Blue Cheese Bliss: The Perfect Burger Sauce Match

Blue cheese is a popular topping for burgers, but what sauce goes well with it? Blue cheese itself can be used as a sauce, with buttermilk and sour cream to moderate its flavour. This sauce can be served chunky or smooth, and goes well with other strong flavours like garlic, bacon, and Worcestershire sauce. For a more complex sauce, blue cheese can be combined with rosemary mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, garlic powder, and sugar. This sauce is versatile and can be dolloped on a variety of dishes.

What is blue cheese?

Blue cheese is a popular variety of cheese that is instantly recognisable by its blue-green veins of mould. It is made with pasteurised goat, sheep or cow's milk and cultured with the mould Penicillium roqueforti. The mould is added to the milk along with other starter cultures, and the whey is then drained. The curds are put into forms to create wheels, and they are salted to aid fermentation and preservation. The cheese is then aged in a cave, and the resulting wheels are poked with steel needles to allow oxygen to enter and activate the blue moulds.

Blue cheese is believed to have been discovered by accident when cheeses were stored in caves with naturally controlled temperatures and moisture levels that were favourable for the growth of harmless moulds. According to one legend, a young boy abandoned his bread and ewes' milk cheese in a cave after seeing a beautiful girl in the distance. When he returned months later, the mould had transformed his cheese into Roquefort. Analysis of ancient faeces sampled in Austrian salt mines showed that blue cheese was already being consumed in the Hallstatt Period (800 to 400 BC).

Blue cheeses vary in taste from very mild to strong, and from slightly sweet to salty or sharp. Their colour ranges from pale to dark, and their consistency from liquid to hard. They often have a distinctive smell, either from the mould or from various specially cultivated bacteria.

Some well-known blue cheeses include:

• Roquefort (French)
• Gorgonzola (Italian)
• Stilton (English)
• Bleu de Bresse (French)
• Bleu d’Auvergne (French)
• Danablu (Danish)
• Blue Cheshire (English)

What ingredients are in blue cheese sauce?

Blue cheese sauce is a bold, creamy, and tangy sauce with a hint of garlic. It is often described as "assertive and salty". The sauce is usually chunky, but it can be blended to create a smoother texture.

The blue cheese is typically matched with strong flavours such as garlic, buttermilk, and sour cream. Some recipes also call for lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and mustard powder.

• Blue cheese (crumbled or roughly chopped)
• Buttermilk and/or sour cream
• Minced garlic
• Lemon juice
• Worcestershire sauce
• Black pepper
• Mustard powder
• Salt

Some variations of the sauce include heavy cream, shallots, and butter.

How to make blue cheese sauce

Blue cheese sauce is a bold, salty, and tangy sauce with a garlic kick. It is perfect for those who want their food to stand out. The sauce is excellent on burgers, but it also goes well with steak, chicken wings, and vegetables.

Ingredients:

• Blue cheese
• Buttermilk
• Sour cream
• Garlic
• Lemon juice
• Worcestershire sauce
• Salt
• Pepper
• Mustard powder

Optional Ingredients:

• Rosemary
• Red wine vinegar
• Garlic powder
• Sugar

Instructions:

• Combine the ingredients in a medium bowl: stir together the blue cheese, buttermilk, sour cream, minced garlic, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, ground mustard powder, and salt.
• Adjust the texture: If you prefer a smoother texture, blend the mixture with an immersion blender or a food processor until you reach the desired consistency.
• Refrigerate the sauce: Place the sauce in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
• Serve or store: Use the sauce immediately, or transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Tips:

• For a stronger rosemary flavor, prepare the sauce ahead of time and let it sit in the refrigerator.
• If you want to heat the sauce, use a saucepan over low heat to prevent the buttermilk and sour cream from curdling.
• If you're serving the sauce as a dip, consider adding extra crumbled blue cheese on top for garnish.
• Blue cheese sauce pairs well with bacon jam on burgers.

What toppings go with blue cheese sauce?

Blue cheese sauce is a bold, salty, and tangy flavor that can be used to elevate the taste of a burger. The toppings that go well with blue cheese sauce on a burger include:

• Bacon: Crisp, smoky bacon complements the blue cheese sauce and adds a layer of flavor and texture to the burger.
• Caramelized onions: The sweetness of caramelized onions can balance the saltiness of the blue cheese sauce.
• Arugula: Bitter arugula can provide a nice contrast to the hearty meat and savory blue cheese sauce.
• Lettuce and tomato: These classic burger toppings add freshness and a crunchy texture to the burger.
• Grilled onions: They add a savory flavor and a soft texture to the burger.
• American cheese: Adding another type of cheese, such as American cheese, can create a creamy texture and a more complex cheese flavor.
• Peppercorn ranch sauce: A peppercorn ranch sauce can add a unique twist to the burger and enhance the overall flavor profile.
• Chives: Fresh chives can bring a mild onion flavor and a bright, green color to the burger.

When creating a blue cheese sauce burger, it is important to consider the balance of flavors and textures. Blue cheese sauce already brings a strong flavor, so it is often paired with toppings that are more subtle or complementary. However, some people also enjoy combining it with other bold flavors, such as bacon jam or additional blue cheese. Ultimately, the choice of toppings depends on personal preference and the desired level of complexity in the burger.

What type of burger goes with blue cheese sauce?

Blue cheese sauce is a bold and salty flavour with a tangy garlic kick. It is a popular choice for burgers, with its strong flavour and smell, blue cheese sauce is not for the faint-hearted.

When it comes to choosing the right burger to accompany a blue cheese sauce, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, a classic beef burger. Blue cheese is often paired with beef as its strong flavour can stand up to the hearty taste of the meat. A simple beef patty, seasoned with salt and pepper, and topped with blue cheese sauce, lettuce, and tomato is a delicious option. For an extra indulgent option, you could add bacon to your burger. The smokiness of the bacon will complement the blue cheese perfectly.

Another option is to create a blue cheese burger with a twist by adding additional ingredients to the patty. For example, you could add minced fresh chives, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, dry mustard, and hot pepper sauce to your beef mince before forming it into patties. These additional ingredients will enhance the flavour of the burger and complement the blue cheese sauce.

If you're feeling adventurous, you could try a blue cheese and rosemary mayonnaise. This unique sauce combines the tanginess of blue cheese with the earthy, aromatic flavour of rosemary. This type of sauce would pair well with a simple beef patty or a more complex combination such as ground beef brisket with grated onion, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, cinnamon, and cumin. Keep the toppings minimal with just a handful of arugula to let the flavours of the patty and mayo shine through.

Finally, for a truly indulgent option, you could create a bacon blue cheese burger. This burger combines the smokiness of bacon with the tang of blue cheese and the creaminess of Peppercorn Ranch sauce. This burger is a flavour explosion and is sure to be a hit with blue cheese lovers.

So, there you have it! Blue cheese sauce is a versatile and delicious option for burgers, pairing perfectly with beef patties and a range of additional ingredients. Whether you keep it simple or go for a more complex combination, your blue cheese sauce is sure to be a hit.

Frequently asked questions