Frederic Melton
Stilton is a British blue cheese with a rich, salty, earthy flavour and a crumbly texture. It's made from pasteurised cow's milk and is characterised by blue veins of mould. It's been made since at least the 17th century and is widely regarded as one of the world's finest cheeses. Stilton is a versatile ingredient, and can be used in a variety of dishes, both sweet and savoury. It can be melted into soups and sauces, crumbled over salads, or simply enjoyed on its own with crackers and a glass of port.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Cheese | Blue Cheese |
| Texture | Moist, Crumbly |
| Flavor | Salty, Earthy, Pungent, Rich, Piquant |
| Pairs Well With | Sweet Flavors, Port Wine, Honey, Dried Fruits and Nuts, Mustard |
| Recipes | Broccoli Soup, Blue Cheese Dressing, Stilton Scones, Pasta, Steak, Salad, Sandwiches, Pies |
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What You'll Learn
Stilton with honey
Stilton is a popular cheese board option and pairs well with sweet flavours, making it a common dessert cheese. One way to serve Stilton is to drizzle it with honey. This creates a sweet and savoury dish that works well as an appetiser or dessert. Serve it with crusty bread or crackers.
You can also pair Stilton with honey in a more complex dish, such as pan-fried Brussels sprouts with walnuts and honey. Fry the sprouts in olive oil with salt and pepper for five minutes, then add the walnuts and honey and fry for another five minutes. The nutty flavours of the sprouts and walnuts pair well with the oozing, melted blue cheese. Drizzle with honey to taste.
For a simple starter, try baked or roasted pears with Stilton and honey. Cut the pears in half, scoop out the seeds, and drizzle with honey. Bake or roast until soft, then top with crumbled Stilton and more honey to taste. Garnish with walnuts.
For a more indulgent option, spread butter on warm bread, add crumbled Stilton, and broil with fruit such as apple or pear. Alternatively, mix crumbled Stilton and bacon into softened butter, chill the mixture, and serve it on steak, bread, or eggs.
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Stilton with dried fruit and nuts
Stilton is a British cheese made from cow's milk. It has a creamy texture, similar to Brie, and comes in two varieties: blue Stilton and white Stilton. Blue Stilton has a salty, earthy flavour and blue veins of mould, while white Stilton is a younger version without the blue veins. White Stilton often contains apricots or other dried fruits.
When serving Stilton with dried fruit and nuts, the sweet flavours of dried cranberries, apricots, persimmons, pears, or walnuts pair well with the salty, pungent flavour of the cheese. You can also add dates for an extra touch of sweetness. This combination makes for an excellent cheese plate, perfect as an appetizer or dessert.
To create a delicious Stilton, dried fruit, and nut cheese plate, start by allowing the cheese to come to room temperature. About two hours before serving, remove the cheese from the refrigerator and let it sit uncovered. When ready to serve, arrange the Stilton, dried fruits, and nuts on a cutting board, marble slab, or platter. Include some paring knives for your guests' convenience. You can also serve it with baguette rounds, thin slices of dark bread, or crackers on the side.
For a heartier option, spread some butter on warm bread, crumble the Stilton on top, and add your choice of dried fruit and nuts. You can also include some turkey or bacon for a savoury twist. Enjoy this tasty treat as a simple way to indulge in the unique flavour of Stilton.
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Stilton with port wine
Stilton is a British blue cheese with a salty, earthy flavour and blue veins of mould. Its strong flavour makes it a popular cheese board option and dessert cheese, especially when paired with sweet flavours.
Port wine is a popular choice to serve with Stilton. The sweetness of the port balances the salty, pungent flavour of the cheese. This combination is so popular that people have begun experimenting with soaking the cheese in port for a few weeks before eating it.
The rich, sweet flavour of port wine also pairs well with other blue cheeses, such as Roquefort and Gorgonzola. These cheeses are lighter and saltier than Stilton, and the wine helps to balance their pungency.
If you are looking for a more savoury way to enjoy Stilton with port, try it on a cracker with some mustard, cornichons, and thinly sliced red onion. Alternatively, spread some butter on a piece of bread, crumble the Stilton on top, and broil it with some turkey or bacon.
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Stilton in soups
Broccoli and Stilton soup is a popular dish that is both tasty and comforting, with a touch of richness. It is a great way to use leftover Stilton, especially after Christmas when it is traditional to enjoy the cheese with a glass of port. The soup is easy to make and only requires a handful of ingredients.
To make the soup, start by chopping all your vegetables into small pieces so they cook evenly. Make sure the potato and any broccoli stems are relatively small, as they will take longer to cook than the florets. Next, soften the onion in butter or olive oil over medium heat—be careful not to let it brown or burn to get the best flavour. Then, add the potato and broccoli and coat them in butter or oil before adding the stock. You can also add a knob of butter and a sliced celery stick, leek, and celery for extra flavour. Cook until all the vegetables are soft.
Once the vegetables are soft, carefully transfer the mixture to a blender and blitz until smooth. Then, stir in the crumbled Stilton, allowing a few lumps to remain. You can also add a little cream at the end for extra richness, drizzling it over the top or mixing it in. To finish, scatter some extra crumbled Stilton and chopped broccoli over the top for a stylish garnish. For an extra touch of crunch, serve the soup with Parmesan croutons.
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Stilton on bread
Stilton is a popular cheese board option and pairs well with sweet flavours, making it a great choice for dessert. Here are some ways to serve Stilton on bread:
Toasted
Warm up some bread in the oven, spread butter on it, and then add crumbled Stilton. You can also add turkey and broil it, serving it with fruit like apple or pear.
With mustard
Stilton can be served with a good mustard like Maille or Coleman's, cornichons, thinly sliced red onion, and peppercorns on the side. Use neutral crackers or bread that won't overpower the other flavours.
In a sandwich
Stilton pastrami jalapeño sandwiches with black pepper and a small amount of mayo on rye bread are a unique and tasty option.
With fruit and nuts
The sweetness of dried cranberries, apricots, pears, or walnuts pairs well with Stilton. You can serve the cheese with these accompaniments on the side or incorporate them into a bread dough for a savoury twist, like in this pear and Stilton bread:
Pear and Stilton Bread
Ingredients:
- Flour
- Yeast
- Salt
- Softened butter
- Water
- Diced pear
- Crumbled Stilton
Steps:
- Put flour into a large mixing bowl and add yeast to one side and salt to the other.
- Add softened butter and gradually add water, bringing the ingredients together with your fingers.
- Continue adding water until a soft dough forms.
- Tip the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about ten minutes until it feels soft and elasticated.
- Put the dough in a bowl and cover with oiled clingfilm or a tea towel. Place it in a warm spot until it doubles in size, which may take an hour.
- Remove the dough from the bowl and divide it into two pieces. Flatten each piece and roll them out into large rectangles.
- On one piece of dough, place the diced pear along the long edge, then fold over the top edge and gently roll up.
- Repeat the process with the other piece of dough, using crumbled Stilton instead of pear.
- Gently twist the two dough rolls together and press the ends together before folding under to neaten.
- Place the twist on a baking tray lined with non-stick baking parchment and cover with oiled clingfilm. Let the dough double in size.
- Preheat the oven to 220°C (fan 200°C, gas mark 7). Dust the twist with flour.
- Bake for about 30 minutes or until it sounds hollow when lightly tapped on the base.
- Leave to cool on a wire rack.
This bread is best eaten fresh or within a couple of days.
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Frequently asked questions
Warm up some bread in the oven, spread butter on it, and crumble the Stilton on top. You can also add turkey, apple, or pear to this combination.
Here are some recipes that use Stilton cheese:
- Broccoli soup
- Ribeye steak
- Celeriac and leek soup
- Pasta with mushrooms, sweetcorn, and tuna
- French puff pastry pie
- French open-face sandwich (tartine)
Stilton cheese pairs well with sweet flavors. Some foods and drinks that go well with Stilton cheese include:
- Port wine
- Honey
- Dried fruit and nuts
- Mustard
- Crackers
