What Cheese Goes with Tomatoes?
Feta, Mozzarella and Parmigiano Reggiano are cheeses that go well with tomatoes. Salty, tangy Feta contrasts with the tomato's sweetness, savory Parmigiano Reggiano matches its umami flavor, and mild, creamy Mozzarella softens its tartness.
Photo: Softeis, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Top Cheese Pairings for Tomatoes
Other Cheese Pairings for Tomatoes
What cheese goes with tomatoes, and why
Feta
Feta is tangy and salty, and its salt goes well with the sweet side of a tomato's sweet-tart flavor. It is crumbly and slightly grainy, which is a change from the juicy texture of the tomato. Crumble it over sliced tomatoes for a quick salad.
Mozzarella
Mozzarella is mild, milky and creamy, so it softens the tart taste of tomatoes. It is eaten fresh and is the cheese on most pizza, and tomatoes are widely used in pizza sauce. Melt it over a pizza with tomato sauce, or slice fresh Mozzarella and layer it with sliced tomatoes.
Parmigiano Reggiano
Parmigiano Reggiano has a sharp, salty, deeply savory taste and an umami flavor. Tomatoes also have a strong savory umami flavor, so the two flavors match. It is a hard, granular cheese aged 12 to 36 months, so grate it over pasta with tomato sauce or over tomato soup.
Other cheeses to try with tomatoes are Cheddar, Provolone and Young Gouda. Cheddar can be mild or sharp, with a buttery to brothy, savory flavor. Provolone is semi-hard and tangy, and Young Gouda is semi-soft and elastic.
How to serve tomatoes with cheese
- For a salad, slice the tomatoes and add crumbled Feta or sliced fresh Mozzarella.
- For pizza and pasta, melt Mozzarella over tomato sauce or grate Parmigiano Reggiano on top.
- For soup, grate Parmigiano Reggiano over a bowl of tomato soup.
- Feta and Parmigiano Reggiano are both salty, so taste the dish before you add more salt.
Modern tomato varieties were bred to ripen evenly red, and this made them less sweet and less flavorful. With these tomatoes, a sharp, salty cheese such as Feta or Parmigiano Reggiano adds more flavor to the dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cheeses pair well with tomato sauce?
Mozzarella and Parmigiano Reggiano both pair well with tomato sauce. Mozzarella is the cheese on most pizza, and its mild, milky taste softens the tart side of the sauce. Parmigiano Reggiano is hard, salty and savory, and its umami flavor matches the umami taste of tomatoes. Grate it over pasta with tomato sauce.
What cheese is good in a tomato and cheese salad?
Feta and Mozzarella both work well in a tomato and cheese salad. Feta is crumbly, tangy and salty, so crumble it over juicy tomato slices. Fresh Mozzarella is creamy and mild, so slice it and layer it with the tomatoes if you want a softer, milder salad.