Spicy Cheese

Spicy cheese: where heat meets buttery goodness

Of all the great food duos of the world – PB&J, spaghetti and meatballs, burger and fries – spicy cheese is definitely on the shortlist. After all, cheese and heat are a perfect couple. The kick of black pepper, horseradish or habanero complements a cheese's buttery goodness, and cheese is a natural antidote to the burn of spicy foods. It's no wonder that Americans can't get enough spicy cheese. Sales of varieties like Ghost Pepper Jack cheese, Habanero Cheddar and Pepper Colby Jack are through the roof, and cheesemakers produce new types of spicy cheese every year. So, hats off to whoever first popped a pepper in a vat of warm cheese curd - our taste buds salute you!

Wisconsin spicy cheeses

Wisconsin cheesemakers make more flavors, varieties and styles of cheese than anywhere else in the world – and that includes barnloads of spicy, savory cheese. Jalapeno juustoleipa, habanero jack, jalapeno muenster, pepper jack habanero cheddar, ghost pepper jack, sriracha gouda and horseradish cheddar are just a few of the spicy cheeses that hail from the State of Cheese.

All about spicy cheese

Spicy cheeses are usually based on creamy, milder varieties of cheese that benefit from the extra punch that pepper or horseradish provides. Common Spicy cheese varieties include horseradish cheddar, pepper jack, sriracha gouda, jalapeno muenster and habanero cheddar.

The history of spicy cheese

No one really knows who first put peppers in cheese. It might've been the New York farmers who, in the 1870s were making the first versions of cream cheese at the same time that Spain was first shipping canned red peppers – pimientos - to the United States. Or perhaps it was Mexican immigrants in California who experimented by adding chili peppers to monterey jack, creating the world's first pepper jack cheese.

How spicy cheese is made

Spicy cheese is usually made by adding ingredients like chunks of pepper, horseradish, powdered peppers, mustard seeds or peppercorns to the cheese curd before it's pressed into a mold, or by rubbing spices like black pepper or cayenne on the rind.

How hot is hot?

When it comes to spicy cheese, it's good to know your limits! A spicy pepper jack cheese will leave your mouth with a warm glow, while a ghost pepper cheese may positively set it on fire. With peppers, heat is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU) – it's the number of dilutions a pepper needs to no longer taste hot. At roughly 5,000 SHU, jalapenos are among the mildest peppers, while at 22 million SHU, the Carolina reaper is the world's hottest pepper – and is featured in a Wisconsin Cheddar!

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What to sip and savor with spicy cheese

Food pairings

Spicy cheese shines when paired with sweetly acidic foods that balance the creamy heat – think grapes, strawberries, honey, raspberry jam or caramel. Alternately, go with savory ingredients with bold flavor profiles that can match the heat of a spicy cheese kick for kick – green olives, cured meats, pickles and savory chutneys.

Spicy cheese is the perfect way to add some kick to melted cheesy dishes like mac & cheese, cheeseburgers and egg strata. Serve it cubed on cheese trays, melted on burgers and in broiled dishes, or sliced on sandwiches with deli meats for an explosion of flavor.

What to sip

When you're drinking wine with spicy cheese, you'll want something big and punchy that can hold its own – a big red Zin will do. Or you can balance the spice with the sweetness of a Moscato. If your heart's set on beer, an IPA or wheat beer will offer a cleansing contrast, while an Imperial Stout will boost the burst of flavor from your spicy cheese.

FAQs

What is spicy cheese?

Spicy cheese is a cheese with additional ingredients that add heat to the cheese. Ingredients like such as peppercorns, bits of hot peppers, mustard seed, horseradish or powdered peppers may be added to the cheese curd before it is pressed into molds, or spices like cayenne and black pepper may be rubbed on the rind to add flavor and heat.

Why does cheese pair well with spicy foods?

Spicy foods accent the creamy, buttery, nutty flavor of many cheeses, while the oils in cheese help to relieve the burn of a pepper's heat.

Craving award-winning aged cheddar, pining for parmesan, or searching for a new cheese to try? The world’s best cheese is just a click away! Explore our directory of Wisconsin cheesemakers and retailers who offer online cheese shopping and get cheese shipped right to your door. What are you waiting for?

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