There are a wide variety of interesting condiments that you can use with snack dishes. One of the most fascinating options is pepper jelly, a fantastic blend of sweetness and spice. Although there are plenty of amazing pepper jelly recipes out there to make, sometimes you just want to have a delicious snack with pepper jelly slathered on top. So if you’re looking for a quick meal to pair with a pepper jelly topping, what foods should you look towards? Here are some of the best foods to pair with pepper jelly.
Cheese
One of the most classic pairings with pepper jelly is cheese. Pepper jelly can work perfectly as a spread or dip for cheese, really enhancing the dairy product’s flavor profile. Pepper jelly’s sweet, sour, and spicy flavor profile can work wonders with just about any type of cheese, and there are no major imbalances of texture between the two foods that would cause any problems. Pairing cheese, crackers, and pepper jelly all together can be a fantastic snack food or appetizer that can be served at just about any party or event. If you’re looking for something quick and delicious to whip up, then you should definitely consider pairing cheese and pepper jelly.
Bagels
Another fantastic food pairing for pepper jelly is bagels. Bagels are a common breakfast option and are usually toasted and served with a topping like cream cheese or regular jelly. However, spreading pepper jelly on top of your bagel can be a fantastic way to add a little kick to your breakfast. Pepper jelly still serves as a soft foil to the hard texture of a toasted bagel. In addition, pepper jelly provides much of the same flavor profiles as other spreads you would use on bagels, just with some extra flavors to jumpstart your day. If you’re looking for a unique way to begin your day, try spreading pepper jelly on foods like bagels.
Sandwiches
Jelly has always been a classic addition to sandwiches, and pepper jelly is no different at all. With pepper jelly, you can take many of your favorite classic sandwiches and add a little spice to them. For example, upgrading the classic PB&J by using pepper jelly can be the perfect way to give it a little kick and put a new spin on an old classic. However, there also are plenty of other sandwiches that pepper jelly can star in as well. For example, pepper jelly can go wondrously with a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, and the spread can pair well with turkey as well. Sandwiches aren’t always the most exciting food option, but that can change with the use of pepper jelly.
Meats
As mentioned before, pepper jelly can really shine in various ham and turkey sandwiches. However, meat and pepper jelly don’t need to be in a sandwich to be an effective pairing. Pepper jelly can be made into a fantastic glaze for a wide variety of meats, creating a wondrous fusion of flavors. Common pairings include pork chops and ham, two dishes that can absolutely be elevated by the presence of a delicious pepper jelly glaze. Creating a glaze usually involves mixing the pepper jelly with several ingredients or even cooking it for a little while, making this use of the product one of the more advanced entries on the list. However, once you taste how great a well made pepper jelly glaze can be, you’ll surely realize it’s well worth the effort.
