Whether you’re serving one cheese or a half-dozen, every cheese plate can be enhanced by using fruit as a garnish. During the summer months, healthy fruit is a nice contrast to the richness of cheese.
Berries
French Cheese Saint Andre with Berries. Photo by Jennifer Meier
Besides adding a beautiful bolt of color to a cheese plate, ripe berries are delicious with soft, creamy cheeses. Try pairing berries with triple creme cheeses like Sainte Andre, soft goat cheese, or Ricotta.
Apricots
Apricots photo by Rosemary Calvert/Getty Images
Ripe, juicy apricots are almost jam-like in their intensity of flavor. Try slicing apricots into halves or quarters and serve with goat cheese like Selles-sur-cher, sharp white Cheddar, Feta, or Parmigiano-Reggiano. For an after-dinner cheese plate drizzle honey over the apricots and serve with blue cheese.
Cherries
Cherries,photo by Jennifer Meier
Melons
Watermelon photo by Medioimages/Photodisc/Getty Images
Melons aren't the type of fruit most would immediately think to pair with cheese. But a ripe, juicy melon is a tasty contrast to a crumbly cheese. Try Feta with watermelon or Parmigiano-Reggiano with cantaloupe and prosciutto.
