Pork is a mainstay of the American diet. Whether you like it roasted, smoked or seasoned with salt and pepper, pork is going to be in your rotation.
Which is why knowing what cheese goes with pork can make all the difference. When it comes to pairing cheese with pork, there are a few guiding principles. The first is that you want to pair acidic cheese with spicy food and salty cheese with sweet foods.
When it comes to pairing cheese with pork, we’re talking about fatty varieties like bacon and ham as well as leaner cuts like roast pork or tenderloin.
What Cheese Goes with Pork?
The main cheese types that go well with pork are hard cheeses, feta, and blue cheeses. Soft cheeses generally don’t get along with pork too well, but they may be okay in small amounts.
One thing you need to keep in mind with cheese and pork is fat. Pork is high in fat, which makes it a great protein source but also a high carb food.
So pair higher fat cheeses with lower carb pork. You also want to consider the age of your cheese. As cheese ages, it becomes more acidic.
So, you don’t want to pair aged cheese with pork. Pork is also typically soaked in brine, season with salt, sugar, and other preservatives.
This also makes pork a high sodium food. And since sodium can impact blood pressure, you don’t want to eat too much salt with your cheese.
Bacon
Bacon is a fatty pork product that is used for both breakfast and dinner. There are many different types of bacon, including:
-Canadian Bacon– Canadian bacon is the thinnest cut of bacon, with a leaner flavor than the other types. This is what you’d most likely find in a breakfast sandwich.
-Smoked Bacon– Smoked bacon is the most popular type of bacon because it has a smoky flavor that pairs well with many dishes. It’s also best when paired with cereals, eggs, and fruits.
-Applewood Bacon– Applewood bacon is a popular treat for breakfast and is often eaten with oatmeal.
Ham
Ham is another fatty pork product that is commonly used for both breakfast and dinner. Unlike bacon and pork, which are both served cooked, ham is typically served uncooked.
There are many different types of ham, including: -Black Forest Ham- The name says it all with this type of ham. It comes from the Black Forest in Germany and has a dark brown color with a light pink interior.
-Sliced Ham- Sliced ham is usually packed in water, so it’s a good fit for pasta dishes.
-Ham Steaks- Ham steaks are more lean than regular ham and are best for grilling or pan-searing.
Brats and Sausages
This type of pork has a sweet flavor and is often used in breakfast dishes. Brats are German-style sausages that come in a variety of flavors, while sausages are Italian-style sausages that are often served in a pizza.
Roast Pork and Tenderloin
These lean cuts of pork are used for a variety of meals. Roast pork is best served in sandwiches, while tenderloin is a lean cut that is often used in steaks.
Other Leaner Cuts of Pork
When it comes to the rest of your pork options, you have some good options here, too. Here are some other leaner cuts of pork that are also good for sandwich meats:
-Ham Steaks- Like the ham steaks above, these make for good pan-fried or grilled sandwich options.
-Sausage- Sausages are similar to sausages in that they are both Italian-style meats, but sausages are usually larger and less frilly.
-Pre-Cut Pork Loin- Pre-cut pork loin is a great choice for quick meals, like a burrito or taco.
It’s also great for casseroles, since you can easily slice it up and add it to the dish.
Feta and Greek Yogurts
You’ve probably heard that you should pair fatty meats, like steak, with a nice cheese. But pairing fatty meats, like pork, with fatty cheeses, like feta and blue cheeses, you get a double dose of flavor and fat.
While that can be a little too much, it’s great for boosting the flavor of fatty pork. These cheeses are also great because they are high in protein and low in carbs.
So, they are great for keeping you full longer; especially if you’re trying to limit carbs and calories while on keto.
Hard Cheeses
Hard cheeses are aged for more than 60 days and are usually made from sheep or cow milk. They are typically aged for a long time, so they are more expensive than other cheeses that are aged for only a few weeks.
Cheese can be high in sodium, so it’s important to keep a close eye on your sodium intake while eating too much high-sodium cheese.
That’s why it’s best to eat hard cheeses with your high-sodium foods, like bacon and pork. Hard cheeses also tend to be more acidic, which is good for pairing with pork, since pork is high in fat.
Conclusion
When it comes to pairing cheese with pork, you have to think about fat, flavor, and acid. Fatty pork and fatty cheeses go great together.
When it comes to pairing cheese with pork, you want to think about age, flavor, and fat. Pork is high in fat and brine, so you want to pair high-fat cheeses with them, like hard cheeses and blue cheeses.
Along with all of that, you also want to consider the age of your cheese, the type of pork it’s paired with, and whether or not it’s salted. Once you’ve got all of those things down, you’ll be a pro at pairing cheese with pork.