Kamil Perry
Stilton is a British blue cheese with a strong, salty flavour and distinctive blue veins. It is made from cow's milk and has a similar consistency to Brie, though not as runny. There are two varieties of Stilton cheese: blue Stilton and white Stilton. Blue Stilton has a salty, earthy flavour and blue mold veins, while white Stilton is a younger version without the blue veins and often contains apricots or other dried fruits. Here are some tips on how to serve this unique cheese:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Storage | Always keep Stilton well wrapped in the refrigerator, preferably in an airtight container. Properly wrapped Stilton will keep well in the fridge for a couple of weeks after opening. |
| Flavour | Salty, pungent, earthy, strong, and creamy. |
| Texture | Creamy, similar to Brie but less runny. |
| Type | Blue cheese with blue mold veins. |
| Varieties | Blue Stilton and White Stilton. |
| Blue Stilton | Contains a strain of the fungus Penicillium roqueforti, which gives the cheese its signature blue veins. |
| White Stilton | A young version of Blue Stilton without Penicillium roqueforti. Often contains apricots or other dried fruits. |
| Pairings | Port wine, honey, dried fruit, nuts, crusty bread, crackers, figs, mushrooms, beef, and more. |
| Recipes | Stilton jackets, Stilton and beans on toast, Stilton mash, Stilton quiche, Stilton pizza, and more. |
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What You'll Learn
As a dessert cheese, drizzled with honey
Stilton cheese is a British blue cheese with a salty, earthy flavour and blue mold veins. It is a popular dessert cheese, often served drizzled with honey.
To serve Stilton with honey as a dessert, first bring the cheese to room temperature. This will improve the texture of the cheese, making it less crumbly. Then, cut the cheese into slices or chunks. The cheese can be served on its own, or with crackers, crusty bread, or sweet dark breads and biscuits. If you would like to add more elements to the dish, arrange fresh fruit such as apples, pears, figs, melons, or grapes between the cheese slices. Finally, drizzle honey over the cheese. You can also sprinkle walnuts, dried cranberries, apricots, or pears over the dish.
For a more complex dish, you can make blue cheese honey crostini. To make this, brush both sides of French bread slices with olive oil and bake each side for 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Place 2 teaspoons of blue cheese on each slice, then sprinkle honey over the cheese.
If you are serving Stilton with honey as part of a cheese plate, choose 3-4 cheeses that range from savoury to sweet, and include about 2 ounces of each cheese.
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With dried fruit and nuts
When serving Stilton cheese with dried fruit and nuts, it's important to consider the type of cheese, the quality, and the desired presentation. Here are some detailed guidelines:
Selecting the Cheese
Choose a high-quality Stilton cheese, preferably sourced from the UK's Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, or Leicestershire, as per the Protected Designation of Origin law (PDO). Opt for either the popular blue Stilton, which has a stronger flavour and a distinctive blue vein, or the milder, younger White Stilton.
Choosing the Fruits and Nuts
Select dried fruits that complement the cheese. Popular choices include cranberries, apricots, persimmons, pears, dates, and figs. For nuts, consider walnuts, toasted pecans, pistachios, or Marcona almonds.
Preparing the Cheese
About 2 hours before serving, remove the cheese from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature. This step enhances the flavour and texture of the cheese.
Presentation Ideas
When serving, arrange the cheese, dried fruits, and nuts on a cutting board, marble slab, or platter. You can also add some condiments like honey, quince paste, or mustard. Serve with crackers, thin slices of dark bread, baguette rounds, or water crackers on the side. Alternatively, stuff the dried fruit with a little cheese or add it to a water biscuit with the fruit on top.
Wine Pairing
Stilton cheese pairs exceptionally well with sweet wines, especially port wine. The sweetness of the port balances the salty, pungent flavours of the cheese. You can also experiment with other wines, such as a dessert wine or a full-bodied robust red wine.
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In a jacket potato
Jacket potatoes are a British staple. To make a jacket potato, you need to preheat your oven to 180C/350F. Place your potatoes on a baking tray and stab them a few times with a fork. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle salt over the potatoes, then place them in the oven for about an hour or until they are fork-tender. Crank up the heat to 220C/430F and bake until the potatoes are ultra crispy.
For a jacket potato with stilton cheese, you can try the following:
- Crumble big pieces of stilton into your jacket potato and top with parma ham and thinly sliced apple. Serve with a side salad of watercress, apple, and cherry tomatoes.
- Prepare a potato gratin with stilton. Layer sliced potatoes with stilton and pour broth over the layers. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and dot with butter. Bake until the top is golden brown and the potatoes are tender.
- For a more gourmet option, try thick slices of seasoned red potatoes, roasted until golden. Top with crumbled stilton and caramelised onion, then broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
You can also try adding other ingredients such as butter, bacon, cream, and chives to your jacket potato, along with the stilton cheese.
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On a cheeseboard with port
Port and Stilton is a classic food-and-drink combination. Port is a full-bodied, sweet, and fruity wine with a high alcohol content, while Stilton is a salty, creamy, and salty cheese. The richness of the wine complements and enhances the saltiness of the cheese.
Port and Stilton are often served together as an after-dinner drink and snack, with the port passed to the left at the dinner table. While some purists may prefer to drink port on its own to savour its full character, others enjoy the interplay of flavours when port and Stilton are enjoyed together.
When serving port and Stilton together, it is essential to consider the type of port and its flavour profile. Ruby port, for example, is widely available, affordable, and sweet, rich, and enjoyable. It pairs well with Stilton served on oatcakes or with devils on horseback on crackers.
Tawny port, on the other hand, is an aged port style with subtle nuttiness and acidity that pairs well with slightly aged cheeses. A young, intense, non-creamy blue cheese like Stilton can stand up to the deep, juicy fruit and balsamic notes of a vintage port, especially one with strong tannins.
White port, often overlooked, offers a luscious combination of nuttiness and intense orchard fruit with a lingering honey and spice finish. It pairs well with softer, creamier cheeses and can also complement a young, acidic goat's cheese or a more intense washed-rind cheese like St. Marcellin.
When creating a cheeseboard to pair with port, consider including a variety of cheeses with different textures and intensities, such as aged Cheddar, Lincolnshire Poacher, or Parmigiano-Reggiano, along with the Stilton. Remember that the saltiness of the cheese will balance the tannins in the port, so don't be afraid to experiment with different combinations to find your favourite pairing.
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In a quiche or pizza
Stilton cheese is a soft and crumbly English blue cheese with a creamy texture when melted. It is a popular choice for quiches and pizzas due to its unique flavour and texture. Here are some tips and recipes for incorporating Stilton cheese into these dishes:
Quiche
When using Stilton in a quiche, it is important to consider the balance of flavours and textures. The quiche filling should be set and smooth, neither too eggy nor too cheesy. The crust should be evenly baked, with a snappy texture.
A popular quiche recipe featuring Stilton is the Broccoli and Stilton Quiche. This quiche combines the creaminess of Stilton with the tenderness of broccoli and the savoury flavour of sun-dried tomatoes. To make this quiche, sprinkle Stilton across the bottom of a baked quiche crust, followed by beaten eggs, chopped broccoli, and sun-dried tomatoes. Bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 35-40 minutes until mostly set with a slight wiggle in the centre. Let it cool for about 15 minutes, then top with additional tomatoes and cheese before serving. This quiche can be served warm or at room temperature and is best enjoyed within two days for optimal taste and texture.
Another flavourful option is the Bacon, Stilton, and Caramelised Onion Quiche. This combination delivers a powerful punch of flavours, with the pungent blue cheese and smoky bacon complemented by the sweetness of caramelised onions. Serve this quiche with a fresh summer tomato salad to balance the richness.
Pizza
When using Stilton on a pizza, consider pairing it with sweet toppings or ingredients that can balance its strong flavour. Here are some tips for incorporating Stilton into your pizza creations:
- Crumble Stilton over your pizza base, adding other toppings like spinach, mushrooms, or peppers.
- Experiment with sweet and savoury combinations by pairing Stilton with ingredients such as honey, dried fruits, or nuts.
- Create a white pizza by using a bechamel sauce or ricotta base and adding Stilton and other complementary toppings like spinach, artichokes, or chicken.
- If you prefer a simpler pizza, use Stilton as the primary cheese, adding herbs or spices to enhance its flavour.
Remember, when using Stilton in any dish, including quiches and pizzas, bring it to room temperature before serving to allow its flavours to develop fully.
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Frequently asked questions
Always keep Stilton well-wrapped in the refrigerator, preferably in an airtight container. This will keep the cheese fresh for a couple of weeks and prevent it from affecting other foods in the fridge.
Stilton is a popular dessert cheese and pairs well with sweet flavours. It can be served with dried fruit and nuts, honey, or port wine. It is also commonly served with crusty bread or crackers.
Stilton can be used in a variety of recipes, including:
- Stilton jackets: mix Stilton with scooped-out potato and put it back into the skins, then cook until melted
- Beans on toast with melted Stilton
- Mash with sausages and onion gravy
- Quiche
- Pizza
Stilton is a British blue cheese made from cow's milk. It has a creamy texture similar to Brie and is known for its strong, salty flavour.
