Trader Joe’s has been introducing flavored cheeses for years, but their Toscano cheese line has been hit or miss. We’ve found that one particular cheese is a curious mixture of black pepper mixed with the unique flavor of Toscano cheese. But before you hop on over to TJs to grab a slab, here is what Toscano cheese with black pepper goes good with.
What is Toscano cheese?
Real Toscano cheese is an import from Italy and is made from sheep’s milk. It’s a hard cheese that has the dual bonus of tasting like a cross between cheddar and parmesan. It comes packaged in the form of slices and has a rind that might not be appealing to some. Luckily, this rind is completely edible and has a flavor that is more intense than the rest of the cheese itself.
Toscano cheese is put into the category of being a hard cheese and is good for grating, but is still soft enough to slice with a knife. As far as paring it with food, it’s been described as a great cheese for putting with sweet items including jam or honey. It also goes great with raw veggies, and fruits. Dried fruits including figs and prunes are perfect to eat with Toscano cheese yet fresh fruits like pear and apple are excellent choices.
Toscano cheese with black pepper
Among many of the flavored Toscano cheeses at Trader Joe’s that have included creamy Toscano cheese flavored with Syrah, seasoned Toscano pizza cheese, Chipotle flavored Toscano cheese, and even Toscano cheese with cinnamon! The addition of the black pepper Toscano cheese might have been a dismal failure just like the cinnamon and chipotle flavors, but it seems this unlikely blend is an excellent decision.
Great ideas using Toscano cheese with black pepper
Anyone who has ever thrown a party will tell you that one of the best ways to get rave reviews has included snack platters with cheese. Often called Charcuterie boards, the combination of cheese, meat, and salty and sweet are great options to choose from. A good Charcuterie board will have a generous selection of nuts, dried fruits, raw veggies, fresh fruit slices, olives, and little pickles. There is also a wide selection of crackers and bread slices.
You can’t go wrong with adding dips and sauces that add more layers of flavor and give everyone a chance to mix and match. The wine of choice is usually any robust red wine or Rosé wine, but not limited to white wine. Have a wide selection of snacks and dry sausage and salami, but be sure to add chorizo and prosciutto. It’s always a matter of personal taste to include a bit of everything to appeal to everyone at the table.
One dip that you’ll want at this charcuterie board needs to include hummus that goes great with this black pepper cheese. Just like pickled purple onion and roasted red peppers. Most of these ingredients can be purchased at Trader Joe’s, which makes it easier to shop all at one place.
Thankfully, Trader Joe’s has an exotic array of charcuterie ingredients, but a good trip to the delicatessen can provide you with seasonal cured meats that are a must.
