What Is Gruyere cheese and How Can I Use It?

Gruyere cheese is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 98 recipes to get you started.

What is gruyere cheese?

Gruyère cheese  is a hard yellow cheese made from cow's milk.

Gruyère is sweet but slightly salty, with a flavor that varies widely with age. It is often described as creamy and nutty when young, becoming with age more assertive, earthy, and complex.

When fully aged (five months to a year) it tends to have small holes and cracks which impart a slightly grainy mouthfeel. To make an 80 kg (176 lb.) round of Gruyère cheese, about 8000 litres (2110 gallons) of milk are used.

Uses

Gruyère is generally known as one of the finest cheeses for baking, having a distinctive but not overpowering taste. In quiche, Gruyère adds savouriness without overshadowing the other ingredients.

It is a very good melting cheese, particularly suited for fondues, along with Vacherin and Emmental.

It is also traditionally used in French onion soup, as well as in croque monsieur, a classic French toasted ham and cheese sandwich. Gruyère is also used in chicken and veal cordon bleu.

It is a fine table cheese, and when grated, it is often used with salads and pastas. It is used, grated, atop le tourin, a type of garlic soup from France which is served on dried bread. White wines, such as riesling, pair well with Gruyère. Sparkling apple cider and Bock beer are also beverage affinities.

Nutrition

Where found

Gruyere cheese is usually found in the cheeses section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Gruyere cheese is a member of the Dairy and Egg Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does gruyere cheese weigh?

Related

Dairy and Egg Products

Recipes using gruyere cheese

There are 98 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Gruyère Whole Wheat Biscuits with Herbs

Gruyere whole wheat biscuits, flaky buttermilk biscuits laced with nutty Gruyere, fresh thyme, and marjoram. Cold butter and whole wheat pastry flour give them tender, savory layers with a wholesome edge.

Carrot-Leek Soup with Thyme

This creamy, smooth, flavorful carrot and leek soup is perfect when carrots are at their peak. The soup is easy to make and perfect for a light lunch or dinner. Garnished with fresh thyme leaves for an extra touch of flavor and sophistication.

French Onion Grilled Cheese

A grilled cheese that is reminiscent of French Onion soup.

Cheese Salami Croissants

Flavourful salami and cheese wrapped in a warm buttery croissant. A quick and easy snack or light lunch.

Asparagus & Mushroom Tarts

Asparagus, mushrooms and a bit of cheese baked on a delicate puff pastry base. Store bought puff pastry saves time while impressing your guests.

Asparagus & Gruyere Pie

Cheesy and delicious. The whole wheat crust is so flakey and tasty, the filling is made with sauteed onions, asparagus and gruyere cheese, packed with yumminess. It's great for an appetizer, or a vegetarian main course.

Arugula Salad with Garlic Croutons, Gruyere & Eggs

Great salad, looks elegant but is reasonably easy to put together. Loved the combination of textures, crunchy croutons, slightly spicy rocket (arugula) and perfectly dressed with just a bit of tang from the dressing.

Grilled Portobello & Arugula Salad with Gruyere

Grilled portobello mushrooms are juicy, tender and flavorful, it's a delicious ingredient that can be used to make a salad, with the slightly bitter peppery arugula, and mild gruyere cheese, a tasty, quick and easy salad ready to enjoy!

Cheesy Mushrooms on Crispy Toast

Sauteed mushrooms are placed on toast, then topped with cheese that's melting away by the heat from the tasty warm mushrooms. A quick, easy, and tasty breakfast, no wonder it's one of the British home cooks' favorite.

Caramelized Onions, Prosciutto & Potato Casserole

Caramelized onions and prosciutto bring the whole potato casserole dish to a higher level, and the flavor is rich and delicious. Serve it at your Thanksgiving dinner with your favorite main course.

Baked Polenta with Italian Sausage, Mushrooms & Three Cheeses

Creamy polenta loaded with Italian sausage, mushrooms, red pepper, ricotta, Gruyere, and Parmesan, set in a pie plate and baked into golden wedges. A make-ahead Italian showpiece.

Spinach-Cheese Puffs

Light fluffy and cheesy. A great party in "la bouche" (the mouth). Can be made ahead and popped in the oven when you're ready to bake them up fresh. The probability is that each person will have no problem consuming 4 per serving!

Osso Buco Chicken Thighs

Rich in flavor - low in cost. Money saving chicken thighs replace the expensive traditional veal in this rendition of an Italian classic.

Caramelized Onion, Mixed Mushroom & Gruyere Pie

Savory vegetarian pie with caramelized onions, mixed mushrooms, and Gruyere in a rustic oat-flour crust. A lighter quiche-style main dish with an earthy, nutty depth of flavor.

Spinach, Mushroom & Vegetable Bread Pudding

A great way to use up day old bread. A savory version of bread pudding with spinach and mushrooms that's cheesy delicious.

French Onion Soup : Au Pied De Cochon Re

French onion soup from Paris brasserie Au Pied de Cochon. Slowly caramelized onions, dry wine, chicken broth, and toasted baguettes under bubbling Gruyère.

French Onion Soup - Low Fat

Enjoy the decadence of this rich classic lightened up. This simple and easy French onion soup lets you enjoy without the guilt. Use any leftover bread you might have, it's extra filling using some toasty whole-wheat grain filled bread and it gives a nutritional boost.

Creamy Rich Fettuccine Alfredo

This is an easy and delicious dish to serve to guests that is easily scale-able. Pair it with a tossed salad and some garlic bread and it makes a quick, easy and elegant meal.

Cheesy Potato, Leek & Mushroom Gratin

A delicious combination of leeks, mushrooms and potatoes topped with cheese and baked until crusty on top yet creamy underneath.

Three Cheese Crockpot Macaroni & Cheese

Easy three cheese macaroni and cheese for your slow cooker.

Cheesy Spaghetti Squash Gratin with Fresh Basil

A spaghetti squash casserole cooked with Gryuere (or swiss) cheese and fresh basil until the parmesan cheese is browned and the casserole is bubbling. Unbelievably low-fat, low-carb delicious goodness.

Seafood Pancakes

Rich and delicious. We used swiss instead of Gruyere and let out the monk fish using extra scallops. Loved the sauce, thick, creamy and rich with a subtle garlic flavor throughout. The creamy sauce enveloped the seafood stuffed crepes and then we topped them with some leftover sauce and a sprinkled on some parsley for color. Delicious, decadent breakfast. Fairly easy to make too.

Golden Onion Quiche

Golden onion quiche built on a full pound of slow-caramelized onions and sharp Gruyere, suspended in a heavy-cream custard. French bistro flavor, deeply savory, and worth every minute of stirring.

Soupe a L'Oignon Au Fromage

Classic French onion soup with caramelized onions simmered in rich beef broth, topped with crusty bread and bubbly melted Gruyere broiled to golden-brown. The bistro favorite, made at home.

Swiss Flan

A savory Swiss onion and Gruyère tart in a quick Bisquick crust. Buttery golden onions and nutty melted cheese baked into a simple egg custard. Serve it as an appetizer or a light meal.

All 98 recipes