Blue Cheese's Perfect Cracker Companions: A Definitive Guide

Blue cheese is a polarising food—you either love it or hate it. But for those who fall into the former camp, the question of what to pair it with is an important one. Blue cheese tends to be sharp, salty and intense, so it's best to let the cheese shine by pairing it with a milder cracker. A good rule of thumb is to pair intense cheeses with plainer crackers, and vice versa. For blue cheese, this means pairing it with whole grain crackers, multigrain crisps, or even honey graham crackers for a daring combination. For a more dynamic duo, dried fruits such as apricots or raisins, fresh figs and pears are also a great option.

Blue cheese and honey graham crackers

Blue cheese is a pungent and funky cheese with a bold flavour. It can be tricky to cut into slices, but freezing it will make it firmer and easier to slice.

Honey graham crackers are a surprising yet dynamic pairing with blue cheese. The honey notes in the graham cracker balance the boldness of the blue cheese. This combination is a great addition to a grazing board.

If you want to elevate the pairing, rosemary honey is a great addition. Simply stir together honey, rosemary, and salt in a heavy small saucepan over low heat. Continue heating and stirring until fragrant, then strain the mixture into a small bowl and allow to cool. Drizzle the infused honey over the blue cheese and crackers, and sprinkle with scallions.

For a different texture, you could also try blue cheese with a crisp cracker studded with fruits and nuts, such as a cranberry and walnut combination or a fig and olive oil option.

Blue cheese with dried fruits and nuts

Blue cheese is sharp, salty, and intense, and pairs well with dried fruits such as apricots, raisins, and cranberries, as well as fresh fruits like figs and pears. When it comes to crackers, blue cheese is a good match for sweet crackers, such as honey graham crackers, and whole grain crackers.

For a well-rounded cheese platter, it is recommended to include both sweet and salty items. With that in mind, dried fruits and nuts are an excellent addition to a blue cheese platter.

Dried apricots and raisins are classic choices to accompany blue cheese. The sweetness of the dried fruits balances the saltiness of the cheese. You could also try dried cranberries, which offer a similar sweet contrast to the sharp blue cheese.

Fresh fruits also pair well with blue cheese. Pears are a popular choice, as their crisp texture and mild sweetness provide a refreshing contrast to the rich, salty cheese. Fresh figs are another option, adding a touch of sweetness and a unique flavour to the platter.

Nuts are also a great addition to a blue cheese platter. Almonds are a classic choice, as their crunchy texture and mild flavour complement the cheese. Walnuts are another option, especially if you're looking for a slightly more bitter and earthy flavour profile.

• Create small skewers or toothpick combinations of blue cheese cubes, dried apricots or cranberries, and almond or walnut halves.
• Arrange slices of pear or fig on a platter, topped with crumbled blue cheese and a drizzle of honey.
• For a heartier option, spread a whole grain cracker with blue cheese, then top it with chopped walnuts and dried cranberries or raisins.
• For a sweet and salty bite, pair blue cheese with honey-covered graham crackers, dried apricots or raisins, and almond slices.

Remember, the key to a successful blue cheese platter is to balance the sharp, salty flavours of the cheese with the sweetness and crunch of dried fruits and nuts. So feel free to experiment with different combinations and find the ones that suit your taste buds!

Blue cheese with beef

Blue cheese is a sharp, salty and intense variety of cheese with a bold flavour. It is aged for a minimum of 60 days to give it that strong taste. When pairing blue cheese with beef, it is important to remember that blue cheese is already quite salty, so a good cut of beef to complement it would be one that is more on the rare side of cooking, to bring out the beef's natural sweetness and create a balance with the saltiness of the blue cheese.

A good rule of thumb when pairing cheese and crackers is that the milder the cracker, the more intense the topping can be. So, when choosing a cracker to go with blue cheese and beef, a milder, less yeasty cracker would be preferable. Multigrain crackers are a good option, as they are less yeasty than other crackers and their crunchiness will enhance the texture and flavour of the blue cheese and beef.

For a more indulgent option, honey graham crackers go surprisingly well with blue cheese, according to some sources. The sweetness of the graham cracker could also help to balance out the saltiness of the blue cheese, while providing a nice textural contrast to the beef.

Other cracker options that could work well with blue cheese and beef include:

• Water crackers: these are light and thin, acting as a neutral vehicle to deliver the flavours of the blue cheese and beef to your mouth.
• Whole grain crackers: these have a nuttiness that can complement the saltiness of blue cheese.
• Wafer crackers: these are simple, light and airy, with a bit of cheese powder in them to enhance the umami characteristics of the cheese.
• Sweet crackers: sweet and unconventional crackers like graham crackers or sugar cookies can also work well with blue cheese, especially if you're looking for a "cheesecake feel".

Blue cheese with sweet crackers

Blue cheese is sharp, salty, and intense, and it pairs well with sweet foods such as honey and dried and fresh fruits. When it comes to crackers, a general rule of thumb is that mild crackers go well with intense toppings, and intensely flavoured crackers are better with mild toppings. So, for blue cheese, a mild, sweet cracker is a good choice.

Sweet crackers such as honey graham crackers are a daring but dynamic pairing with blue cheese. The sweetness of the crackers will balance the salty, savoury notes of the blue cheese. For a similar effect, you could also try a sweet wafer cracker, such as Craize's sweet corn, guava, or coconut wafers. These wafers are almost like cookies but pair particularly well with blue cheese.

For a more savoury option, dried fruit and nut crisps can be paired with blue cheese, along with other sweet toppings like sliced pear and honey. The salty, savoury blue cheese will pop against the sweet fruit and honey, and the soft toppings will provide an interesting contrast to the crunchy cracker.

If you're looking for a cracker to pair with blue cheese and other toppings, a plain water cracker or a simple, thin, airy wafer cracker can be a good choice. These crackers will let the blue cheese shine and provide a crunchy texture without overwhelming the other flavours.

Blue cheese with mild crackers

Blue cheese is sharp, salty, and intense, and it goes well with mild crackers. When creating a cheese platter, it is important to have a mix of sweet and salty items. Here are some ideas for mild crackers that pair well with blue cheese:

Whole grain crackers: Blue cheese pairs well with whole grain crackers, as suggested by Litehouse Foods. For a well-rounded platter, include pears, raisins, and almonds alongside the blue cheese and crackers. The sweetness of the fruit and the crunch of the crackers will complement the strong flavor of the blue cheese.

Honey graham crackers: As suggested by The Kitchn, blue cheese can be paired with honey graham crackers. This combination is described as a "dynamic duo" that will intrigue both fans and skeptics of blue cheese. The sweetness of the honey graham crackers will balance the saltiness of the blue cheese.

Multigrain crisps: According to Lauren McDowell, a cheesemonger and former editor-in-chief of CheeseRank, blue cheese can be paired with multigrain crisps infused with berries. This combination is recommended for those who find blue cheese intimidating, as the crispness and sweetness of the crackers will elevate the cheese's best qualities.

Water crackers: Water crackers are light and thin, acting as a neutral vehicle to deliver the flavor of the cheese to your mouth. This simplicity allows the quality of the cheese to shine through. As blue cheese has a bold flavor, pairing it with a mild, neutral cracker like a water cracker can be a good option.

Raincoast crisps: Raincoast crisps, especially those with nuts and dried fruit, are recommended by multiple sources for blue cheese. The crunch and sweetness of the crisps will complement the salty, creamy texture of the blue cheese.

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