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5 Unconventional Chocolate Pairings That Steve Hodge Loves

From sweet and delicate white chocolate to rich, indulgent dark chocolate and everything in between, it’s no secret that chocolate is incredible on its own. But this sweet favourite also makes for the perfect flavour pairing in dishes of all kinds: savoury, sweet or spicy. Just when you think you’ve been around the block and tried all the possible complementary cocoa combinations, a new trend that’s as surprising as it is delicious comes out. Steve Hodge shares five new chocolate pairings that will shock you with how much they just work.

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Steve Hodge on the set of Great Chocolate Showdown

Related: Chocolate Pairings: 10 Unexpected Flavours That Are a Perfect Match

Parmesan Cheese and Chocolate

Chocolate and cheese are both beloved flavours, so why not try them together? The saltiness and texture of the cheese and the bitterness of the chocolate are an amazing combo. Bonus: if the chocolate is in temper, it adds a satisfying crunch.

Matcha Tea Powder and Chocolate

The bitterness and earthiness of the matcha work well with semi-sweet chocolate. The flavours of the chocolate and tea complement each other — and that little added sweetness from the chocolate balances out the matcha well.

Contemporary chocolate mini mousse cakes with matcha green tea cream insert and mango jam, covered with chocolate velvet spray and chocolate gourmet glaze, decorated with whipped chocolate ganache, on a texture background.
Credit: Getty Images

Related: Expert Chocolate Techniques to Master Now

Crickets and Chocolate

This pairing is all about texture and earthiness. Crickets will pair best with semi-sweet chocolate — and if you don’t tell anyone what it is, they’ll say, “I know that flavour…”.

See More: Tasty Food Trends We’ll Be Devouring in 2021

Salt and Vinegar Chips and Chocolate

It’s no secret that salt and chocolate work very well together, but the added acidity and tang from the salt and vinegar chips gives the chocolate pop, plus the crunch adds the perfect texture.

The Pioneer Woman recipe for chocolate-covered ruffled potato chips

Get the recipe for Chocolate-Covered Potato Chips

Beef Jerky and Chocolate

You’ve heard of a chocolate mole sauce, but this pairing takes savoury chocolate to the next level. The sweet and salty flavours work surprisingly well together and the texture is similar to fruit leather, enrobed in chocolatey goodness.

Watch Great Chocolate Showdown Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Watch and stream all your favourite Food Network Canada shows through STACKTV with Amazon Prime Video Channels, or with the new Global TV app, live and on-demand when you sign-in with your cable subscription.