It’s no secret that chocolate pairs exceptionally with blue cheese, but I just never thought to pair such a cheese with Nutella. Unsurprisingly, Italians already swagger several steps ahead of me on that front, as coupling Nutella and Gorgonzola is officially a thing here in Italy. And one of the most popular ways to enjoy Nutella and Gorgonzola is sandwiched inside a panino for a merenda, or afternoon snack.
Once I started thinking about it, the pairing makes sense. Nutella, the classic chocolate hazelnut spread, is inherently nutty plus a bit toasty, two traits that can stand up to an assertive cheese like Gorgonzola. Of the cheese's two varieties, Dolce and Piccante, Piccante is the best to pair with Nutella. Dolce is the soft, mild variety while Piccante is aged longer. It’s earthier and has a hard crumbly texture, powerful flavors, and an “umami factor” that fuses harmoniously with the sweet Nutella.
Sandwich making isn’t as basic as it might seem—it’s an art, so I’m going to tell you exactly how I made mine. My bread was naturally a michetta, the Milanese riff on a kaiser roll. After slicing it in half, I slathered Nutella on the bottom slice. Next, applying my inexpert knife skills, I cut the Gorgonzola into various asymmetrical shapes, then placed the cheese over the entire layer of Nutella, taking extra care not to waste any rogue crumbles that escaped from the cheese slab as I cut.
The thinner the bread, the thinner the cheese slices, just for the sake of a neat sandwich closure. As the michetta’s fluffy inside and crusty outside, the Gorgonzola, which has the hard but spreadable texture of butter, doesn’t pierce through the crumb when closing the sandwich. If using sandwich bread, thinner Gorgonzola slices will work better for said reason.
However, the Gorgonzola and Nutella panino opportunities are endless. Toast the bread, frizzle it in a buttered skillet grilled cheese-style, or go the open-faced sandwich route. You could even deconstruct it into a spread that elevates cheese and crackers to a higher level.
Despite my positive expectations, it still blew me away at first bite. It’s revelatory. Toasty, nutty, creamy, earthy, buttery, sharp, savory, sweet, and rich. So rich in fact that—and I mean this in the best way possible!—it’s easy to limit my intake (unlike salt and vinegar chips or paprika Pringles), which is why it’s my new go-to snack.
The doubtful will be pleasantly surprised. Happy Nutella Day!