Kamil Perry
Blue cheese dressing is a popular salad dressing and dipping sauce. It is typically made with a combination of sour cream, mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and, of course, blue cheese. Some recipes also include additional ingredients such as garlic, sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. The inclusion of mayonnaise in blue cheese dressing is a matter of preference, as some recipes call for it while others do not. However, the majority of recipes for blue cheese dressing do include mayonnaise as one of the main ingredients.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Blue Cheese Dressing Ingredient | Mayonnaise |
| Blue Cheese Dressing Recipe | Combine mayonnaise with sour cream, blue cheese, lemon juice, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and buttermilk |
| Blue Cheese Dressing Consistency | Thick for dips, thinner for salad dressing |
| Blue Cheese Dressing Storage | Refrigerate for up to 10 days |
| Blue Cheese Dressing Calories | 137kcal |
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What You'll Learn
Blue cheese dressing ingredients
Blue cheese dressing is a popular side sauce, salad dressing, and dip in the United States and Canada. It is usually made using a combination of blue cheese, mayonnaise, buttermilk, sour cream or yogurt, milk, vinegar, onion powder, and garlic powder.
The most important component of blue cheese dressing is, of course, blue cheese. The cheese is aged in a temperature-controlled environment to produce its specific taste and color. You can purchase it in a wedge or already crumbled, and the flavor is very sharp.
For a simple blue cheese dressing, you can combine mayonnaise, sour cream, blue cheese, parsley, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and stir until well blended and creamy. For a lighter dressing with fewer calories, you can swap the mayonnaise for light mayo and the sour cream for plain yogurt.
For a more complex flavor, you can add additional ingredients such as Worcestershire sauce, chives, or sugar. You can also adjust the consistency of the dressing by adding a splash of milk, buttermilk, or water to make it thinner and more pourable.
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Blue cheese dressing recipes
Blue cheese dressing is a popular salad dressing and dipping sauce. It is a mayonnaise-based creamy dressing with crumbled blue cheese. The origin of blue cheese dressing is a bit unknown, but the earliest recording is in the Edgewater Beach Hotel Salad book in 1928, where it was called Roquefort dressing. Blue cheese is simply a type of Roquefort, made from ewe's milk and matured in caves.
There are many recipes for blue cheese dressing, and every home cook has their own recipe. However, it usually features the following ingredients: blue cheese, buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, milk (optional), vinegar, and simple seasonings that pack a flavorful punch.
Ingredients:
- 100 grams of blue cheese
- 100 grams of freshly grated parmesan
- Buttermilk
- Mayonnaise
- Sour cream
- Milk (optional)
- Salt and pepper
- Fresh parsley
Instructions:
- Mash the blue cheese and buttermilk together with a fork until well-combined.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
- For a thinner, pourable salad dressing, add a splash of milk.
- For a thicker dipping sauce, leave out the milk.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Feel free to add in more or less buttermilk to get the consistency you want. You can also add a little hot sauce or some Worcestershire sauce for an extra kick of flavor.
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Blue cheese types
Blue cheese is a general classification of cheeses that have had cultures of the mould Penicillium added, resulting in a final product that is spotted or veined with blue, blue-grey, or blue-green mould. The mould spores are mixed with milk to begin the fermentation process, and the cheese is then poked with steel rods to allow oxygen to circulate, which enables the mould to grow. The different types of blue cheese vary in terms of aroma, texture, flavour, and type of milk used.
Roquefort is one of the first blue cheeses and has the strongest smell and flavour of all blue cheeses. It is made from ewe's milk and is named after the French village of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, where it is produced.
Gorgonzola is an Italian variety of blue cheese made with whole pasteurised cow's milk. It comes in two types: Gorgonzola Dolce, which is soft and has a creamy texture and mild, buttery flavour; and Gorgonzola Piccante, which is hard and crumbly with a rich, intense flavour. Gorgonzola is typically made with Penicillium Glaucum, a lighter blue mould with a suede-like texture that tastes like toasted hazelnuts and chocolate.
Danablu is a Danish blue cheese made from cow's milk with a milder flavour compared to other sharp blue cheeses.
Cambozola is a double-cream blue cheese made from both cow's milk and cream. It has a bloomy, edible rind similar to Brie cheese.
Other popular types of blue cheese include Cabrales, Stilton, and Buffalo Blue Cheese.
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Blue cheese alternatives
Blue cheese is a unique ingredient with a distinct flavour and a pungent smell. While some people love its strong taste, others find it too overwhelming. Some may even be allergic to it or have dietary restrictions. However, many recipes and dishes are not the same without the impact of this ingredient.
If you're looking to replicate the flavour and texture of blue cheese without using it, there are several alternatives available. Here are some of the best blue cheese alternatives:
Feta Cheese
Feta cheese shares a similar crumbly texture and salty profile with blue cheese but without the mould. It is milder in flavour but still provides a tangy taste that can stand in for blue cheese in many recipes. Feta adds depth to salads, pairs well with fruits, and melts nicely in cooked dishes, making it a versatile alternative.
Olives
Olives and blue cheese have long been combined in dishes, most famously in the blue cheese-stuffed olive. Olives offer a salty, briny flavour that can replicate the intensity of blue cheese. They can be chopped finely to mimic the texture of crumbled blue cheese.
Furu (Fermented Bean Curd)
Furu, or fermented bean curd, has a pungent, salty flavour similar to blue cheese. It is essentially tofu that has been flavoured and fermented using ingredients like rice wine and spices, not too different from blue cheese itself. Its creamy texture when mashed can mimic the spreadability of soft blue cheeses. Furu works well in dressings, sauces, and marinades, especially in Asian-inspired dishes.
Cream Cheese and Capers
The combination of cream cheese and capers provides a clever alternative to blue cheese, offering creaminess and a salty, tangy punch from the capers.
Fresh Goat Cheese
Although it is tangier and lacks the distinctive 'blue' flavour of blue cheese, fresh goat cheese has a creamy texture and freshness that can work well in dishes that typically use blue cheese.
Shaved Parmesan
Shaved parmesan has a stronger, more savoury flavour profile than blue cheese. Its colour is more yellow, and its texture is harder and drier. However, it will add similar bursts of flavour and umami to your dishes.
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Blue cheese storage
Blue cheese is a tricky cheese to store. Its delicate cheese paste, with its pierced blue veining, makes it more susceptible to oxidation and loss of surface moisture. It is best to store blue cheese in a climate with high humidity—at least 80%%—to keep the cheese paste fresh.
To achieve the right balance of humidity and airflow, you can try wrapping the cheese in parchment paper and then with a loose covering of aluminum foil. This will mimic the two-ply construction of cheese paper. Experts advise against wrapping blue cheese too tightly in plastic or cheese paper, as it can trap moisture, leading to the growth of unwanted bacteria and the cheese drying out and becoming more crumbly.
Blue cheese should not be frozen, as dairy products can separate when frozen and then thawed. It is also important to note that blue cheese shouldn't be stored with other cheeses, as its mold spores can travel through the air and contaminate them.
When purchasing blue cheese, avoid wedges with excess moisture in the packaging, as this indicates that the cheese is past its prime. Also, refrain from consuming blue cheese if you notice any pink or black mold, a soft fuzzy coating of mold, or excess moisture in the container.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, blue cheese dressing typically contains mayonnaise.
Blue cheese dressing usually contains blue cheese, buttermilk, sour cream, milk, vinegar, and seasonings like salt, pepper, and garlic.
Yes, it is quite simple to make blue cheese dressing at home. You can combine mayonnaise, sour cream, blue cheese, and other ingredients in a bowl and adjust the consistency and seasoning to your preference.
Homemade blue cheese dressing can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about a week.
Blue cheese dressing is a versatile condiment. It can be used as a salad dressing, a dip for vegetables or wings, or as a spread on sandwiches or burgers.
