The Perfect Pairings For Stilton Cheese: A Food Guide

Blue Stilton is a British cheese with a distinctive salty, earthy flavour and blue veins caused by a strain of penicillin. It is a seasonal favourite, often found on British cheeseboards at Christmas. Its strong flavour means it pairs well with a variety of foods, from fruits such as figs and pears to heartier meats and vegetables. It is also commonly served with port, red wine, or even whisky.

Characteristics of foods that go with Stilton Cheese

Stilton with fruit, honey and nuts

Blue cheese is a great addition to a mixed cheese platter and pairs beautifully with fruit, honey, and nuts. The sweetness of figs, apples, or pears, for instance, is a perfect match for the salty creaminess of Stilton. You can also try drizzling honey over blue cheese on rosemary flatbread, or crumbling blue cheese over an autumn salad with figs, apples, and grapes.

For a more substantial meal, try a steak and Stilton pie, or crumble blue cheese over a beet and blue cheese salad, or a grilled summer squash with pecans.

If you're looking for a dessert, try baking figs stuffed with Stilton, or a pear, walnut, and Stilton salad drizzled with honey. You can also try a more unusual combination of Stilton with dates, wrapping the dates in Parma ham and serving them with crackers and a glass of port.

Stilton with port

The combination of port and Stilton cheese is a classic food-and-drink pairing. Port is a full-bodied, sweet, and fruity wine with a high alcohol content from Portugal, while Stilton is a king among cheeses, with a creamy saltiness that is enhanced by the richness of the wine. Ruby Port, one of the most widely available and affordable types of port, is a sweet and rich variety that pairs well with Stilton.

When serving port and Stilton, it is traditional to pass the port to the left at the dinner table. While port is often considered an after-dinner drink, it can also be served with a cheeseboard or as part of a more comprehensive serving combination. For example, port and Stilton can be served with crackers, fresh or dried fruit, or even a more substantial dish such as a game pie or a ploughman's lunch.

One option for serving port and Stilton is to create a simple cracker plate with a wedge of Stilton, crackers, and fruit. You can use basic salt and pepper crackers, or something more substantial like oatcakes, which are a popular accompaniment to port and Stilton. For the fruit, consider using pears, apples, or grapes, which are classic accompaniments to cheese. You could also try wrapping a stoned date in a strip of Parma ham to make "devils on horseback", which also work well with port and Stilton.

Port and Stilton can also be served as part of a heartier dish. For example, you could make a game pie using rich meats like pork, venison, duck, and pheasant, and serve it with a glass of port and a wedge of Stilton on the side. Alternatively, create a ploughman's lunch with some crusty bread, pickles, and a wedge of Stilton, accompanied by a glass of port.

Stilton with red wine

When it comes to Stilton and red wine, you're in for a treat. This classic combination is a match made in heaven, with the creamy saltiness of the cheese perfectly complemented and enhanced by the full-bodied sweetness of the wine. Here are some tips and ideas to elevate your Stilton and red wine experience:

The Cheese

Stilton, known as the "King of Cheese", is a British blue cheese with a distinctive salty, earthy flavour and blue mould veins. It has a rich, creamy texture that pairs exceptionally well with the fruitiness and depth of red wine. When choosing your Stilton, look for a wedge with prominent blue veins, indicating a strong flavour.

The Wine

A full-bodied, sweet, and fruity red wine will be the perfect companion to your Stilton. Consider a Portuguese wine, such as Port, which is traditionally served with Stilton. Ruby Port, with its rich, sweet flavour, is an excellent and widely available option. However, if you're looking for something a little less sweet, Tawny Port, made from a combination of cask-aged wines, offers a more subtle flavour.

Serving Suggestions

Now that you have your Stilton and red wine, it's time to create some delicious pairings. Here are some ideas:

• Crackers and Fruit: Serve your Stilton on crackers with dried fruits such as dates, pears, or apples. The sweetness of the fruit will beautifully offset the saltiness of the cheese, and the crackers will provide a neutral base.
• Oatcakes: Oatcakes are a popular choice to serve with Stilton and red wine. They have a subtle flavour and a crumbly texture that pairs well with the creaminess of the cheese.
• Devils on Horseback: For a unique savoury option, try "Devils on Horseback". This delicacy consists of Parma ham wrapped around dried fruit, such as dates, providing a salty-sweet contrast to the Stilton and wine.
• Salads: Create a salad with ripe pear or apple slices, crumbled Stilton, and chopped walnuts. Drizzle with honey and walnut oil for a touch of sweetness. The earthiness of the walnuts and the sweetness of the fruit will complement the wine and cheese combination.
• Figs and Balsamic: Cut open some fresh figs and stuff them with chunks of Stilton. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, and bake in the oven for a mouthwatering combination of sweet, salty, and tangy flavours.

Remember, when serving Stilton with red wine, you don't need large portions. A small wedge of cheese and a glass of wine will be enough to savour and appreciate the complex flavours of this classic pairing.

Stilton with game pie

The rich, salty flavour of Stilton cheese works well with game pie. The cheese's strong, earthy flavour and distinctive blue veins complement the depth of flavour in a game pie, which is often made from a combination of meats, including pork, venison, duck and pheasant. The pie is usually served cold, and the cheese can be crumbled on top or served on the side.

The addition of Stilton to a game pie creates a rich, indulgent dish that is perfect for winter. The cheese adds a wonderful creamy texture and flavour to the pie. The saltiness of the cheese is a great contrast to the sweetness of the port, making it an excellent pairing.

Stilton is a British blue cheese that has been made in the Midlands counties of Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire since the early 1700s. It is known for its salty, earthy flavour and blue mould veins, which are caused by the injection of a strain of penicillin, Penicillium roqueforti.

The classic combination of port and Stilton is a well-loved tradition in British culture. Port, a full-bodied, sweet, and fruity wine, pairs perfectly with the creamy saltiness of Stilton. This pairing is often enjoyed as an after-dinner drink and can be accompanied by crackers, fresh fruit, or pickles.

In addition to game pie, Stilton cheese also pairs well with other dishes such as steak pie, mushrooms stuffed with crabmeat, and salads featuring pears, walnuts, and honey. Its unique flavour enhances the overall taste experience and makes it a popular choice for those seeking a indulgent and satisfying meal.

Stilton with salad

Blue Stilton is a famous English cheese with a strong salty flavour and distinctive blue veins. It is a great addition to a salad, especially when paired with sweet fruits like figs, apples, or pears, and walnuts.

A classic combination is a pear, walnut, and Stilton salad. The walnuts add an earthy depth and firm texture to the salad. To make this salad, simply crumble the cheese and chop the walnuts, before sprinkling them over the ripe pear. The pear can be sliced or diced and arranged over a bed of salad leaves—lamb's lettuce works particularly well. To finish, drizzle the salad with a little honey and walnut oil.

Another salad idea is to pair Stilton with beetroot. Chef Nicolaus Balla's beet and blue cheese salad, made with scallions, herbs, and red wine, is bright and sweet. Alternatively, you could make an autumn salad with figs, apples, and grapes, sweetened with apple cider vinegar and whole-grain mustard.

For a more indulgent salad, try a focaccia with caramelized onions, pear, and blue cheese. This simple dish adds sweet caramelized onions to the classic pear and blue cheese pairing.

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