Sometimes I am surprised with how much I like simple food combinations. For instance, cucumbers and aged cheddar cheese are one of my favorite snacks. The crisp, juicy cucumbers are a great foil for the salty, rich cheese. The simplicity of the ingredients belies the complexity of the bite.
I discovered cucumbers and cream cheese with siracha (also a very good combination) as a college senior and have tried numerous different cheeses and cucumbers. There are many good options, but my favorite is the thin-skinned Persian cucumber with a nice sharp cheddar. The Wisconsin Extra-sharp Cheddar and Unexpected Cheddar available at Trader Joe’s are great options.
Cucumbers and cheddar, or whatever cheese you decide to try, are a great addition to cheese plates and picnics. One hardly misses crackers with the crunchy cucumbers to accompany the cheese, which is great news for gluten-free or carb-conscious diners. Remember, if you are serving people who cannot eat gluten, keep the crackers well away from the cheese.
