What Cheese Goes with Tuna?
Cheddar, Mozzarella and Swiss are three cheeses that go well with tuna. Tuna has a mild, clean flavor, so savory Cheddar, milky Mozzarella and nutty, slightly sweet Swiss each add taste without covering the flavor of the fish.
Photo: NOAA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Top Cheese Pairings for Tuna
Other Cheese Pairings for Tuna
What cheese goes with tuna, and why
Tuna has firm, meaty flesh and a mild, clean flavor. A cheese with more flavor gives the fish a stronger taste. A creamy cheese adds a soft texture next to the firm meat.
Cheddar
Cheddar is a hard, crumbly cow's milk cheese from England. Its flavor ranges from mild to sharp, and from buttery to savory.
That savory taste gives mild tuna more flavor. Pick a sharp Cheddar if you want the cheese to stand out.
Try it grated over a tuna sandwich, or melt it on top to make a tuna melt.
Mozzarella
Mozzarella is a semi-soft, creamy cheese from Italy with a mild, milky flavor. It is eaten fresh, not aged.
Both the cheese and the fish are mild, so neither one covers the taste of the other. The creamy cheese also adds a soft texture next to the firm, meaty tuna.
Try slices in a tuna sandwich, or melt it over a tuna casserole.
Swiss
Swiss is a semi-hard cow's milk cheese made in the style of Emmental. It has a mild, nutty and slightly sweet flavor.
The nutty, sweet taste adds a second flavor next to the clean taste of tuna. Because Swiss is mild, it does not overpower the fish.
Try a slice on a tuna burger, or use it as the melted cheese in a tuna melt.
Other cheeses to try with tuna
Feta is a soft cheese with a flavor that ranges from sharp to mild. Provolone is semi-hard, and its tangy taste adds flavor to mild tuna.
Young Gouda is a semi-soft, elastic cheese that you can also try.
How to serve tuna with cheese
- For a tuna melt, mix tuna with mayonnaise, spread it on bread and melt Cheddar or Swiss on top.
- For a tuna sandwich, add a slice of Cheddar, Swiss or Mozzarella.
- For a tuna salad, stir in small pieces of Mozzarella or Feta.
- For a tuna casserole, melt Mozzarella or Cheddar over the top before serving.
- For a tuna burger, put a slice of Swiss or Provolone on the burger in its bun.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does cheese go with tuna?
Yes. Tuna has a mild, clean flavor and firm, meaty flesh, so it works with many cheeses. Cheddar adds a savory taste, Mozzarella a creamy, milky one, and Swiss a nutty, slightly sweet one. A tuna melt, for example, is tuna mixed with mayonnaise on bread with cheese melted on top.
What cheese goes well with a tuna sandwich?
Cheddar, Swiss and Mozzarella all go well with a tuna sandwich. Choose Cheddar for a savory taste that can be mild or sharp, Swiss for a nutty, slightly sweet taste, or Mozzarella for a creamy, milky one. Use a cold slice, or melt the cheese on top to make a tuna melt.
What cheese goes best with tuna salad?
Mozzarella and Feta both go well in tuna salad. Mozzarella is creamy and mild, so it adds a soft texture without covering the mild flavor of the tuna. Feta is soft, and its flavor can be sharp or mild, so a sharp one gives the salad more taste. Stir small pieces of either into the salad.
Is tuna good with feta cheese?
Yes, Feta goes well with tuna. Feta is a soft cheese with a flavor that ranges from sharp to mild. A sharp Feta gives mild, clean tuna a stronger taste, and a mild Feta adds less flavor. Try mixing pieces of Feta into a tuna salad, or add some to a tuna sandwich.