Gouda cheese is a delicious Dutch cheese that has been made in the Netherlands for centuries. With its rich, creamy flavor and smooth texture, Gouda is a popular choice for many dishes, including pizza. But does the distinctive taste of Gouda complement the classic flavors of pizza? Let’s take a deeper look at how Gouda cheese pairs with pizza and whether it makes a tasty topping.
What is Gouda cheese?
Gouda is a semi-hard cheese named after the city of Gouda in the Netherlands, where it has been produced since the 12th century. Authentic Gouda is made from cow’s milk and has a mild, sweet, and nutty flavor. Aged Gouda can take on more complex flavors like butterscotch, caramel, or even a slight smokiness. The longer Gouda is aged, generally from 3 months to over a year, the more robust its flavor becomes.
Young Gouda has a softer, creamier texture that becomes firmer and more crumbly as it ages. The cheese can range in color from pale yellow to deep orange depending on factors like the cows’ diet and season when it was produced. Gouda has a waxy rind that helps retain moisture as the cheese ages. Popular varieties of Gouda include smoked Gouda, which has a smoky, bacon-like flavor, and Gouda with cumin seeds or herbs mixed in for a more complex, aromatic taste.
Gouda’s flavor profile
So what gives Gouda its trademark flavor? Like many cheeses, the taste of Gouda comes down to three main factors:
Milk – Gouda is made from cow’s milk, which imparts a sweet, creamy flavor. Milk from grass-fed cows or cows only fed a supplementary grain diet produces the best-tasting Gouda.
Aging – As Gouda ages from 3 months to over a year, enzymes naturally present in the cheese break down proteins and fats. This causes the texture to become drier and crumblier and brings out nutty, caramelized flavors.
Additives – The use of additives like smoked salt or cumin seeds adds extra dimensions to Gouda’s taste. Herbs, spices, and other seasonings complement the natural sweetness of the cheese.
So in summary, Gouda has a mild, sweet, creamy base with potentially nutty, salty, and spicy flavors depending on age, diet, and added seasonings. This makes it a versatile cheese for cooking.
How does Gouda taste on pizza?
Gouda’s smooth, mild flavor and melted-cheese texture seem like perfect attributes for a pizza topping. But how does the taste of Gouda actually pair with classic pizza ingredients?
Here are some key considerations:
Mild flavor – Gouda’s subtle, sweet taste can be easily overpowered by robust pizza ingredients like pepperoni, sausage, or caramelized onions. Aged Gouda with more pronounced flavor holds its own better.
Smoked Gouda – The smoky flavor pairs wonderfully with meat toppings like bacon or ham. It also adds a delightfully smoky element to veggie pizzas.
Melting – Gouda melts smoothly without separating into oil and solids. This creates a creamy, cheese-pull texture when you take a bite of pizza.
Savory flavors – Gouda’s salty, nutty notes complement the savory taste of pizza toppings like mushrooms, peppers, and olives.
Herbed Gouda – The addition of herbs like rosemary, oregano, or Italian seasoning gives Gouda a pizza-friendly flavor profile.
What toppings pair well with Gouda pizza?
To bring out the best qualities of Gouda on pizza, it helps to choose toppings that match or enhance its flavor. Here are some excellent topping combinations for Gouda pizza:
Smoked Gouda, bacon, and caramelized onions – The smoky cheese and bacon play off each other well. Sweet onions add nice texture and flavor balance.
Herbed Gouda with mushrooms and peppers – Savory mushrooms and tangy roasted peppers allow the herbed Gouda to shine.
Four cheese with young Gouda – Blending mild Gouda with mozzarella, Parmesan, and cheddar creates a complex, creamy cheese layer.
Goat cheese and caramelized pear with aged Gouda – The sweetness of pear and tart goat cheese contrast nicely with sharp aged Gouda.
Wild mushroom and truffle oil with smoked Gouda – Umami flavors from mushrooms and truffle oil pair indulgently with smoky, nutty Gouda.
Should Gouda be combined with mozzarella on pizza?
Many pizza traditionalists insist that mozzarella is the only cheese belonging on pizza. But complementing mozzarella with Gouda can add some new exciting flavors. Here’s how the cheeses compare:
Melting ability – Mozzarella has the best meltability due to its high moisture content. Gouda melts smoothly too, but some oily droplets can separate out.
Flavor – Mozzarella has a fresh milky flavor that lets other ingredients shine. Gouda contributes more savory, nutty, buttery notes.
Texture – Mozzarella offers that classic stretchy, stringy texture. Gouda has a creamier, denser bite.
Blending the two cheeses helps balance the textures and flavors. The mozzarella provides the traditional pizza cheese experience with the Gouda adding a more complex, rich element. Aged Gouda with a sharper taste works best so it doesn’t get overwhelmed. Go with a ratio of 2 parts mozzarella to 1 part Gouda for ideal results.
What are the best pizza styles for Gouda?
Certain types of pizza tend to pair better with Gouda based on the crust and ingredients. Here’s a comparison of how Gouda works on different pizza styles:
New York style – The thin, foldable crust and basic toppings like pepperoni and vegetables allow Gouda’s flavor to shine.
Chicago deep dish – Loads of cheese and toppings mean you need an assertively flavored aged Gouda that won’t get lost.
Neapolitan – The soft, chewy crust and fresh mozzarella call for milder Gouda to complement, not overwhelm.
Stuffed crust – The pockets of melted Gouda in the crust add a delicious savory, buttery element.
White pizza – Gouda’s creamy texture and subtle flavor are perfect for veggie white pizzas without tomato sauce.
In general, thinner crust pizzas better highlight Gouda’s flavor, while hearty deep dish styles support boldly flavored aged Gouda.
How to add Gouda as a pizza topping
To get the best results from Gouda as pizza topping, here are some tips on preparation and cooking:
– Shred the cheese – Shred or cut Gouda into small pieces so it melts evenly. Large slabs won’t melt as smoothly.
– Combine with mozzarella – Mixing shredded Gouda with mozzarella creates a more cohesive melted layer.
– Sprinkle on top – Add shredded Gouda on top of other toppings so it melts over them directly.
– Cook thoroughly – Cook the pizza until the Gouda is completely melted and starting to brown or bubble slightly.
– Finish with Parmesan – Adding grated Parmesan on top provides a tasty, salty counterpoint to the Gouda.
– Play with placement – Put Gouda only on parts of the pizza to create a cheesy patchwork.
With the right prep and cooking, Gouda makes a mouthwateringly delicious addition to pizza.
Nutrition of Gouda pizza
Adding a flavorful cheese like Gouda contributes additional protein, calcium, and other nutrients to pizza. Here is a nutrition comparison of cheese and Gouda pizzas:
| Nutrition Facts per Slice | Cheese Pizza | Gouda Pizza |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 285 | 340 |
| Total Fat | 12g | 15g |
| Protein | 15g | 19g |
| Carbohydrates | 33g | 32g |
| Calcium | 25% DV | 32% DV |
While the addition of Gouda does increase the calories, fat, and protein content, it also boosts the percentage of recommended daily calcium. The protein and healthy fats in Gouda provide more nutritional value than just loading on extra mozzarella.
When buying Gouda for pizza, opt for low moisture, part-skimmed varieties to cut back on some of the fat. Using less cheese overall but complementing it with flavor-packed Gouda allows you to get the delicious taste while better controlling the nutrition.
The benefits of using Gouda on pizza
After considering all the elements of how Gouda pairs with classic pizza ingredients and flavors, there are some clear benefits to using it as a pizza topping:
– Unique flavor – Gouda adds a distinctive sweet, nutty, salty dimension you don’t get from just mozzarella.
– Better melting – The smooth, creamy meltability of Gouda nicely complements the stringy texture of mozzarella.
– Nutritional value – Higher protein and calcium levels give Gouda pizza an edge nutrition-wise over mozzarella-only pies.
– Customization – With its diversity of ages, textures, and add-ins like smoked Gouda or herbs, it allows creativity.
While it may be considered a pizza heresy by purists, the right Gouda can take your homemade or restaurant pizza up a notch in terms of both flavor and nutrition!
Potential drawbacks of using Gouda on pizza
However, Gouda isn’t necessarily the perfect pizza topping for all situations. There are a few potential drawbacks:
– Strong flavor – Aged Gouda can overpower other toppings and make the overall flavor profile too intense.
– Textural changes – The denser, fattier texture of Gouda may seem overly oily if you’re used to traditional mozzarella pizza.
– Moisture impact – Too much Gouda can make the pizza dry instead of moist and cheesy.
– Limited styles – Gouda works best on thin or stuffed crust pizzas, not necessarily deep dish or Neapolitan.
– Not traditional – Some pizza lovers may reject it as straying too far from the classic pizza cheese.
The bottom line is Gouda requires the right balance of flavors and textures to successfully enhance pizza without overpowering it. When used judiciously in combination with mozzarella, it can be a tasty addition.
Gouda conclusions
Gouda cheese is no traditional pizza topping. But its salty, nutty, buttery flavors and smooth melting qualities can enhance the flavor and nutrition of your homemade or restaurant pizza – if used properly. The keys are choosing the right Gouda variety, like aged, herbed, or smoked, and pairing it with toppings that complement its taste.
While a sprinkle of sharp Gouda can make for a delicious slice, there’s still a time and place for the basic, familiar flavors of traditional mozzarella pizza. So consider Gouda an option to mix things up for a gourmet pie rather than an outright replacement for tried and true pizza cheese. Your taste buds and your nutrient intake will thank you!
