Blue Cheese's Perfect Pairings: Exploring Culinary Delights

Blue cheese is a versatile ingredient that can add depth to a variety of dishes, from salads to burgers to desserts. Its strong, salty, and spicy flavour makes it a great pairing with fruits such as pears, apples, and persimmons. It also goes well with nuts, especially walnuts, and can be used to make a range of sweet and savoury appetizers, snacks, and meals.

Blue cheese with fruit, e.g. pears, apples, persimmons, or figs

Blue cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be paired with fruits like pears, apples, persimmons, and figs to create delicious dishes. Here are some ideas and recipes to get you started:

Blue Cheese with Pears

Pears and blue cheese is a classic combination. You can create a simple yet elegant appetiser by topping fresh pear slices with crumbled blue cheese and a drizzle of honey. For a heartier option, try making a grilled cheese sandwich with pear slices, blue cheese, and prune jam on cranberry walnut bread. Another idea is to make a pear and blue cheese tartlet with a puff pastry base, or a pear soup served with blue cheese bruschetta on the side.

Blue Cheese with Apples

Apples and blue cheese also go well together. You can spread blue cheese on apple slices, or even crumble it over a slice of warm apple pie. For a more savoury option, make a chicken salad with apples, walnuts, and blue cheese.

Blue Cheese with Persimmons

Persimmons are another fruit that pairs well with blue cheese. Try slicing up some persimmons and arranging them on a platter with blue cheese for a simple appetiser. You can also add some candied walnuts for an extra touch of sweetness and crunch.

Blue Cheese with Figs

Figs and blue cheese is a match made in heaven. Try wrapping fresh figs with prosciutto and stuffing them with blue cheese for a delicious appetiser. You can also make a salad with mixed greens, figs, walnuts, and crumbled blue cheese, dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. Feel free to experiment and create your own unique combinations!

Blue cheese with meat, e.g. steak, chicken, or prosciutto

Blue cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used to add a punch of flavour to meat dishes. Here are some ideas for combining blue cheese with meat, such as steak, chicken, or prosciutto:

Steak

Blue cheese is a classic pairing with steak. Try making a blue cheese sauce to pour over your steak by frying a shallot in the steak juices, adding blue cheese until melted, then adding white wine, beef stock, and cream. This sauce is also delicious as a dip for fries. Alternatively, make a compound butter with blue cheese and spread it on top of your steak. Or, for a simple option, just crumble blue cheese over your steak.

Chicken

Blue cheese can be used as a stuffing for chicken breast, along with pine nuts, cream cheese, and spinach. It can also be crumbled over a chicken salad, or used in a chicken salad sandwich. For a more indulgent option, try a chicken quesadilla with blue cheese and caramelised onions.

Prosciutto

Wrap prosciutto around a date stuffed with blue cheese and drizzle with honey for a decadent bite. For a more substantial dish, stuff prosciutto with blue cheese and pickled cherry peppers.

Blue cheese with carbs, e.g. pasta, pizza, or crackers

Blue cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be paired with various carbohydrates to create delicious meals. Here are some ideas for combining blue cheese with carbs like pasta, pizza, or crackers:

Blue Cheese Pasta

Blue cheese can be used to make a creamy and flavourful pasta sauce. The sauce typically includes ingredients such as butter, garlic, onion, half-and-half or milk, and a combination of blue cheese and Parmesan cheese. This sauce can be tossed with your choice of pasta, such as penne, fusilli, or ravioli. You can also add extra ingredients like spinach, grilled chicken, or bacon to create a heartier dish. The saltiness of the blue cheese pairs well with the other savoury ingredients, creating a rich and indulgent pasta dish.

Blue Cheese Pizza

Creating a blue cheese pizza is another option for combining blue cheese with carbs. You can experiment with different types of pizza dough, such as sourdough, to create a unique flavour profile. Top your pizza with blue cheese and ingredients like turkey fennel sausage, radicchio, and fontina cheese. The key is to balance the flavours by incorporating sweet, bitter, salty, sour, and umami tastes. For example, adding a citrus element like kumquat or orange marmalade can provide a pleasant contrast to the saltiness of the blue cheese.

Blue Cheese Crackers

For a simpler carbohydrate pairing, blue cheese can be enjoyed with crackers. You can make your own blue cheese and walnut crackers by combining ingredients like butter, Stilton cheese, flour, salt, pepper, and walnuts. Alternatively, store-bought crackers can be topped with blue cheese to create an easy appetiser or snack. The sharpness of blue cheese pairs well with the crispness of crackers, and the addition of walnuts provides a tasty contrast in texture and flavour.

Other Carb Pairings

In addition to pasta, pizza, and crackers, blue cheese can be combined with other carbohydrates in various dishes:

• Focaccia with caramelised onions, pear, and blue cheese
• Macaroni and cheese with bacon and blue cheese
• Rosemary flatbread with blue cheese, grapes, and honey
• Chicken quesadillas with blue cheese and caramelised onions

Blue cheese with vegetables, e.g. broccoli, beetroot, or spinach

Blue cheese is a great pairing with many vegetables, including broccoli, beetroot, and spinach.

Blue Cheese with Broccoli

Broccoli and blue cheese is a combination that works well as an upgrade to a classic. Broccoli, blue cheese, and capers on sourdough toast is a delicious option for a snack or light meal. To make this, roast the broccoli with salt, pepper, and olive oil, and toast the sourdough. Then, crumble blue cheese onto the toast, add the broccoli, sprinkle with capers, and drizzle with olive oil.

Blue Cheese with Beetroot

Beetroot and blue cheese is another great combination, especially in a winter salad. To make this, roast beetroot wedges with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Separately, roast leeks with thyme, garlic, and white wine, and place a pat of butter on each leek. Combine the beetroot and leeks with blue cheese, dill seeds, and dill fronds. This salad can be served warm or cold.

Blue Cheese with Spinach

Spinach and blue cheese is a classic combination and can be used in many dishes. Blue cheese creamed spinach is a tasty side dish, and the sharp tanginess of the blue cheese pairs well with the leafy greens. To make this, sauté spinach in olive oil with salt and pepper, and combine with a blue cheese sauce. This can be served on its own or as a complement to steak.

Spinach and blue cheese can also be used to make a pizza. To make this, prepare a yeast-free dough with flour, baking powder, and yoghurt, and top with spinach, walnuts, mushrooms, and blue cheese.

Blue cheese and spinach also work well in pasta dishes. To make a simple pasta dish, cook pasta, and prepare a sauce with olive oil, garlic, crème fraîche, blue cheese, black pepper, and spinach. Another option is to make a pasta dish with spinach, mushrooms, and walnuts.

Blue cheese with nuts, e.g. walnuts, pecans, or pine nuts

Blue cheese is a strong-flavoured, pungent cheese that can be crumbled and added to a variety of dishes. It is often paired with nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, or pine nuts. Here are some ideas for combining blue cheese with nuts:

Walnut Blue Cheese Salad

A simple yet tasty salad that can be enjoyed on its own or as a side dish. To make this salad, combine lettuce, blue cheese, and walnuts in a bowl. You can also add a dressing made of olive oil, lime juice, Dijon mustard, and black pepper. Pears are commonly served with this salad, but they can be omitted for a low-carb option. Toasted walnuts and crumbled blue cheese can be scattered over the salad leaves, creating a quick and easy dish.

Blue Cheese and Pine Nut Puffs

A delicious cocktail party snack, these puffs combine blue cheese and pine nuts in a pastry bag to pipe out dough mounds. The dough is made by combining water, butter, thyme, salt, and pepper, then adding flour and eggs. The blue cheese, Gruyère cheese, and pine nuts are stirred into the dough before baking. These puffs can be served warm or at room temperature and are sure to impress your guests.

Pecan Blue Cheese Spread

This spread is a delicious and easy-to-make appetiser that can be served with crackers or bread. It only requires a few simple ingredients: pecans, cream cheese, and blue cheese. The nuts are processed until finely chopped, and then the cheeses are added and processed until smooth. This spread is best when chilled for a few hours before serving, and a dribble of brandy or port can be added for an extra kick.

Other Combinations

Blue cheese also pairs well with other ingredients such as pears, honey, grapes, and caramelized onions. It can be used in a variety of dishes, including pizzas, sandwiches, burgers, and salads. Blue cheese adds a punch of flavour to any dish and is a great way to elevate simple recipes.

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