GREAT CHEESE NEVER STANDS ALONE
Every memorable cheeseboard is a team effort. Our cheese accompaniments bring together everything that belongs beside great cheese, from cured meats and charcuterie to sweet, savoury and crunchy treats.
Whether you're building a board for a celebration or a well-earned night in, these are the accompaniments for cheese that turn a few good wedges into something worth gathering around.
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WHAT ARE CHEESE ACCOMPANIMENTS?
Cheese accompaniments are all the delicious extras that share the board with your cheese: the bites, spreads and sips that add contrast, colour and variety to every serving. A wedge of cheddar is a fine thing on its own, but surround it with the right partners and it becomes an experience.
The best cheese board accompaniments do two things at once. They complement the cheese, echoing its richness or balancing its strength, and they add interest of their own, so every trip back to the board offers something a little different.
From salty charcuterie to sweet preserves, each one plays its part in bringing the whole spread together.
FROM CHARCUTERIE TO CHUTNEYS: WHAT BELONGS ON THE BOARD
There's no single recipe for a great cheeseboard, but a few families of accompaniments have earned their place over generations:
- Charcuterie and cured meats: prosciutto, salami, chorizo and other cold cuts add savoury depth and a satisfying contrast to creamy cheeses.
- Crackers for cheese: from delicate water biscuits to hearty oatcakes, they bring the crunch every board needs.
- Chutneys for cheese: sweet, tangy or gently spicy, a good chutney lifts everything it touches.
- Fresh and dried fruit: grapes, figs, apple slices and apricots add sweetness, freshness and colour.
- Nuts, olives and pickles: for salt, bite and a welcome change of pace between richer mouthfuls.
- Honey and preserves: a drizzle of honey over blue cheese or a spoonful of fruit preserve beside a soft brie can be quietly spectacular.
Mix a few of these together and the board practically builds itself.
IDEAL FOR EVERY OCCASION
Cheese accompaniments earn their keep all year round. They're the backbone of a festive grazing table, the easy answer to "what shall we serve?" at a dinner party, and the finishing touch on a picnic, a wine evening or a lazy Sunday lunch.
They also make wonderfully thoughtful presents. Many of these pairings feature in our cheese hampers and cheese and wine hampers, where cheese and its favourite companions arrive ready to enjoy together.
Whether it's a birthday, a thank-you or a treat for your own table, a well-matched selection never goes unappreciated.
WHAT GOES WELL WITH CHEESE?
Almost everything here, that's rather the point. Salty cured meats love creamy, mild cheeses; sweet chutneys and honey balance sharp, mature varieties; crisp crackers and fresh fruit keep every bite interesting from start to finish.
A few Silly Cow pairings are always worth trying: a spoonful of Caramelised Onion Chutney beside a mature cheddar, Farmer's Relish with cured meats on a Classic Water Biscuit, or Ale Chutney with a robust Salt & Pepper Oatcake. Feeling bolder? Add a touch of Scotch Bonnet Chilli Jam to a Butter Water Biscuit and let it wake up the whole board. And don't forget what's in the glass, as a well-chosen wine, ale or even a good cup of tea can be an accompaniment in its own right.
These accompaniments pair beautifully with our colourful cheese truckles and handcrafted cheese wheels. Start with the cheese you love, add two or three contrasting partners, and let the board do the rest.
FAQs about our Cheese Accompaniments
A well-balanced cheeseboard usually includes something crunchy (crackers or bread), something sweet (chutney, honey or fruit), something savoury (charcuterie or olives) and something fresh (grapes or apple slices). Aim for variety in flavour and texture, and let guests build their own perfect bites.
Prosciutto and other air-dried hams pair beautifully with soft, creamy cheeses, while salami and chorizo hold their own alongside mature cheddar and stronger varieties. As a rule, match delicate meats with delicate cheeses and bolder meats with bolder flavours.
Three to five accompaniments is usually plenty for a board with two to four cheeses. Choose one from each category (crunchy, sweet, savoury and fresh) rather than crowding the board, so every element has room to shine.
The 3-3-3 rule is a simple formula for a well-balanced board: three cheeses, three cured meats and three accompaniments. Pick cheeses with different textures (one soft, one hard, one bold or blue), vary your charcuterie, then round things off with a sweet, a savoury and a crunchy accompaniment. It's an easy starting point that guarantees variety without overcrowding the board.
You don't need a full board to enjoy great cheese. A few crackers, a spoonful of chutney and a handful of grapes alongside a wedge of your favourite cheese make a five-minute snack that feels like a treat.
Silly Cow Reviews
