What to pair with pumpernickel?

February 27, 2016 3:10 PM

My son grabbed some pumpernickel rolls last night. To my surprise, they went over really well with me and him both. But the cheese stick I ate with it was a pretty meh combo. So, what else should I try instead?

Thanks!

posted by Michele in California to Food & Drink (26 answers total)

Best answer: One of my favorite things in the world is pumpernickel with any of the following on it:
-Cottage cheese and black cracked pepper
-Braunschweiger, brown mustard, and maybe some chopped onions
-Cream cheese
posted by Tchad at 3:17 PM on February 27, 2016 [4 favorites]

Best answer: Cream cheese and pepperoni is a sandwich combo of mine (on any bread) that might hit the spot!
posted by rubster at 3:19 PM on February 27, 2016

Best answer: Sharp cheddar would work, if you are thinking cheese, or Swiss, with some grainy mustard.

My mother usually paired pumpernickel with something on the strong side, like liverwurst and onions, or corned beef, pastrami, or some kind of hard salami slices, or salmon and cream cheese.
posted by gudrun at 3:37 PM on February 27, 2016 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Gudrun's mother is right...pair it with stuff on the strong side. Swiss is great with pumpernickel. A good grainy mustard. It's also a good bread to have with a hearty stew or soup.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:04 PM on February 27, 2016

Best answer: Peanut butter is surprisingly excellent.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 4:04 PM on February 27, 2016

Split roll.
Smear cut sides with strong mustard.
Place a small hummock of drained sauerkraut on each.
Thinly slice tomato and place on top of kraut.
Cover tomato with 1-2 slices cheese -- I like emmental Swiss, jarlsberg, leerdammer, raclette or morbier.
Run under broiler until kraut is warm and cheese is bubbling.
posted by apparently at 4:09 PM on February 27, 2016 [8 favorites]

Cream cheese and bacon
Egg salad
posted by Room 641-A at 4:24 PM on February 27, 2016

Best answer: Spread the rolls generously with butter. Top with thinly sliced cucumber. Salt and Pepper to taste.

Also try thinly sliced ham, swiss, and spicy mustard. Maybe stuck under the broiler for a couple of minutes to melt the cheese.
posted by katyggls at 5:23 PM on February 27, 2016

Best answer: I love me a turkey and cranberry sandwich on pumpernickel. If you can find that cranberry mustard even better. Turkey must be the good stuff, actual roasted turkey slices. Some slightly bitter greens like arugula or kale give good crunch and balance the sweetness of the cranberry.

All sorts of slightly sour jams go great with pumpernickel toast. Apricot is my favorite, but orange marmalade is good in a pinch. If you have access to it, guava preserves with cream cheese on pumpernickel toast is a gift from the planet to your mouth.

Slice a cucumber thinly. Toss with salt and let it sit in a strainer in a larger bowl for half an hour or so. Drain and pat the slightly wilted cucumber slices fairly dry, and mix gently with fresh dill, black pepper, and a dollop of sour cream or unsweetened greek yogurt. Add salt to taste (but it won't need much since the cucumber was already salted.) Eat with generously buttered pumpernickel bread and good strong cheese.
posted by Mizu at 5:28 PM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Butter, finely sliced radishes and a sprinkle of salt, served open-faced.
posted by Sweetchrysanthemum at 5:42 PM on February 27, 2016 [4 favorites]

Cream cheese, lox, cucumber
posted by vunder at 5:59 PM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Tuna fish and alfalfa sprouts.

Don't knock it till you've tried it!
posted by St. Peepsburg at 5:59 PM on February 27, 2016

Get yourself a bowl of spinach dip and have a tear-and-share for one.

I had an aunt who used serve this every year on her annual Boxing Day family get together. I couldn't get enough!
posted by bkpiano at 6:58 PM on February 27, 2016

Best answer: Kielbasa or bratwurst, pan fried til almost crispy, with mustard and kraut. Whatever you do, toast the bread!
posted by STFUDonnie at 8:21 PM on February 27, 2016

Burger with aged swiss on pumpernickel is divine.
posted by quince at 9:19 PM on February 27, 2016

Best answer: Yup, this German girl used to have pumpernickel with cream cheese when she was younger. Some of my family members would eat it with leberwurst as well.
posted by LoonyLovegood at 12:32 AM on February 28, 2016

1. Wait till fresh tomatoes are in season. Slice up a bunch, spread some really good mayo (Duke's or similar) on the bread, pile the tomatoes on, and add salt and pepper.

2. Pimento cheese sandwich.
posted by sallybrown at 5:52 AM on February 28, 2016

Best answer: Laughing Cow cheese, slices radishes, and black pepper. Best on toasted, dense pumpernickel. Also excellent on Finn Crisp Original crispbreads, which are also made with rye.
posted by Frenchy67 at 8:58 AM on February 28, 2016

Response by poster: These all sound fantastic. I would mark them all "best" but I have some food intolerances. So, marking the ones that sound actually useful to me.

Thanks!
posted by Michele in California at 12:11 PM on February 28, 2016

Best answer: Oh a cheese that goes well with with pumpernickle is Tilsit (my favorite, but hard to find) but Havarti is a good substitute. I'd add a light schmear of Dijon.
posted by Room 641-A at 3:20 PM on February 28, 2016

Best answer: Nutella. Seriously.
posted by runincircles at 4:00 PM on February 28, 2016

Best answer: A garlic creamy cheese spread (usually Alouette or Rondele), sliced cucumber, and a little paprika (I like smoked paprika but it can be a little strong so be careful if you use it; regular paprika doesn't take as much care).
posted by dlugoczaj at 7:51 AM on February 29, 2016

Cream cheese and sardines with capers.
posted by Puddle Jumper at 9:00 PM on February 29, 2016

Butter or a schmear of cream cheese and then Marmite. I suppose you could add cucumber on top as well, but there's something to be said about committing to dark, strong, salty.
posted by holgate at 10:03 PM on February 29, 2016 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I am a slacker and have yet try any of these awesome suggestions. I look forward to either nutella or sharp cheese as the most likely thing I try first.

I'm a huge nutella fan anyway!
posted by Michele in California at 12:22 PM on March 29, 2016

Oh, I forgot the other thing I love to do with pumpernickel. If you can get the original Branston Pickle where you live (we have it in our huge supermarkets, with the imported foods), Branston Pickle and super-sharp Cheddar are wonderful in a pumpernickel sandwich. I usually toast the pumpernickel very slightly so it has a little crispness but is still mostly soft; I've found that texture works best.
posted by dlugoczaj at 11:38 AM on March 31, 2016