Randy Chandler
Blue Stilton is a variety of English cheese that is known for its distinctive blue veins and strong aroma. It pairs well with celery, pears, crackers, biscuits, and bread. It can also be used to make a blue cheese sauce to be drizzled over steak or crumbled over salad. In terms of cooking, it is commonly added to vegetable soups, such as cream of celery or broccoli. When making a blue cheese soup, it is important not to let it boil as it may curdle. Blue Stilton can also be used in a variety of recipes, such as a Stilton and honey tartine, or paired with leeks and mushrooms.
How to use Blue Stilton Cheese
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | The cheese takes its name from the village of Stilton, located about 80 miles north of London on the Great North Road. However, it is produced in the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, or Nottinghamshire. |
| Ingredients | Blue Stilton's ingredients include pasteurised local milk, acid-forming bacteria, a milk-clotting agent such as rennet, and penicillium roqueforti (blue mould spores). |
| Manufacturing and Ripening Process | The process takes about nine to twelve weeks. During this time, the cheese is turned regularly and pierced with needles to enable the blue mould to develop. |
| Fat and Protein Content | On average, Blue Stilton cheese has a fat content of 35% and a protein content of 23%. |
| Serving Suggestions | Blue Stilton is often eaten with celery, pears, crackers, biscuits, or bread. It can be added to vegetable soups, used as a flavouring for steak, or crumbled over a salad. It also works well with leeks and chestnut mushrooms. |
| Cutting and Serving Amounts | The shape and size of the cut can impact the taste experience. The amount of cheese served can vary depending on the occasion, such as lunch, dinner, or as a snack. |
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What You'll Learn
Pairing with fruits and nuts
Blue Stilton is a variety of the popular British cheese, Stilton, and is characterised by its salty, earthy flavour and blue mould veins. It is a good choice for cheese boards and pairs well with sweet flavours, making it a popular dessert cheese.
When pairing Blue Stilton with fruits and nuts, consider the following:
- Blue cheese is known to pair well with fruits such as apples, pears, and figs.
- Blue Stilton, in particular, is often paired with dried fruits like cranberries, apricots, and pears.
- Blue cheese is also commonly paired with nuts, specifically walnuts.
- When creating a cheese platter, it is recommended to include a variety of textures and flavours. Along with Blue Stilton, consider adding other cheeses with different hardness, creaminess, type of milk, and country of origin.
- To complement the creaminess of the Blue Stilton, serve it with crunchy, fresh bread and an assortment of nuts.
- For a more indulgent option, create a compound butter by mixing softened butter with crumbled Blue Stilton and bacon. This can be served on steak, bread, or even eggs.
- For a simpler option, Blue Stilton can be crumbled over turkey on bread and broiled.
- Blue Stilton can also be used as a topping for salads, such as a pear and walnut salad or a beet and blue cheese salad.
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Adding to soups
Blue stilton is a versatile cheese that can be used to add flavour to soups. A popular soup recipe that uses blue stilton is broccoli and blue stilton soup. This soup is a traditional British soup, often made in the winter months to use up leftover Christmas cheese.
To make this soup, you will need to fry off an onion, some garlic, and ginger in a pot. Then, add in your broccoli florets and stalks, and pour in your stock. Bring this to a boil and then let it simmer for 8-10 minutes. You can then stir in your crumbled blue stilton until it dissolves. If you want a smooth soup, you can use a hand blender to blend the soup. However, if you don't have a blender, you can use a potato masher to break up the vegetables into small pieces. You can dilute the soup with milk to make it milder and less pungent.
If you want to make your soup extra creamy, you can stir in some heavy cream or crème fraîche. You can also garnish the soup with some crumbled blue cheese, ground black pepper, and a squirt of cream balsamic vinegar.
Another soup recipe that uses blue stilton is a creamy stilton soup. To make this soup, you will need to melt butter in a saucepan and then cook some onion, carrot, and bay leaf until tender. You can then stir in some flour and white pepper and cook until smooth. Then, add in your broth and half-and-half and bring to a boil. Finally, stir in your blue stilton and heat until the cheese is melted. You can garnish this soup with some parsley.
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Making sauces
Blue Stilton cheese is a popular ingredient in many sauce recipes. Its strong, tangy flavour and soft texture make it ideal for creating rich, creamy sauces. Here are some tips and recipes for making sauces with Blue Stilton cheese.
Basic Blue Cheese Sauce
This simple sauce can be made in a few different ways and is very versatile. It can be used as a dip, poured over steak, chicken, or pork, or even served with pasta.
One method is to melt butter in a pan over medium heat, stir in flour, and cook for about 3 minutes. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly, until the sauce is smooth. Then, add your blue cheese and stir until melted. Season with black pepper or a dash of Worcestershire sauce to taste. For a thicker sauce, simmer on low heat for a few more minutes.
Alternatively, you can warm heavy cream in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning or curdling. Add your blue cheese and mash it into the cream until a few lumps are visible. Then, stir in Worcestershire sauce and continue simmering until the sauce is thick. Finally, stir in the remaining blue cheese.
Variations and Tips
- For a milder sauce, use Gorgonzola or Roquefort cheese instead of Stilton.
- If you don't have shallots, you can use white or brown onions, finely chopped.
- To make the sauce chunkier, crumble the cheese and mash it with a fork instead of blending it.
- Add a squeeze of lemon juice to cut through the richness of the sauce and make it lighter.
- This sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It tastes even better after a day or two!
- Try using this sauce on salads, especially those with pears or grapes, adding a dash of milk to thin it out and use it as a salad dressing.
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Crumbling over salads
Blue Stilton cheese can be used in a variety of ways to elevate a simple salad. Its strong smell and flavour can add an undeniable punch of flavour to the salad.
To begin with, preparing the greens is essential. For a classic look, cut an iceberg lettuce into quarters. Alternatively, mix baby kale, spinach, and arugula for a tasty base. Place your greens on a plate or in a bowl. Then, sprinkle crumbled Blue Stilton cheese on top.
Next, add some protein to make the salad more filling. Grilled chicken, crispy bacon, or hard-boiled eggs are excellent options. Vegetarians can opt for crispy tofu. For a sweet and tangy mix, add sliced apples or pears to your greens.
Finally, drizzle your salad with a dressing of your choice. You can make a simple dressing by mashing Blue Stilton cheese with a fork and stirring in sour cream, water, vinegar, and pepper. For an extra crunch, top your salad with pecans, walnuts, or croutons.
With its distinct flavour and endless customisation options, crumbling Blue Stilton cheese over salads is a delightful way to enjoy this ingredient.
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Choosing the right knife
Blue Stilton is a semi-hard blue vein cheese with a crumbly texture. To cut it, you will need a knife that can cut through crumbly cheese without letting it crumble too much.
A small cleaver-shaped knife is a good option for semi-hard cheeses, as it will produce cleaner cuts. You can also use a pronged cheese knife, which is a multipurpose tool that allows you to cut and then pick up the cheese with the prongs at the end for serving. The narrow blade offers minimal surface area so soft cheeses don't stick.
If you want to avoid your blue cheese crumbling, you need a knife that creates less friction. The slim blade knife is a good option for this, as it has very little surface area. You can also use a cheese knife with holes cut out of the blade, which also reduces friction.
For a mess-free option, you could try a Formaticum professional blue cheese knife. These handmade Italian knives feature a thin, stainless steel blade that prevents sticking, and an offset handle for ease of use.
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Frequently asked questions
Blue Stilton is a variety of English cheese that is known for its distinctive blue veins. It is produced in the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, or Nottinghamshire using local pasteurised milk.
Blue Stilton has a characteristic smell and taste due to the addition of Penicillium roqueforti. It has a smooth, creamy, and spreadable texture and can be cut easily without crumbling.
Blue Stilton is often paired with celery, pears, or honey. It can be added to vegetable soups, such as cream of celery or broccoli soup, or crumbled over salads. It is also commonly enjoyed with various crackers, biscuits, or bread.
Blue Stilton should be stored and served in a similar manner to other cheeses. Consider the shape when cutting to ensure you enjoy all aspects of the cheese's flavour. Regular knives can be used, but specialised cheese knives are also available for a more enjoyable experience.
