Warm, oozy, crisp, salty, gooey, stringy, soft, creamy, buttery, stretchy... oh, don't mind us. We're just having a moment to reflect on all the reasons why melted cheese is so addictive. Put a cheesy topping on any food and you instantly make it 10 times more exciting and 100 times tastier.
How sad moussaka would be without its cheesy top. Or lasagne, or gratin or - don't even think about it - pizza.
Let's take another moment to enjoy all the times the world has injected some cheesy magic into favourite dishes. If this list doesn't put you into a cheese coma, you're not feasting your eyes enough.
The rise and rise of cheese. Source: Alan Benson
You didn't hear it here, but without the cheese is really just watery onion. Shhh... This syrup-soaked cheese dessert is usually made with kataifi pastry, but this recipe ingeniously uses a crushed corn flakes and semolina mixture instead. Source: Chris Chen
Who needs tomato and basil when you've got a plate full of cheese, cream and onion? Source: Anson Smart
Everyone needs a go-to lasagne recipe. Source: Alan Benson
Cook your parmi low and slow to melt eggplant into cheese and vice versa. Source: SBS Food
Remember: making your own pizza dough base is 100 percent worth it. Source: Adam Liaw
Molten cheese lava. Source: Alan Benson
There's a ton of chilli flakes and gochujang heating up every cheesy mouthful. Source: Billy Law
The Japanese aren't generally big on cheese dishes, but they make a huge exception for doria. Source: Adam Liaw
Crunchy outside, oozy inside. Source: Peter Kuruvita's Coastal Kitchen
This is Adam Liaw's vegetarian take on nachos using refried beans instead of meat. Source: Adam Liaw
One of the supreme favourite Mexican dishes said to have been created by nuns in the city of Puebla in the 16th century. Source: Sharyn Cairns
This recipe tries to put a healthy spin on a traditional mac 'n' cheese but fortunately fails miserably. Source: China Squirrel
The original 18th-century name of this dish was the jocular "Welsh rabbit", which was later reinterpreted as "rarebit" to make the dish sound a bit classier. Source: Alan Benson
This recipe packs in four heads of chicory, so it's surprisingly nutritious. Source: Royal Gardens on a Plate
Moussaka is a dish that needs time and patience to make, so is normally reserved for close friends and loved ones. Source: Poh & Co. 2
On SBS Food we have almost as many recipes for moussaka as we have for lasagne. Start your journey here:
Haloumi is also excellent for roasting as it has a high melting point and develops a lovely, crisp crust. Source: Alan Benson
Actually, any kind of cheese can bring out the divine in your dish. All you have to do is melt it.
