Indulging In Blue Cheese: The Perfect Food Pairings

Blue cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads and sandwiches to burgers and pizzas. It is known for its sharp, salty, and intense flavour, and its ability to add a punch of flavour to any meal. When it comes to what goes well with blue cheese, there are several options to consider. In terms of food, blue cheese pairs well with fruits such as apples, pears, figs, and walnuts. It can also be served with honey, dried fruits, or crackers. For those who enjoy a good drink with their meal, red or sparkling wines are classic choices to go with blue cheese. However, if you're looking for something sweeter, dessert or fortified wines like port or sherry can also complement the bitterness of blue cheese.

Blue cheese with beef, preferably steak

Blue cheese is a versatile cheese that can be enjoyed in many ways, and it goes particularly well with beef, especially steak. Here are some ideas for combining blue cheese with beef:

Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Blue Cheese Butter

This combination is perfect for a romantic dinner for two. Simply grill a flat iron steak and top it with blue cheese butter. For a unique touch, add grilled champagne grapes, which are sweet and tiny. Grill the grapes just long enough to soften and char them slightly.

Double-Cut Rib Eye with Sweet Gorgonzola Butter

This mouth-watering dish is a summer favourite at Jar, a modern chophouse in Los Angeles. The juicy, sweet combination of Gorgonzola and beef is served with fresh heirloom tomatoes, making it a refreshing and indulgent choice for the warmer months.

Pizza with NY Strip, Blue Cheese, and Balsamic Glaze

Take your steak salad to the next level by putting it on a pizza! This unique pizza combines NY strip steak with blue cheese and a balsamic glaze. It's an unexpected but delicious way to enjoy your steak and blue cheese.

Blue Cheese Fondue with Beef

For a fun and interactive option, try a blue cheese fondue. Dip beef strips or cubes into the melted blue cheese for a rich and indulgent experience. You can also serve the fondue with various other dipping options, such as bread cubes, vegetables, or potatoes.

Blue Cheese-Topped Burger

Blue cheese is a classic topping for burgers, adding a tangy and savoury flavour. Simply crumble some blue cheese on top of your cooked burger and let it melt slightly. You can also add other toppings like lettuce, tomato, or bacon for a heartier meal.

Blue cheese with dried fruits, such as apricots, raisins, or cranberries

Blue cheese is a versatile cheese that can be paired with dried fruits such as apricots, raisins, or cranberries to create a delicious and sophisticated flavour combination. Here are some ideas and tips to elevate your next snack or meal:

Dried Apricots and Blue Cheese Canapes

For a simple, elegant, and delicious appetiser, dried apricots and blue cheese canapes are a perfect choice. This recipe combines the sweetness of dried apricots with the tanginess of blue cheese, resulting in a flavourful bite-sized treat. To enhance the flavour profile even further, consider adding walnuts and a drizzle of honey. The crunch of the walnuts and the sweetness of the honey create a delightful contrast to the creamy texture and salty taste of the blue cheese.

Trail Mix

For a quick and nutritious snack on the go, create a trail mix with dried apricots, raisins, cranberries, and your choice of nuts. The sweetness of the dried fruits pairs well with the salty, intense flavour of blue cheese. You can portion out this trail mix into small containers or bags for a convenient and tasty snack whenever hunger strikes.

Blue Cheese Platter

When creating a cheese platter, blue cheese is an excellent addition, especially if you offer a variety of cheeses with different textures and flavours. On your platter, include dried fruits such as apricots, raisins, or cranberries, along with fresh fruits like figs and pears. To take your platter to the next level, add some nuts, such as almonds or walnuts, and a drizzle of honey. Don't forget to provide some crackers or bread on the side!

Salads

Blue cheese is a welcome addition to many types of salads, and when paired with dried fruits, it can create a delightful contrast of flavours and textures. For example, consider a salad with mixed greens, dried cranberries, blue cheese crumbles, and chopped walnuts, all tossed in a light vinaigrette. The sweetness of the cranberries and the tanginess of the blue cheese will complement each other beautifully. You can also experiment with other dried fruits, such as apricots or raisins, to find your favourite combination.

Terrine

For a unique and slightly sweet dish, try a blue cheese and dried fruit terrine. This recipe combines blue cheese with mascarpone cheese to create a creamy and flavourful base, while the dried fruits add a chewy texture and a burst of sweetness. You can use a variety of dried fruits, such as apricots, raisins, or cranberries, to customise the terrine to your taste.

Blue cheese with sweet foods, such as honey or pear and brown sugar compote

Blue cheese is a versatile ingredient that can add a punch of flavour to salads, sandwiches, burgers, and pizzas. It also pairs beautifully with sweet foods, such as honey or pear and brown sugar compote. Here are some ideas and recipes to try:

Blue Cheese with Honey

Blue cheese and honey is a classic combination that can be used in a variety of dishes. Try spreading some blue cheese on a crostini and topping it with a honey-thyme fruit compote, made with dried mixed fruits, cherries or cranberries, white wine, thyme, and black pepper. This makes for a perfect appetiser or cheese plate addition. You could also try drizzling honey on a rosemary flatbread topped with blue cheese and grapes, or grilling mangoes with blue cheese and honey for a unique dessert.

Blue Cheese with Pear and Brown Sugar Compote

The combination of blue cheese with a pear and brown sugar compote is a sophisticated and memorable pairing. Try making toasted rye bread rounds topped with creamy blue cheese and a homemade spiced pear and brown sugar compote, garnished with toasted hazelnuts. This simple appetiser can be made ahead of time and assembled just before serving. For a more substantial dish, consider making a savoury blue cheese cheesecake with a cherry pear compote and balsamic glaze, or try pear and blue cheese pastry triangles.

Blue cheese's salty and creamy characteristics are beautifully balanced by the sweetness of honey or pear and brown sugar compote. These combinations create complex and intriguing flavours that are sure to impress. Whether served as an appetiser, dessert, or part of a cheese plate, these pairings are sure to delight your taste buds.

Blue cheese with wine, such as red or sparkling wine

Blue cheese is a strong and flavourful cheese that can be an acquired taste. It is sharp, salty and intense, and pairs well with red or sparkling wine.

When it comes to red wine, blue cheese works well with a hearty variety such as a Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec. These wines complement the creaminess of the cheese and are particularly good when blue cheese is served with meat, such as a burger or steak. For those who prefer a medium-bodied red, a southern Italian red like a Negroamaro or Nero d'Avola, or a Zinfandel, pairs well with more mellow blue cheeses, such as Bleu d'Auvergne or Barkham Blue.

If you're looking for a sparkling wine to pair with blue cheese, a champagne or other sparkling variety is a good choice. These wines add a touch of elegance to the strong flavour of the blue cheese. Blue cheese also pairs well with dessert or fortified wines, such as port or sherry, which have a touch of sweetness that offsets the bitterness of the veining in blue cheese.

When creating a cheese platter with blue cheese, it is a good idea to include a variety of textures and flavours. Blue cheese pairs well with dried fruits such as apricots, raisins, cranberries, or fresh figs and pears. It also goes well with whole grain crackers, almonds, walnuts, and crusty bread. For a sweet and salty experience, include both sweet and savoury items on your platter.

Blue cheese with salad, such as fig and blue cheese salad

Blue cheese is a popular ingredient in many dishes, and its strong flavour makes it a great addition to a salad. One such salad is a fig and blue cheese salad, which can be served warm or cold. This salad combines the sweetness of figs with the salty, tangy flavour of blue cheese.

For a cold fig and blue cheese salad, fresh figs are key. They can be combined with tomatoes, pine nuts, and a simple dressing of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and salt. The figs can be quartered, and the tomatoes sliced into rounds or wedges depending on their size. These are tossed together with fresh herbs and dressed with crumbled blue cheese and a sprinkle of thyme.

A warm fig and blue cheese salad can be made by sauteing bacon, shallots, and figs, and finishing with a dressing of red wine vinegar and sugar. The warm dressing softens the lettuce leaves—curly endive, escarole, arugula, or romaine can be used. The blue cheese is crumbled on top, adding a salty contrast to the sweet figs.

Blue cheese is also a nice addition to a mixed cheese platter, especially if serving 4-5 cheeses. It pairs well with honey, dried fruit, apple or pear slices, figs, and walnuts. It can be served with champagne, sparkling wines, port, sherry, ice wines, or other dessert wines.

Blue cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many dishes, from salads to sandwiches, burgers, and pizzas. It adds a punch of flavour and is a great way to elevate a simple dish.

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