Cheese connoisseurs absolutely can’t stop raving about smoked Gouda for its delectable flavor. Originally from Holland, this variant of the regular Gouda is far superior to other types of cheese because of its comforting smoky goodness!
Perhaps, if you have not tasted the smoked variant of Gouda cheese, you may have been thinking about its flavor profile. Don’t worry; we have you covered!
Smoked Gouda is best known for its nuttiness. The flavor is slightly buttery with caramel-like undertones. This cheese is creamier, milkier, and more flavorsome than regular Gouda. The taste of this versatile cheese is truly an asset in most recipes!
If you’re eager to try this variant of Gouda cheese, you must read this blog post to get all the answers to your questions!
What Does Smoked Gouda Cheese Taste Like?
Compared to regular Gouda, the smoked version has a mild buttery flavor. It gives a subtle hint of sweet caramel undertones, finished with a slightly salty aftertaste.
With roughly 45% butterfat, this cheese is as buttery and creamy as it gets! You’ll enjoy it best at room temperature as it melts into a smooth mess!
This semi-soft cheese comes with a dark, smoky rind that is edible. It has a prominent woodsier, smoky flavor, minus the bitterness. You may even find maple-leaf smoked Gouda, which has a light, umami bacon flavor, making it perfect for sandwiches and burgers. You may even pair it with fresh herbs, eggs, and smoked ham to have with Panera bread.
Texture-wise, smoked Gouda has a firm exterior but is soft on the inside. With a capacity to melt, you’ll find this smoky cheese a part of many dishes, including pizza, quiche, casseroles, and even burgers! It gives you the taste of eating slow-fire-roasted goods!
This heavenly pate tastes delicious on its own; you can treat it as a standalone snack to munch on in the evenings. You can also serve it on a cheese platter with some crusty bread or try it with crackers to make for a great combo!
Thanks to its mild and all-rounded flavor, you’ll love this variant of Gouda with salami, dark chocolate, fruits, sandwiches, and more.
Due to its smoky flavor and stringy texture, smoked Gouda tastes fantastic when combined with other ingredients! You can use smoked Gouda in various recipes, such as lasagna, quesadillas, spaghetti, and even mac n cheese! The cheese adds a burst of nutty, buttery, and smoky notes while truly elevating the overall flavors when added to mac n cheese.
The smoky flavor is the key to getting a restaurant-like alfredo sauce, as the cheese adds a unique buttery nuttiness that pairs well with smoked meats like bacon and ham.
The best part is that smoked Gouda is also the perfect accompaniment to most drinks, like dark beer, red or white wine, scotch, and even whiskey.
Why does smoked Gouda cheese taste like meat and bacon?
It’s the preparation process that gives smoked Gouda cheese a bacon or meat flavor. Smoked Gouda cheese is often made through a smoking process in brick ovens. When the Gouda cheese is exposed to smoke for a considerable time, the smoke flavor and smell make it taste more like meat/bacon.
Is Gouda a Strong Tasting Cheese?
Nowadays, industrially-produced Gouda cheese has a mild and relatively sweet flavor with a tender texture. That’s because it is no longer produced using traditional techniques, as pasteurized milk goes bad much more quickly.
So, young and young mature Gouda has a higher moisture content, giving it a smoother and softer texture. As a result, it’s the perfect table cheese for your daily snacking needs, as it goes well with sandwiches and crackers.
On the other hand, as the cheese matures, it develops an intense, nutty-buttery taste with subtle hints of caramel. Moreover, it also turns darker and harder in appearance. You can age it for as many as five years for a bolder flavor!
Once aged, Gouda turns similar to parmesan cheese in texture. It becomes slightly crumbly and develops crunchy crystals.
Conclusion
Although you may be aware of classic Gouda, smoked Gouda is one of its popular variants, prominently known for its smoky, buttery flavor. It has a subtle tinge of salty-sweet notes that blend well with salads, eggs, and alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, and whiskey! You can also devour this soft cheese by melting it over your favorite snacks!
Now that we have answered all your queries regarding smoked Gouda, we hope that you give this cheese a try! There’s no doubt you’re going to fall in love with it!
You must try it yourself to know what a delicious type of cheese it is!
