Fine Cheese Co. Chilli and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Crackers

Description

Fine Cheese Co. Chilli & Extra Virgin Olive Oil Crackers

A Little Warmth, Not a Fire Alarm

Don’t be put off by the word chilli. These aren’t crackers designed to blow your head off.

Fine Cheese Co. Chilli & Extra Virgin Olive Oil Crackers are crisp and savoury, with a gentle chilli warmth that builds rather than hits you all at once. There’s a little tomato in there too, adding some savoury sweetness, while the olive oil gives them richness and a lovely crisp texture.

They’re certainly more interesting than a completely neutral cracker, but the chilli is restrained enough that you can still taste the cheese.

Which, around here, is rather important.

What Cheese Goes with Chilli Crackers?

I tend to pair these with cheeses that have enough character to sit alongside that gentle warmth.

• Mature Cheddar – Keen’s Extra Mature Cheddar is a great match. There’s plenty of flavour in the cheese to stand up to the chilli, without either one taking over.
• Crumbly cheese – Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire gives you a lovely contrast: fresh, milky, crumbly cheese followed by that little bit of chilli warmth.
• Washed-rind cheese – Try them with Highmoor. Rich, savoury cheese and a little chilli can be a very good combination indeed.

You can take the chilli theme further with a spoonful of chilli jam or some roasted red peppers. Or you can leave well alone and just add cheese. Both are perfectly acceptable.

Jen’s note: I’m always slightly suspicious when something says chilli on the packet — I want to be able to taste what I’m eating rather than spend the next five minutes looking for a glass of water. These get the balance right. There’s enough warmth to make things interesting, but your cheese still tastes like cheese.

Buying Chilli & Extra Virgin Olive Oil Crackers

• £3.45

Ingredients (Allergens are listed in capitals)

WHEAT flour, extra virgin olive oil (11%), autolysed yeast, tomato powder, sea salt, dried crushed chillies (1%), raising agent: sodium bicarbonate, tomato flakes

May contain traces of NUTS

Weight: 125g