CHICAGO,
Nov. 12,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The holiday season is upon us,
and who doesn't have at least one party or gathering on the
calendar? Whether hosting or bringing a snack to add to the table,
knowing how to pair your crackers with the right cheeses and meats
can evoke compliments and happy guests.
To help create the best snack for your
get-together, Kellanova's Chef Becca
Kapela shared why the cracker is the unsung party hero and
how to perfectly pair to impress in the company's latest blog
post.
Like wine, perfect cracker pairings bring
spark to holiday parties
"The cracker is the unsung party hero," says
Kellanova Chef Becca Kapela. "It
plays a central role in the appetizer course, yet few of us know
how to perfectly pair it to impress. Crackers are much like wine –
if you pair them with the right meats and cheeses, the combinations
can make your palate sing."
Chef Becca says there are basic pairings and then
there are more elevated pairings – depending on your crowd and
budget.
Familiar & Friendly
"For a more
familiar – or approachable – pairing, put a toasted and buttery
cracker with a bold and sharp cheese – such as cheddar or extra
aged gouda – along with a spiced and savory meat, like peppered
salami," she says, noting that the toasted notes of the cracker
help round out the sharpness of the cheese and the bold flavor of
the meat compliments the strong cheese.
"Or pair a water cracker with a creamy and
buttery cheese, like brie or havarti. The creamy, fattier cheeses
balance the extra toasted notes of the cracker. Adding an earthy
and savory meat – such as Varzi salami – makes the nutmeg in the
meat pop."
Chef Becca also shares how to pair buttery and
sweet crackers with tangy and creamy cheeses, such as chevre or
feta, and lean and delicate meats like prosciutto. "The key is
to balance the sweetness in the cracker with the tartness of the
cheese and add a salty note with the meat."
Wheat crackers, another party tray favorite, pair
best with nutty cheeses like gouda, manchego, gruyere or parmesan.
Adding a spicy meat, like Spanish chorizo, adds nice balance all
around.
Dressed to Impress
For those soirees
with a little more oomph, Chef Becca suggests flavored crackers,
jams and even fish. For example, pairing Toasteds®
Savory Onion with crème fraîche and smoked trout will delight your
tastebuds.
"In this pairing, the tangy and fatty crème
fraîche rounds out the smoky notes of the fish, while the savory
onion from the cracker brings all the flavors together," she
says, adding that adding a few drops of chili oil will add some
heat and enhance the smoked flavor from the fish.
Toasteds Flatbread Sea Salt & Olive Oil
cracker with burrata cheese is another great combination. Burrata
is solid mozzarella on the outside with shredded mozzarella with
cream on the inside – a wonderful multitexture experience. Like
mozzarella, burrata is typically served with olive oil. Toasteds
Flatbread Sea Salt & Olive Oil provides that deep flavor in the
hard and crunchy cracker, perfect for scooping up the soft, fresh
cheese. "Top with black truffle or a truffle-infused condiment
to bring out the savory notes of the cracker and the floral and
fruity notes of the cheese," she suggests.
Town House® Flipsides can be paired
with more than cheddar or beer-flavored cheeses and spreads. The
toasted and classic pretzel flavors are strong enough to pair with
parmesan cheese with apple cider jelly on top. "Balancing the
savory flavors on typical appetizer platters with some sweet
offerings really elevates the eating experience and can encourage
guests to venture out of their comfort zone of pairings,"
remarks Chef Becca.
Club® Sweet Hawaiian crackers – one of
Club's newest offerings – bring slight sweetness and caramelized
flavors in the salty cracker, along with bready notes. Joining Club
Sweet Hawaiian crackers together with cheddar cheese, pork belly
and sage honey is a salty, savory and earthy taste parade. "This
elevated cheddar and ham pairing with sweet and earthy sage honey
balances out the rich and sweet flavors from the cracker," Chef
Kapela notes.
This versatile cracker can also be paired with
sweet toppings, like cream cheese and coffee flavored chocolate for
a Danish and coffee experience.
No matter what the occasion, bringing crackers,
cheeses and meats together can still help make you the hit of the
party.
About Kellanova
Kellanova (NYSE: K) is a leader in global snacking, international
cereal and noodles, and North
America frozen foods with a legacy stretching back more than
100 years. Powered by differentiated brands including
Pringles®, Cheez-It®,
Pop-Tarts®, Kellogg's Rice Krispies
Treats®, RXBAR®,
Eggo®, MorningStar Farms®,
Special K®, Coco
Pops®, and more, Kellanova's vision is to
become the world's best-performing snacks-led powerhouse,
unleashing the full potential of our differentiated brands and our
passionate people. Our net sales for 2023 were $13 billion.
At Kellanova, our purpose is to create better
days and ensure everyone has a seat at the table through our
trusted food brands. We are committed to promoting sustainable and
equitable food access by tackling the crossroads of hunger,
sustainability, wellbeing, and equity, diversity & inclusion.
Our goal is to create Better Days for 4 billion people by the end
of 2030 (from a 2015 baseline). For more detailed information about
our commitments, our approach to achieving these goals, and
methodology, please visit our website at
https://www.kellanova.com.
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SOURCE Kellanova