What to Serve with Port? 10 BEST Side Dishes

Port is a Portuguese fortified wine popular worldwide.

It comes from the Douro Valley in Northern Portugal.

There are different types of Port, including White, Ruby, LBV, Vintage, Tawny and Colheita.

Also called Port wine, it's a versatile beverage and can pair well with different foods.

However, some foods are better with one type of Port wine while others taste good with another variety of wine.

Today, we'll list ten dishes that go with Port and mention which type makes the best pairing with a particular food.

Foods That Pair Well with Port

You can serve the following with Port when you don't have ideas.

1 - Nut Platter

Save for Later!

Nuts and Port make a perfect match and it's enjoyable to have them together - pair with a cheese platter side ideas for pairing for more variety.

A nut platter will be ideal if you're looking for a simple but tasty side dish.

Nuts match with LBV, Colheita and Vintage varieties but you can have them with Tawny and Ruby Port too.

Nuts come in various shapes, sizes and flavors so you can serve different types.

Some people prefer toasted while others like raw.

So, you can serve both versions and let your guests choose what they like.

They're crunchy, filling and nutritious so you can enjoy the taste and absorb the nutrients.

Almonds, cashews, pecans, peanuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts and pistachios all taste good, so you can choose from these.

2 - Tiramisu

Save for Later!

You must add a sweet dish with Port because they make an ideal pair - consider tiramisu side suggestions for pairing to complement the wine.

You'll feel pleased and it will satisfy your craving for something sweet.

Tiramisu is a flavorsome dessert that pairs nicely with Tawny Port.

It's an Italian dessert with sponge soaked in coffee and Marsala containing mascarpone cheese and cocoa.

Over the years, variants have also come up, but making the original version will be nice.

Making the dessert isn't tricky, but you must follow the proper steps for the best results.

If you have trouble making the dessert, you can order from where they sell it.

3 - Potato Chips

Save for Later!

The difference between potato chips and French fries is the shape and size.

The former is thin and round, while the latter is long but can be thin or slightly thick.

However, both are delicious and popular.

Potato chips or crisps are also a regular feature with Port - serve along with potato skins side ideas for gatherings for a crowd-pleasing combo.

They're easy to make so it will be nice to add them to your menu.

Potatoes, oil and salt are all you need to make chips.

But while making crisps is easy, you'll have to use the right potato variety.

Starchy types like Idaho or Russet and Katahdin are best for chips but you can also use all-purpose spuds like Yukon gold.

4 - Smoked Salmon

Save for Later!

Seafood also makes a suitable pairing with Port and salmon is one of them.

It's a delicate fish that cooks fast so you can make a big batch at a time.

However, smoked salmon tastes better with dry white Port so you can serve it with this wine variety.

Salmon is a naturally tasty fish so it isn't necessary to add a lot of seasonings or other ingredients.

Along with the fish fillets, salt, black pepper and a fresh herb are sufficient to make the fish awesome.

Any salmon type will work for the dish as there are several species.

However, the price differs from one to the other.

For example, King salmon is the most expensive while chum and pink salmon are cheapest.

Sockeye, coho and Atlantic salmon are neither too costly nor too cheap.

If a smoky protein is preferred, try smoked turkey breast side dishes to try for alternatives that match similar flavors.

5 - Oysters

Save for Later!

You must add one more seafood dish to your menu to make it more interesting.

Oysters also make a lovely pairing with Port of the white variety - consider fried oysters side pairings when serving cooked bivalves.

You can serve raw or cooked oysters depending on what is suitable for the occasion.

Grilled oysters with cheese and lemon juice and topped with melted garlic butter taste excellent.

Use unsalted butter since you have mozzarella and parmesan cheese which are both salty.

Oysters however smell bad when they decay so you should be careful when buying them if you want to serve raw.

Fresh ones must be full of clear ocean water and have a neutral mineral smell.

6 - Cheese Platter

Save for Later!

Cheese is another item that you can pair with Port wine.

The flavor of the cheese contrasts with Port but they taste fantastic together.

Blue and goat cheese are the common varieties served with Port.

However, you can also serve aged gouda, cheddar, parmesan, Romano and gruyere with Port.

You can serve the cheese with any Port wine because all of them taste good with the beverage.

The acidity of the Port balances the rich creamy nature of the cheese so the combo tastes lovely.

For a warm cheese option, add cauliflower cheese side pairings that bring creamy, oven-baked flavors to the table.

7 - Light Chocolate Cake/Chocolate Cake

Save for Later!

When serving Port, you must definitely have one more dessert and what can be better than light chocolate cake? It's one of the tastiest cakes and also a favorite with most people - pair with chocolate cake side ideas for pairing for the best match.

It's also easy to bake chocolate cake because all the ingredients are readily available.

But baking a cake can be intimidating for some individuals.

If you find it difficult to make a cake, you can order with specific instructions.

Light chocolate pairs best with LBV Port but you can try it with other varieties too because everyone has a different preference.

8 - Cherry Desserts

Save for Later!

Fruit desserts taste absolutely delicious with Port so it'll be nice to add one to the list.

While you have many choices of fruits to make a dessert, cherry desserts pair well with Port.

You can make a variety of desserts with cherries so the choice is endless - also try cherry salsa side pairings for contrast to add a bright, fruity element.

The sweet and slightly sour dishes will go with the Port nicely and make you enjoy the combo.

Cherry ice cream, fresh cherry cobbler, cherry pie, cherry bars, cherry dump cake and cherry cupcakes are some desserts you can make.

If a recipe asks for fresh cherries, check carefully when buying.

For example, choose fruits with firm and glossy skin.

9 - Dried Fruits

Save for Later!

Dried fruits are also suitable to pair with Tawny, Colheita and Ruby Port but also try them with other Ports.

If you don't want to make a charcuterie board, serve the dried fruits separately alongside nuts and cheeses.

Dried fruits are also convenient because you can choose various fruits to serve including prunes, raisins, figs, cranberries, apricots, currants and sultanas.

You can also try out other dried fruits such as dates, peaches, apples and pears.

Sometimes you may not have your favorite fruits so if you try out all, you'll know which ones to buy the next time.

10 - Chocolate/Dark Chocolate

Save for Later!

Along with cheese, chocolate or dark chocolate is the best pairing with Port.

Chocolate is everyone's favorite and it pairs with any Port so you can serve it with any type of Port.

Chocolate or dark chocolate is available everywhere, and you can find many top brands at the stores.

So, you can get your favorite varieties and serve them with Port.

Buy chocolates with square patterns so you can break them into neat pieces since it isn't practical to serve whole chocolates.

If not, you can buy bite-sized chocolates.

Cheese boards can be built to match Port selections. cheese platter side ideas for pairing shows complementary cheeses and accompaniments. For dessert-focused pairings, chocolate cake side ideas for pairing lists sweet additions that work well with Port.