Blue Cheese's Fruity Companions: Exploring Perfect Pairings

what fruit pairs with blue cheese

Blue cheese is a versatile and flavourful cheese that can be paired with a variety of fruits to create a well-rounded and impressive dish. The strong and unique taste of blue cheese means that it can be paired with sweeter fruits such as apples, peaches, and pears, as well as fruits with high acidity like melon. The saltiness of blue cheese can also be balanced with fresh or dried fruits such as figs, dates, and apricots. Creating a charcuterie board or cheese platter with blue cheese and fruit is a fashionable culinary practice, and the variety of options means that there is something for everyone.

Characteristics Values
Fruits that pair well with blue cheese Apples, Pears, Figs, Peaches, Plums, Nectarines, Cherries, Grapes, Cantaloupe, Honeydew Melon, Watermelon, Dried Fruits
Condiments that pair well with blue cheese Honey, Jams, Chutneys, Fruit Compotes, Quince Paste, Fruit Preserves
Other foods that pair well with blue cheese Walnuts, Bread, Crackers, Nuts, BBQ Pulled Pork, Chicken Wings, Bacon, Oatcakes

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Blue cheese and honey

Blue cheese is a bold and tangy cheese with a strong flavour and high acidity. Its boldness allows for sweeter pairings, such as honey.

A variation on this combination is to dip a blue cheese wedge in flour, then beaten egg, and finally in panko crumbs, before baking. The baked cheese is then drizzled with hot honey and served with bread or crackers.

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Blue cheese and stone fruit

Blue cheese is a bold and funky cheese with a strong flavour and a unique appearance. Its boldness means it can stand up to sweeter pairings than other cheeses. Blue cheese is also notably salty, fatty, rich, sharp, tangy, crumbly, creamy, and nutty, depending on the variety.

Stone fruits, such as peaches, nectarines, plums, and cherries, are a perfect match for blue cheese on a cheese board or charcuterie platter. Their sweetness and juiciness balance the saltiness and boldness of the blue cheese.

One way to serve blue cheese and stone fruit is as a crostini. To make this, slice a baguette into 1/2 cm cuts at an angle, line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper, and lay out the slices of bread with space in between. Spray or brush the bread with oil on both sides and bake at 450 degrees for 6-9 minutes, until the bread is slightly toasted around the edges and golden in the middle. While the bread is toasting, slice the blue cheese. Once the bread is toasted, sprinkle sea salt over the crostini, then top with the blue cheese, followed by the stone fruit, and finally, a drizzle of honey. This combination is sweet and savoury and will impress your friends.

You can also add blue cheese and stone fruit to a salad. Chop up the loaded crostini and throw them on some spinach, arugula, or mixed greens. You can also swap out the blue cheese for another soft cheese that melts a little better, such as stilton, goat cheese, cream cheese, ricotta, burrata, feta, brie, or gorgonzola. Swap out the baguette for another type of bread, such as a whole wheat baguette, ciabatta, or focaccia.

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Blue cheese and sweet foods

Blue cheese is a bold, funky, and rich cheese with a unique flavour that can be an acquired taste. It is often salty and tangy, with a sharp, crumbly texture. However, some blue cheeses can be milder, creamier, and sweeter.

When it comes to pairing blue cheese with sweet foods, there are several options to consider. Firstly, fresh fruits like apples, pears, and peaches are classic pairings that provide a contrast in flavours and textures. These fruits offer a refreshing crispness that can balance the richness of the blue cheese. Stone fruits, such as plums, nectarines, and cherries, also fall into this category of sweet and succulent fruits that work well with blue cheese.

Dried fruits, particularly dried cherries and dried figs, are another option for sweet pairings. Their concentrated sweetness and chewy texture can provide an interesting contrast to the creaminess of blue cheese.

Sweet spreads and condiments, such as honey, jams, and chutneys, are also excellent choices to pair with blue cheese. Honey, with its natural sweetness and sticky texture, creates a delightful combination when paired with blue cheese on a crispy crostini or a crunchy cracker. Similarly, jams and chutneys made from fruits like quince or fig can add a layer of sweetness and acidity to the strong flavour of blue cheese.

For those who enjoy a more indulgent treat, chocolate can be a surprising yet satisfying pairing with blue cheese. The sweetness and creaminess of chocolate can balance the salty and tangy notes of the cheese.

In addition to fresh and dried fruits, sweet spreads, and chocolate, nuts can also provide a sweet and crunchy contrast to the creaminess of blue cheese. Walnuts, in particular, are a classic pairing that adds a nutty flavour dimension to the overall taste experience.

When creating sweet and savoury pairings with blue cheese, it's important to consider the balance of flavours and textures. The sweetness of the accompanying food should complement or contrast the boldness of the blue cheese, enhancing its unique flavour profile.

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Blue cheese and fruit compotes

Blue cheese is a bold and funky cheese with a unique flavour that can be an acquired taste. Its strong nature and acidity allow for sweeter pairings. Blue cheese is one of the few cheeses that can be paired with sweet, succulent fruits, jams, and honey.

When creating a blue cheese platter, consider adding small bowls of honey and fig preserves, along with fresh fruit slices like apples, pears, peaches, and dried fruits like cherries. You can also add nuts and serve with baguette slices.

For a more indulgent option, try a blue cheese, stone fruit, and honey crostini. To make this, slice a baguette into 1/2 cm cuts at an angle, line a baking sheet, and place the slices of bread with some space in between. Spray or brush with olive oil and bake until toasted. Top the crostini with blue cheese and a variety of stone fruits like peaches, nectarines, plums, and cherries.

If you're looking for a more balanced option, try pairing blue cheese with quince paste or fruit, as they offer some acidity to complement the boldness of the cheese. You can also try a watermelon salad with Gorgonzola cheese, or honeydew melon with blue cheese and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and honey.

For a classic pairing, go for figs and Stilton, a well-rounded blue cheese that is sweeter, creamier, and nuttier than other blue cheeses. This combination is sure to impress and is a perfect addition to any charcuterie board or cheese platter.

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Blue cheese and fruit in general

Blue cheese is a bold, funky, and rich cheese with a unique flavour that can be an acquired taste. It can range from mild and creamy to bold, crumbly, sharp, and tangy. Its strong nature and acidity allow for sweeter pairings.

When pairing cheese with fruit, it is important to balance complementary tastes and textures. Sweet and succulent fruits work well with rich and savoury cheeses. Fresh fruit is best with fresh cheeses, while sugar loves mould. It is also important to balance intensities and seek out complementary flavours.

Blue cheese pairs well with fruits such as apples, pears, peaches, plums, nectarines, and cherries. It also goes well with stone fruits, such as peaches, and even dried fruits. Blue cheese can also be paired with fruits that are not too sweet, such as green grapes. In addition, blue cheese goes well with fruit pastes and compotes, such as quince paste or fruit compote with balsamic vinegar, and citrus fruits.

Some specific examples of blue cheese and fruit pairings include:

  • Blue cheese, stone fruit, and honey crostini
  • Blue cheese, fruit, and nuts on a cheese platter
  • Blue cheese, fruit, and honey on a salad
  • Blue cheese, apple, and pear cider
  • Blue cheese and watermelon

Frequently asked questions

Blue cheese is a strong-flavoured cheese that pairs well with sweet fruits like apples, peaches, pears, and grapes. It also goes well with dried fruits, such as dried cherries, and fresh fruits like figs and melons.

Blue cheese is often paired with nuts, honey, chutneys, jams, and fruit compotes or pastes. It also goes well with bread, crackers, and meats like pulled pork or chicken wings.

Blue cheese is often paired with wine, especially sweet wines like port or sherry. It can also be enjoyed with cider, sparkling wine, or a full-bodied red or white wine.

Blue cheese ranges from mild and creamy to bold, crumbly, sharp, and tangy. Some popular varieties include Stilton, Gorgonzola, Roquefort, and Cambozola.

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