Recipe Roundup: Cheese

Have you seen our Guide to Cheese? Check it out for a primer on all the many different kinds of cheese, from fresh ricotta to soft Brie, pungent blue and sharp, nutty Parmesan. Then put your knowledge to good use with some of our favorite cheesy recipes.

 

Gorgonzola Dip with Crudités Gorgonzola dolce, the creamiest variety, is a good choice for this flavorful dip. Serve with a selection of colorful seasonal vegetables, such as radishes and asparagus in spring or zucchini and sugar snap peas in summer.

Grilled Figs with Dry Jack and Prosciutto Grilling or roasting fresh figs gives them a caramelized, sweet flavor that enhances this classic Italian-style pairing of a salty cheese, cured meat and ripe fruit. Serve the figs hot off the grill as a starter, or combine them with a simple arugula salad for a light meal.

Homemade Ricotta Cheese Fluffy, rich clouds of freshly made ricotta are so good you’ll want to sit there with a spoon and eat it like ice cream. Use it in any recipe that calls for ricotta to take the whole dish to the next level.

Rustic Tomato & Mozzarella Tart Use vine-ripened tomatoes at their peak to create these simple tarts, showcasing the classic combination of tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Using prepared puff pastry makes them quick and easy to assemble and bake.

Nectarines with Arugula and Burrata Cheese Creamy burrata cheese meets sweet nectarines in this summer-fresh starter that takes just minutes to assemble. Let guests help themselves, layering the ingredients on crusty bread.

Grilled Halloumi and Little Gem Salad with Preserved-Lemon Dressing Halloumi is a firm cheese that originated in Cypress but is increasingly made domestically. Its claim to fame is that it holds its shape when grilled or fried, as in this flavorful salad.

Herb and Brie Omelet With a few deft twists of the wrist, it is easy to transform a few eggs into a light-as-air morning main course. This recipe yields a large, fluffy omelet packed with melting cheese and fresh herbs—ideal for sharing.

Warm Beer and Cheddar Dip Made with beer and lots of cheddar cheese, this warm, hearty dip is just the thing for casual get-togethers. Be sure to add the cheese slowly, allowing each batch to melt before adding more, to ensure smooth results.

Waldorf Salad with Blue CheeseFor this salad, a modern riff on a classic, try a blue cheese that is dry and crumbly, such as Cabrales or Valdeón, but a creamy Gorgonzola would also work well.

Bacon and Cheese Scones While most people think of scones as sweet treats, they can also be filled with savory ingredients, like these irresistible rounds of meat-and-cheese goodness, for a delicious change of pace.

Fried Ricotta-Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms In Italy, zucchini blossoms are often stuffed with mozzarella and anchovies and fried in a crisp coating. Here, herbed ricotta is tucked into the blossoms with delicious results.

Shaved Zucchini Salad with Almonds and Asiago Shaving raw zucchini for this pretty salad is a great way to use up a bounty of vegetables. Shaved dry cheese and crunchy nuts top it off.

Savory Leek & Gruyère Soufflé Delicate, tender leeks and melted Gruyere cheese combine in this savory souffle, a beautiful brunch entree or dinner party side dish.

Agnolini with Goat Cheese, Fresh Ricotta, Peas and Herbs These half-moons, made by cutting the pasta into rounds and then folding them in half, are a perfect pocket for cheese. Ricotta is the traditional filling, but goat cheese adds a tang and complements spring peas and herbs.

Potato, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Tacos When you want something especially hearty for breakfast, try this egg and tortilla dish, which includes panfried potatoes and shredded cheese. The fresh salsa is essential.

Creamy Mascarpone Polenta What’s the secret to making polenta with a rich, creamy texture? Stir in a dollop of mascarpone cheese. It’s the perfect side dish for roasted meats or poultry.

Golden Beet and Blue Cheese Risotto When root vegetables start to pile high at the farmers’ market, seek out golden or pink beets, which lend a pretty color to this risotto. Blue cheese complements the earthiness of the dish.

Spanish Pizza with Chorizo and Manchego Traditional Spanish ingredients inspired this pizza: cured (not fresh) chorizo, dry Manchego cheese, and toppings of peppers and olives.

Ham and Cheese Quiche with Crème Fraîche and Chives Smoked ham and Gruyère cheese are classic ingredients in this celebrated French dish. This version adds a touch of crème fraîche for flavor and richness and a sprinkle of chives for freshness.

Penne with Ricotta Cheese and Greens Here, Tuscan kale (also know as black kale) adds deep, earthy flavor to pasta. Fresh ricotta makes a satisfyingly easy sauce.

Grown-Up Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Not your ordinary grilled cheese, this one is filled with Gruyère, sweet caramelized onions and peppery arugula. Pair it with a bowl of soup for a satisfying, easy meal.

Herbed Pork Involtini with Pecorino Involtini, thin slices of meat filled, rolled and tied before cooking, are an Italian favorite. Fillings can vary from a simple bread-and-herb mix like this one, including pecorino cheese, to more exotic flavors.

Smoky Cheese Enchiladas Crushed chipotle chili adds an enticing smoky flavor and gentle layer of heat to these enchiladas, which are enriched with two kinds of cheeses.

Potato and Celery Root Gratin with Gruyère Potato and nutty celery root pair in this rich, creamy, cheesy gratin, perfect for a special dinner or even a holiday feast.

Rolled Eggplant with Sausage & Mozzarella Here’s a creative alternative to pasta: long, thin strips of eggplant, rolled around gooey mozzarella cheese and savory sausage, with plenty of bright tomato sauce for extra flavor.

Orzo with Feta, Basil and Shrimp In Mediterranean cuisine, feta cheese is often paired with shrimp, the creamy, salty flavors marrying lusciously. Here, crumbled feta is added at the end of the cooking so it soaks up the warm juices from the sautéed shrimp.

Macaroni with Farmhouse Cheddar and Bacon Here’s a seriously grown-up version of a kid’s classic. Thanks to their different ages, the two cheddars give this hearty baked pasta a richness that’s balanced by the addition of salty, smoky bacon.

Filets Mignons with Parmesan Butter Here, filet mignon, one of the most lauded cuts of beef, is cooked first on the stovetop, then finished in the oven. The Parmesan butter melts over the warm meat, complementing its richness and adding an appealing nuttiness.

Goat Cheese Toasts with Walnuts, Honey and Thyme Dripping with honey and sprinkled with fresh thyme, cracked pepper and sea salt, these warm, crunchy toasts make a delicious breakfast, after-school treat or lunch when matched with a handful of salad greens.

Cheese Blintzes These crepelike wrappers can be stuffed with a variety of fillings—from mushrooms to meat—but this cheese version, served with fruit compote and sour cream, is a popular morning choice.

Ricotta with Blood Orange, Pistachio and Honey Prepare this dessert in the winter, when blood oranges are at their peak. During other times of the year, vary the fruit with the season — almost any kind will complement the creamy ricotta and honey.