Call it the cheese of autumn. Gouda, the classic cheese of the Netherlands, is perfect for crisp autumn days. Old Amsterdam Cheese, a versatile cheese which adapts itself well to all types of food from salads to burgers to great toasted cheese sandwiches or toasties, is a top leader in the Branded Aged Gouda Market in Holland and now in the U.S. That popularity is now translating to the U.S.
. As Americans up their cheese game to full-flavored tastes, Old Amsterdam has just the right line-up.
- Old Amsterdam Aged Gouda known as The Classic, is the #1 Aged Gouda in Holland. The Classic Gouda is aged for a minimum of 8 months creating a perfect balance between sweet and savory. It has rich butterscotch undertones and a dense, smooth texture sparked with fine ripening crystals. This popular and well-loved favorite from Holland has won numerous awards and is loved internationally. It is ideal for cheese platters, recipes, and other pairings such as almonds, jam, fruit chutney, fruits, raisin nut bread, and crackers. The Classic also pairs well with a favorite wine, beer, or cocktail.
- Old Amsterdam Goat Gouda has been voted the #1 Hard Goat’s Milk cheese in the world. The Goat Gouda is aged for a minimum of 8 months and has a very surprisingly and pleasant flavor profile: refreshingly sweet with caramel undertones and a smooth, creamy texture with fine ripening crystals. The sweetness and texture make this great to top on salads, with sandwiches, and in many popular recipes. It pairs well on a platter with hazelnuts, figs, fruits, and your favorite IPA.
With their deep, rich, and nutty flavors, Old Amsterdam pairs perfectly with fall foods such as apples, late harvest grapes, pumpkin, pears, Balsamic vinegar, Spanish paprika, and others.
Old Amsterdam can be purchased through e-commerce at https://shop.norseland.com/old-amsterdam and at such retailers as King’s, Raley’s, ShopRite, Albertsons, Trader Joes, Gelson’s, HEB, Hy-Vee, Lunds & Byerlys, Mariano’s, Pavilions, Safeway, Sprouts.
Old Amsterdam Burger
Cooking time 40 minutes – Serves 4
· 2 red onions
· 2 tablespoons butter
· 2 tablespoons sugar
· 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
· Salt and freshly ground black pepper
· 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
· 2 teaspoons spicy pimentón (Spanish paprika) powder
· 1.6 lbs. minced beef (ask the butcher to coarsely mince beef shoulder, or use a mix of pork and beef meat)
· 2 tablespoons soy sauce
· 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
· 4 tablespoons olive oil
· 8 slices pancetta
· 4 slices Old Amsterdam
· 1 big tomato
· 8 slices of rustic, heavy bread
· 4 lettuce leaves, rinsed
Slice the onion into rings.
Melt the butter and use this to fry the onion rings with the sugar. Caramelize the rings, then add balsamic vinegar and fry for another 5 minutes on low heat. Season with salt and pepper.
Next, mix the mayonnaise and the Spanish paprika. Take the meat from the fridge and let it come to room temperature. Mix the meat with the soy sauce and the Worcestershire sauce and add salt and pepper to taste.
Roll balls of approximately 6 oz. each and flatten these to form burgers. Coat the burgers with olive oil and fry in a frying pan for 4 to 5 minutes on each side until browned. Meanwhile, fry the pancetta in another pan until they are slightly crispy.
Lay pancetta and a slice of Old Amsterdam on top of each burger. Cover with the lid and let the cheese melt for about 30 seconds. Cut the tomato into four thick slices. Spread a thick layer of the spicy mayonnaise on 4 slices of bread. Add a slice of tomato, a burger, and finally a good helping of the caramelized onion rings and top it with another slice of bread each.
Old Amsterdam Rustic Toastie Sandwich
5 minutes – Serves 1
· 8 slices rustic bread
· 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
· 8 slices Old Amsterdam
· 8 slices shoulder ham
· ½ leek
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Place the slices of bread on a bread board and spread a generous layer of mayonnaise over them. Turn four slices over and place cheese and ham on top. Slice the leek into very fine rings and put these on the toasties.
Then place the other slices of bread on top, with the mayonnaise side upwards. Warm a frying pan and fry two toasties until they have nice brown crusts. Flip over and repeat. Do the same with other two toasties, while keeping the first two warm in the preheated oven. Serve with spicy mustard.
Salad with Shaved Old Amsterdam, Radicchio, and Chicken
60 minutes – Serves 4
· 2 chicken thighs
· 5 tablespoons olive oil
· 4 radicchio stalks
· 2 sticks of celery
· 1 tablespoon mustard
· 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
· 1 tablespoon vinegar
· Salt and pepper
· 1 head of curly endive
· A few sprigs of flat parsley
· 2 handfuls of seedless black grapes
· A piece of Old Amsterdam
Season the chicken. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a thick-bottomed pan and fry the drumsticks so they are brown all over. Put the heat down to a low setting, add a splash of water and leave the chicken to cook for 30 minutes (you may need to add more water if the chicken gets dry). Leave it to cool and cut the meat into pieces.
Cut the radicchio stalks lengthways down the middle and remove the core. Then cut them into strips. Remove the strings from the celery sticks and slice them diagonally into thin rings. Make a vinaigrette with the mustard, mayonnaise, vinegar, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Add the rest of the olive oil and beat it into a smooth dressing. In a bowl, mix the radicchio, curly endive and celery and then add the dressing. Divide this between 4 plates, put the chicken and grapes on top, sprinkle with finely chopped parsley and finish with shavings of Old Amsterdam
Old Amsterdam Grazing Board
· Your favorite Old Amsterdam cheeses, cut and sliced as you wish
· Charcuterie (e.g., prosciutto, salami, chorizo), if desired
·Fruits (e.g., berries, oranges, grapes)
· Vegetables (e.g., carrots, celery, radishes, cherry tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, endive leaves)
· Nuts (e.g., almonds, cashews, pecans, pistachios, hazelnuts)
· Crackers, breads, and/or crunchies (e.g., popcorn, baked chickpeas, pretzels)
· Condiments (e.g., specialty mustards, honey, jams, preserves)
Arrange your grazing platter by spreading items around grazing board and enjoy
