Kerrygold Moments

When chosen with care, appetizers and cold beverages can help set the tone for a great time at any gathering. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone event or hosting a mid-week dinner with friends, there’s a perfect pairing for every kind of entertaining occasion! The real secret to getting it right lies in pairing flavours that complement rather than conflict with one another. Read on to discover six amazing pairings.

1. Seafood & Citrus

Citrus is always a good bet with seafood. Just think of the joys of fresh fish with a drizzle of lemon or a squeeze of lime on some prawns. The acidity in citrus refreshes the palate and also helps to brighten up a dish. Citrus-filled cocktails or mocktails like mojitos or daiquiris are therefore an excellent option to serve with seafood appetizers that include familiar favourites such as grilled salmon, crab meat, shrimp or prawns. A pitcher of homemade lemonade would be fantastic as well.

2. Salty & Bubbly

Salty snacks and sparkling wine are a match made in taste heaven. Some of the best appetizers to pair with your favourite bottle of bubbly include salty crackers topped with Kerrygold cheddar, lightly spiced and buttery popcorn, fried mac and cheese balls, fish tacos or stuffed mushrooms. Crunchy foods like crostini, vegetable crudités, and fried chicken also pair well with the fizziness of champagne.

3. Steak & Tannins

Tannins are naturally occurring compounds commonly found in wine and fruits such as cranberries, pomegranates, and grapes. Tannins are responsible for creating a drying sensation in the mouth but, perhaps most importantly, they help bind and separate proteins. This protein-bind quality is what makes red wine and steak such a good pairing. Other fatty foods like roast duck can also be complemented by tannin-rich beverages like cranberry cocktails or mocktails.

4. Spicy & Sugary

This pairing is pretty surprising, but sweet beverages really do work wonders with spicy appetizers. This is because the sugar within the drink helps dissolve capsaicin, the compound found within chili peppers that makes them hot and spicy. Next time you serve a chili cheese dip, jalapeno poppers or another spicy appetizer, it’s a good idea to pair it with something sweet like ginger ale, root beer or carbonated cooldrinks.

5. Spuds & Hops

We’re sure many pub-goers would agree: few things go better together than potatoes and beer. A frosty glass of Shandy (beer-sprite mixer) also works particularly well to cut through the richness of a creamy potato appetizer, like these Spinach & Chive Potato Bites made with Kerrygold cheese and butter. If you’re looking to serve hors d’oeuvres that are handsome enough for even the fanciest of spreads, then you should try these delicious colcannon canapes, best served with a light and refreshing lager.

6. Cheese & Wine

Cheese and wine, bread and butter – some things are just meant to be together. And we just couldn’t leave this formidable pair off the list. So, if your appetizers involve pulling out a cheese plate, then here are some classic combinations to consider:

• Mature Cheddar with Merlot or Bordeaux
• Gouda with Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay
• Kerrygold Dubliner with Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz
• Cheddar with Sauvignon Blanc or Zinfandel

Traditional cheese boards often include fruits such as figs, apricots, and grapes, which will also work wonders with wine. Two recipes we recommend trying are this Ploughman’s Cheese Platter with Fig Chutney, best served alongside a fruity Merlot or this Cheeseboard with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon.

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