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Here’s how to create a simple, romantic Valentine’s Day cheese board with a recipe for pear chutney, a delicious cheese accompaniment.
By Amanda Powell
Building a Valentine’s Day cheeseboard is fun to do, and really simple, especially if you stick to a brand like Castello Cheese who has a really great variety of cheeses for every palette. Ideally, you want to have a variety of cheeses that fall into different categories of soft, aged, hard, or blue. For a cheeseboard meant for two, I prefer to keep things lighter and choose two cheeses instead of trying to get all four.
I’ve never been a huge fan of blue cheese, but Castello’s blue cheese I actually really like. And it works here for a romantic cheeseboard because it has so much flavor that it brings the board to life. To balance out the strength of the blue cheese, I recommend a multigrain cracker and something sweet. I prefer a pear chutney. This pear chutney recipe is great because it is like a umami bomb. Sweet, a little spicy, a little acid… it’s perfect. Add a touch of thyme on your cracker and you have the perfect bite. If you make the pear chutney, you will need to plan ahead as it needs time to chill. I recommend making it the day before, but you can also make it in the morning and allow it to chill until ready to serve that evening.
I also like to add in fresh fruit, nuts, and a harder cheese – Havarti is my favorite because it hard, but so creamy- and another cheese that Castello does really well. I also add a bit of Italian salami if you crave a bit of meat, personally, I don’t need it. Just give me the cheese, chutney, and crackers in my Valentine’s Day cheeseboard and I am happy!
As for drinks to pair with the Valentine’s Day cheeseboard, white wine always wins my vote. I am more of a red wine person, but the crispness of the white wine pairs with the cheese so much better, in my opinion. I really fell in love with Folie a Deux white wine. It is smooth and refreshing and pairs really well with the blue cheese.
If you love cheese and wine then you must enter to win a trip for two to Napa Valley from Castello. Enter here.
For a sweet and savory cheese board component, try this carrot chutney recipe.
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Pear Chutney
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Diet: Omnivore
Description
Sweet and spicy pear chutney, perfect for a romantic cheese board or as a side to roast chicken. A simple recipe with big flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 medium pears (cored and sliced)
- 2 tsp sugar
- 0.25 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 shallot (finely diced)
- 0.5 garlic clove (finely diced)
- 1 tsp fresh grated ginger
- 0.25 - 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes
- 6 tbsp (90 ml) apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp (45 ml) agave nectar or honey
- 3 whole cloves
- Salt
- Pepper
- 2 sprigs of fresh thyme (washed and dried)
- 0.5 pomelo (or other favorite citrus, peeled and sliced)
- multigrain seeded crackers
- plain salted crackers
- Castello havarti cheese
- Castello blue cheese
- 0.5 oz (14 g) pistachios
- 0.5 recipe pear chutney (recipe below)
- 2 oz (57 g) Italian salami (sliced.)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Coat pears in sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Place on a baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes, or until fork tender.
- Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium-high heat and coat with olive oil. Add shallots and garlic; cook until fragrant.
- Add ginger, red pepper flakes, apple cider vinegar, agave, and cloves to the skillet and simmer, stirring occasionally, while pears cook.
- When pears are finished roasting, allow to cool slightly, then cut into cubes. Remove and discard cloves.
- Add pears, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Fold pears in well, then transfer the mixture to a container.
- Leave to cool to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- Cheese Board Assembly
- Arrange all ingredients on a slab or marble board.
- Cut slices of havarti cheese and break up some of the blue cheese, leaving the rest on the board.
Notes
- For a smoother chutney, use an immersion blender to partially puree the cooked pears before chilling.
- To adjust the sweetness, add more or less agave nectar depending on the sweetness of your pears.
- Store chutney in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks; the flavors will deepen over time.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 100
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 2
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of cheese should I choose for my Valentine’s Day cheese board?
For a romantic cheese board, opt for two types of cheese from Castello, such as a blue cheese and a milder option to balance the flavors.
How do I prepare the pear chutney to pair with the cheese?
To make the pear chutney, combine pears with spices and a touch of acid until you achieve a sweet, spicy flavor profile that complements the blue cheese.
What kind of crackers should I serve with the cheese board?
A multigrain cracker works best as it provides a sturdy base to balance the richness of the blue cheese and the sweetness of the pear chutney.
