Cheese: Meet the star of summer platters and picnics

January is here, and we’re looking forward to a great 2023. More often than not, we’ll be making the most of the fantastic weather and the setting for our get-togethers will be outdoors.  From parties to sit-down dinners, cocktail brunches to family picnics, we’re going to want to focus on fresh and light foods that are easy to prepare and enjoy alfresco.

According to Rediscover Dairy, putting together a sumptuous cheese board is simple, and takes just a few minutes of preparation.  You also don’t need to worry about load shedding!

Let’s not forget that cheese also brings a delicious flair to your festive salads, vegetable dishes, potato bakes and gourmet ’braaibroodjies’.

Favourite summer pairings for cheese boards

• Strawberries and ricotta
• Blueberries and brie
• Peaches and gouda
• Mango and goat’s cheese

Don’t forget the classics

• Watermelon and feta
• Tomato and mozzarella
• Apple and cheddar
• Figs and blue cheese

Whether they are blue, hard, semi-hard, semi-soft, soft and fresh or soft-ripened, the cheeses of your choice can be combined with crackers and breads; fresh fruits, herbs and vegetables; dried fruits, seeds and nuts; olives, peppers and pickles; sweet and savoury marmalades, jams and preserves; cold and smoked meats and fish.  At celebration picnics, parties or alfresco dinners, the cheese board is a gorgeous centrepiece echoing the freshness and abundance of summer, and is an excellent accompaniment to wine, cider, gin cocktails and non-alcoholic alternatives.

Tips for building a perfect cheese board

• Variety works: Choose cheeses with different textures and taste profiles.
• Sweet, sour, bitter and salty: Match your cheeses to an array of different sweet and savoury ingredients.
• Dazzle with colour: Choose fruits and vegetables of different colours, shapes, and textures.
• Fill the space: Use garnishes such as fresh herbs, berries, nuts, roasted chickpeas, and edible flowers so that the board is entirely covered with an abundance of good foods.
• Keep it cool:  Remember that cheeses are at their best at room temperature.  So, keep your cheese board indoors until you are ready to serve.  You can also assemble your cheese board on a marble slab to keep cheeses cool for longer outdoors.

Not just a hero ingredient, but also good for you

“Cheese is a favourite, nutrient-packed food for children, and good for the whole family”, says Maretha Vermaak, a registered dietitian at Rediscover Dairy.  What’s not to love, considering:

• Cheese is a whole food that is an excellent source of good-quality protein and bone-building calcium.
• Cheese contains beneficial nutrients such as Vitamins A, B2 and B12, and zinc.
• Eating hard cheese, such as cheddar cheese directly after a meal is a good way to protect your teeth and keep them healthy.
• Cheese is also good for heart health. Research has shown that the saturated fats in cheese do not increase the risk of stroke, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease.
• Up to 50g of hard cheese such as cheddar can be enjoyed daily as part of a healthy diet that includes a variety of foods.

Cream Cheese and Smoked Trout Board

Ingredients

• 1 tub plain medium-fat cream cheese
• 130 grams of smoked trout or salmon
• 3 tablespoons fried capers
• Fresh dill
• Fresh lemon
• Crackers of your choice

Method

1. In a small pan add some salted butter and heat on high, when hot pop in your drained capers and fry until nice and crispy. Set aside.
2. Get out a round or rectangular wooden board.
3. Using a pallet knife or small spatula start dolloping/smearing your cream cheese onto the board. You can create a pattern by placing the dollops in rows :)  Cover the whole board.
4. Tear your smoke trout up into small ribbons and start placing them on top of your cream cheese.
5. Garnish with fresh dill, a squeeze of lemon and salt & pepper.
6. Serve with crackers. Enjoy!

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