7 Cheesy Ways To Enjoy Irish Cheddar

The modern-day Irish artisanal cheese movement, launched by Veronica and Norman Steele at their Milleens farm in West Cork in the 1970s, today yields scores of first-rate farmhouse cheeses in many styles, Cheddar among them. Because they come from small producers, though, not many of these cheeses are exported to America and those that are can be hard to find. Luckily, Kerrygold, the brand under which the Irish Dairy Board markets butter and cheese, produces several varieties of very good Irish Cheddar that is found (as is their luxurious butter) in supermarkets all over America.  For sources of Kerrygold products near you, check out their USA site here. 

The big secret of Irish cheesemaking is the grass the cows feed on. As the celebrated Irish cookbook author and cooking school proprietor Darina Allen puts it, "In Ireland we can grow grass like nowhere else in the world so we have fantastic butter, lovely cream, and of course cheese. Butter is the fat of the land. Our animals are grass-fed. Grass fed gives more flavor and more complex nutrients. This is what we are. Dairy products come from this beautiful, lush green grass."

Our Swat Team worked with two Kerrygold varieties, Aged Cheddar, a rich and creamy medium-sharp cheese with a firm, smooth body, and Reserve Cheddar, a more authoritative version, aged a year longer, but still rich and creamy. 

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Cornbread is a Southern staple, but by adding bacon and Cheddar, it is sure to please any crowd...

— Ali Rosen

Strawberry, Cheddar, and Chive Spring Salad

Sweet strawberries pair wonderfully with the sharpness of the Cheddar.. 

— Yasmin Fahr

Irish Pizza

There's really no such thing as Irish pizza, of course — not in any traditional sense, at least... 

— Colman Andrews

Juicy Lucy Hamburger

Growing up, my mom always made us cheeseburgers with cheese stuffed inside the burger...

— Maryse Chevriere

Buffalo Mac n' Cheese

Three cheeses and a kick of spice make this comfort favorite a whole new story... 

— Francesca Borgognone

Irish Cheddar-Apple Scones

These scones are the perfect morning indulgence — they're cheesy, buttery... 

— Carly Goldsmith

Cheddar Frico with Bruschetta

Have you ever ordered a salad or soup at a fancy restaurant that came to the table garnished with a paper-thin cracker made of cheese?

— Molly Aronica