter, etc. The possibilities are endless when combining Swiss cheese and pickled vegetables.
Suggested pickles:
- Dill pickle chips
- Sweet pickle chips
- Sour pickle chips
- Bread and butter pickle chips
- Pickled onion
- Pickled asparagus
Pile pickle chips on top of Swiss cheese sandwiches, burgers, and melts to add a delicious crunch. You can also skewer pickle and cheese cubes for an easy appetizer.
Potatoes
Potatoes pair amazingly with melted Swiss cheese. The potatoes provide a starchy, savory base for the rich, nutty cheese. Enjoy Swiss sauce over fries, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, hash browns, and more.
Suggested potato pairings:
- French fries
- Baked potatoes
- Mashed potatoes
- Hash browns
- Potato pancakes
For delicious flavor, top potatoes with melted Swiss cheese sauce, or mix shredded Swiss into mashed potatoes.
Pasta
The creamy, smooth texture of melted Swiss makes it a perfect choice for pasta dishes like macaroni and cheese. The nutty Swiss flavor takes pasta to the next level. Beyond mac and cheese, Swiss also tastes delicious in pasta salads, lasagne, ravioli filling, and more.
Suggested pasta pairings:
- Macaroni and cheese
- Cheese ravioli
- Lasagne
- Pasta salad with Swiss vinaigrette
For an easy weeknight meal, toss cooked pasta in a Swiss cheese sauce. Mixing shredded Swiss into pasta salad also adds flavor.
Eggs
The creamy richness of Swiss cheese blends wonderfully with eggs. The cheese adds a savory flavor punch to egg dishes like omelets, frittatas, quiches, and scrambled eggs. Swiss also pairs well with boiled, fried, or poached eggs on toast.
Suggested egg pairings:
- Swiss cheese omelet
- Quiche with Swiss cheese and vegetables
- Swiss cheese egg sandwich
- Fried eggs with Swiss cheese
- Boiled eggs with Swiss cheese slices
Beat shredded Swiss into eggs before scrambling or add Swiss slices to egg sandwiches for extra flavor.
Soup
The slightly stretchy, melty texture of Swiss cheese makes it a tasty addition to soup. Stir cubed or shredded Swiss into broth-based soups towards the end to allow it to melt into cheesy pockets. Hearty bean and vegetable soups pair especially well with the nutty Swiss flavor.
Suggested soup pairings:
- Broccoli cheese soup
- Cauliflower cheese soup
- Minestrone with Swiss cheese
- Potato leek soup with Swiss
- Chicken and rice soup with Swiss
For extra richness, top bowls of your favorite soup with crispy, melted Swiss cheese slices.
Conclusion
With its complexity, sweet nuttiness, and meltability, Swiss cheese pairs wonderfully with a wide variety of foods and ingredients. From fruits and vegetables to cured meats and beyond, the possibilities are nearly endless when cooking with Swiss. Add this versatile cheese to sandwiches, charcuterie boards, melts, pastas, salads, and more to take the flavor to the next level.
With its mild flavor, Swiss cheese acts as a complement to many strongly-flavored ingredients like cured meats, hearty breads, and pickled vegetables. At the same time, Swiss has enough flavor of its own to balance sweeter partners like fresh fruits, honey, and jams. Beyond its great taste, the signature holes and smooth melting ability of Swiss make it a fun, functional cheese for snacking and cooking. So grab a wedge of Swiss and explore all the delicious ways to eat and serve this cheese board staple.