The summer is one of our favorite times of year; not only for the warm weather, but because of the countless cheese pairing opportunities that come with fresh seasonal produce!
From cheese serving and storage tips to the best fruit crisp recipe out there, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make this your tastiest summer yet.
Gather those farmers market finds!
Summer is the perfect time to take advantage of local seasonal goodies you find at the farmers market or even grow yourself. What’s in season during the summer? Well, just about everything you could imagine.
Fresh produce, sweet or savory, always pairs well with cheese. Here’s a short list of some of our favorite summer pairings for cheese boards, or for just enjoying on their own:
Peaches and gouda
Cherries and asiago
Strawberries and ricotta
Tomatoes and fresh mozzarella
Get creative with plating
Whether you’re building the cheese board of your dreams or preparing an Instagram-worthy dinner plate, summer is the ideal excuse to spice up your plate with some color.
Deep crimson tomatoes and strawberries, bright green herbs like basil or rosemary, even purple carrots or indigo blackberries can all add visual interest and highlight the season’s best offerings. Use fruits, vegetables, and nuts to fill in any gaps between cheeses and create an illusion of bounty.
For more plating tips, learn how to build a perfect cheese board here.
Keep your cheese out of the heat
Cheese is best enjoyed at room temperature (67-70°F degrees), so if you plan on gorging on a cheese board outdoors, make sure to keep it inside until right before your cheesy feast.
Cheese that’s warmed up too much can begin to “sweat” or melt. Sweating is when fats separate from the solids in the cheese, appearing as little droplets of moisture on the surface. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean your cheese has gone bad! It’s just not desirable, as it can negatively impact the flavor and texture of your cheese.
One way to help manage temperature is to serve your cheese on a marble slab. Not only will it look elegant, but marble’s naturally cool temperature will help keep your precious cheeses cool, too .
For more tips and tricks about cheese storage and serving, read our guide on how to store cheese.
Must-Try Summer Cheese Boards & Recipes
Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork Tacos
Few worldly pleasures beat out the first bite of a homemade taco on a summer evening. Our Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork Tacos take a fool-proof pulled pork recipe, and combine it with freshly pickled veggies, corn tortillas, and of course, Wisconsin Cheese.
Featured Cheeses
Specialty Cheese La VacaRica® Queso Fresco
Cheese Board Tip
If you haven’t been acquainted with queso fresco cheese before, you’re in for a treat. Queso fresco is a fresh and soft cheese that’s mild, milky, and perfect for crumbling on top of tacos. It doesn’t melt when heated, but rather softens to creamy goodness.
Get the recipe for our Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork Tacos.
Parmesan Potato Wedges with Lemony Aioli
If french fries and ketchup are your guilty pleasure, consider this the sophisticated upgrade to satisfy the same craving. Our potato wedges are lightly coated with parmesan and olive oil before being grilled and seasoned with salt and pepper.
The result is a crisp-on-the-outside, pillowy-on-the-inside bite of perfection: just the way potato wedges should be.
Featured Cheese
Nordic Creamery Parmesan
Get the recipe for our Parmesan Potato Wedges with Lemony Aioli.
Summer Stone Fruit Crisp
Freshly picked peaches are a summer staple, and there’s no better whey to enjoy them than in a fruit crisp! What makes this Wisconsin-style crisp particularly special is the addition of Arena Spring’s Green Gouda.
It may sound a little crazy but trust us on this one. This mild and nutty cheese adds just the right amount of depth and saltiness to balance the sweetness of the peaches and nectarines.
Featured Cheese
Arena Cheese Spring Green Gouda
Recipe Tip
We use four ounces of gouda in our recipe, but feel free to use more! Many fellow cheese lovers have reported that they doubled the gouda with grate results.
Get the recipe for our Summer Stone Fruit Crisp.
Conclusion
If you’re ready to do a cheese tasting this summer, you can get Wisconsin’s finest cheeses delivered right to your door with our continuously updated list of cheesemakers and retailers that allow you to order cheese online. Award-winning Wisconsin Cheese is just a click away.
Craving something else? Choose from our selection of over 400 recipes featuring Wisconsin Cheese. Don’t forget to share your creative cheesy creations with us on Facebook and Instagram.