Blue Cheese Sauce: Perfect Pairing Ideas For Your Palate

Blue cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in everything from salads to burgers. Its strong flavour means that a little goes a long way, and it can be used as a wonderful salty flavour enhancer. Blue cheese is often paired with sweet foods such as honey, caramelised onions, pears, and figs, and it also works well with beef, chicken, and broccoli.

Characteristics	Values
Salads	Pear, chicory and walnut, peach, spring greens, spinach and butternut barley, radicchio and pear with walnuts, beetroot, broccoli and almond, sprout, bacon and cider-raisin, kale, roasted sprout, fig and walnut, nettle and walnut, ham, pickled pear and walnut, blue cheese and walnut, pear and walnut, broccoli, butternut squash, and spinach
Sandwiches	Leftover blue cheese chicken salad, focaccia with caramelised onions and pear, brisket with beer onions, steak sarnie with onions, mushroom and red onion toastie
Soups	Celery and stilton, roast beetroot with blue cheese toasts, baked sweet potato with blue cheese toast, broccoli and stilton, cauliflower cheese, pumpkin and sage, sweet potato
Pasta	Blue cheese leek and mushroom bake, spinach and walnut, broccoli walnut, chestnut, spinach and walnut en croûte, gnocchi with gorgonzola and pear, one-pan potato gnocchi with mushrooms, pumpkin and sage baked gnocchi, caramelised red onion and blue cheese, courgette and roquefort pizza, kale, leek and mushroom lasagne
Pies	Steak and blue cheese, ham and blue cheese, roasted apple, cheese and shallot
Tarts	Fig and walnut, ham, fig and walnut, shallot and blue cheese, pear and roquefort tarte tatin
Dips	Blue cheese, buffalo wings, sticky wings
Dressings	Blue cheese, walnut vinaigrette, blue cheese and walnut
Sauces	Blue cheese, gorgonzola
Bakes	Broccoli, blue cheese and bacon, squash and walnut Wellington, broccoli blue cheese, soft polenta with roast butternut and blue cheese, kale, leek and mushroom lasagne with blue cheese topping, blue cheese and thyme soufflés
Other	Rosemary flatbread with grapes and honey, chicken quesadillas, firecracker shrimp, chicken hot wings with blue cheese slaw, macaroni and cheese with bacon, chicken drumsticks with blue cheese dipping sauce, sticky sausage burgers, focaccia with caramelised onions and pear, blue cheese leeks with crispy bacon breadcrumbs, blue cheese and bacon smash burger, stilton roast potatoes, seeded stilton biscuits, roasted sprout, bacon and blue cheese salad, blue cheese and bacon tart, chicken wings with blue cheese slaw, brisket sandwiches with beer onions, chargrilled steak with chopped salad, steak with blue cheese sauce, umami burgers with port and stilton, charred broccoli with spiced crispies, three-cheese cauliflower gratin, double-cut rib eye with sweet gorgonzola butter, restoration salad with farro and orange, caramelised onion and bread soup with brûléed blue cheese, crostini with grilled sweet onions, blue cheese gougères, sticky buffalo wings, crunchy tofu nuggets with blue cheese slaw, spinach and blue cheese pizza, spinach and blue cheese penne, baked blue cheese with figs and walnuts, tartines with fig, ham and blue cheese, steak and blue cheese en croûte, warm new potato salad with bacon, chestnut, spinach and blue cheese en croûte, blue cheese, butternut and barley salad with maple walnuts, grilled summer squash with pecans, chicken wings with blue cheese dip, bacon and blue cheese stuffed burgers, blue cheese and honey tartine, cheese and garlic pull-apart, polenta fries with gorgonzola dip, pumpkin with pickled walnut salsa, pumpkin, sage and blue cheese muffins, linseed crisps with honeycomb

Salads

Pear, Chicory and Blue Cheese Salad

This colourful and elegant salad combines creamy blue cheese, ripe pears, and walnuts, creating a winning combination of flavours and textures. The addition of red onion and parsley, along with a quick red wine vinegar dressing, ties all the ingredients together. This salad is perfect for entertaining guests or enjoying as a refreshing lunch.

Peach and Blue Cheese Salad

A creamy and fruity salad, perfect for a light summer meal. The sweetness of the peaches balances the tanginess of the blue cheese, creating a delightful contrast of flavours.

Beet and Blue Cheese Salad

A bright and sweet salad created by chef Nicolaus Balla. The combination of scallions, herbs, and red wine pairs beautifully with the blue cheese, offering a unique take on a classic salad.

Broccoli and Blue Cheese Salad

This simple yet tasty salad features purple sprouting broccoli with a garlic and blue cheese dressing. Toasted almonds are sprinkled on top for added crunch, making it an ideal side dish for summer gatherings.

Blue Cheese, Butternut and Barley Salad with Maple Walnuts

A robust and hearty salad, featuring roasted onions, squash, deep-flavoured blue cheese, crunchy maple walnuts, and healthier grains. This salad delivers a variety of textures and flavours that will leave you satisfied.

Radicchio and Pear Salad with Blue Cheese and Walnuts

An autumn-inspired side dish, perfect for entertaining. The bitterness of the radicchio pairs well with the sweetness of the pears, and the blue cheese adds a creamy texture and a punch of flavour.

Steak and Charred Pear Salad with Blue Cheese and Tarragon Dressing

A filling and flavourful salad showcasing classic combinations: steak with tangy blue cheese, bitter winter leaves, sweet pear, and crunchy pecans. The tarragon dressing brings all the elements together for a satisfying meal.

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Sandwiches

Blue cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used to make sandwiches more indulgent and flavourful. Here are some sandwich ideas with blue cheese:

Brisket Sandwiches with Beer Onions and Blue Cheese

Slow-cooked beer-braised brisket stuffed in a bun with sticky sweet onions and blue cheese. This sandwich is a great value meal that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Chicken Salad Sandwich

This sandwich uses leftover chicken dressed with a mix of yogurt and blue cheese. You can also add gorgonzola cheese, which works well with the chicken.

Steak Sarnie with Onions and Blue Cheese

Make the ultimate steak sandwich by layering bread and juicy steak with sticky onions and blue cheese. This is a classic flavour combination that is sure to satisfy.

Mushroom and Red Onion Toastie

A mushroom toastie with red onions, cheddar, and blue cheese is a great option for a hearty meal, especially if you're feeling hungover.

Blue Cheese and Honey Tartine

A tartine is a French open-faced sandwich, often made with sourdough bread. This sandwich can be made by lightly toasting sourdough bread, sprinkling blue cheese on one side, grilling it until the cheese melts, and then drizzling honey over it. You can also add toppings such as caramelised apples, grilled figs, or cured meats.

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Pizzas

Blue cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used to make a variety of pizzas. Here are some mouth-watering options:

Spinach and Blue Cheese Pizza

This vegetarian pizza is super-quick to make as the base is yeast-free. The combination of spinach, walnuts, mushrooms, and blue cheese creates a tasty and nutritious treat. The recipe includes heating the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and placing a baking sheet inside. Heat oil in a frying pan and cook the mushrooms and garlic, then add spinach and onion. For the base, mix flour and baking powder in a bowl and stir in yogurt to form a soft dough. Press the dough with floured hands to make a flat 20cm round. Top with the spinach mixture, scatter over the cheese and walnuts, then bake for 12 minutes or until golden.

Blue Cheese and Bacon Pizza

This pizza is a gourmet treat, with a pizza crust topped with a béchamel sauce, bacon, and blue cheese. To make the béchamel, melt butter in a saucepan, add flour, and whisk. Add milk and season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Roll out the pizza dough, spread the béchamel, and top with bacon and blue cheese. Bake at 475-500ºF for 8-10 minutes.

Olive and Blue Cheese Pizza

This unique pizza combines the sharpness of parmesan and blue cheese with the brininess of olives and the kick of spicy garlic and jalapeno peppers. It does not require any sauce. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare your favourite pizza dough and top with shaved parmesan, blue cheese crumbles, green olives, jalapeno peppers, and a small amount of mozzarella. Bake for 18-24 minutes or until the cheese is golden.

Blue Cheese Pizza with Caramelized Onion, Mushroom, and Basil

This pizza is a delightful mix of sweet and umami flavours. Start by making caramelized onions by slow-cooking onions in sugar and balsamic vinegar, then add sliced button mushrooms. For the pizza, brush olive oil on the dough, add mozzarella, the caramelized onion-mushroom mix, basil, and crumbled blue cheese. Bake at 425°F for about 10 minutes.

Honey, Pear, and Walnut Blue Cheese Pizza

This pizza features an intriguing combination of sweet and savoury flavours. Mix honey with olive oil and brush it on the dough. Top with mozzarella, pear slices, walnuts, and blue cheese. Bake at 425°F for about 10 minutes, then drizzle with honey.

These recipes offer a range of creative ways to incorporate blue cheese into pizzas, each with its own distinct flavour profile and appeal.

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Dips and dressings

Blue cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many dishes, from salads to burgers. Here are some ideas for dips and dressings:

Blue Cheese Dip — A classic dip that pairs well with potato wedges, chicken wings, or even crispy fries.
Blue Cheese and Honey — Drizzle honey over blue cheese to make a delicious dip or dressing. This combination is also excellent on sourdough bread or crostini.
Blue Cheese and Walnut — Walnuts and blue cheese is a classic combination. Try it as a dip with crackers or as a dressing for a salad.
Blue Cheese and Fruit — Blue cheese goes well with sweet and tangy fruits like apples, pears, figs, and grapes. Create a fruit and blue cheese chutney or use it as a topping for a flatbread or pizza.
Blue Cheese and Vegetable — Combine blue cheese with vegetables like celery, broccoli, or beetroot to make a dip or dressing. For example, a blue cheese and celery dip or a beetroot and blue cheese salad dressing.
Blue Cheese and Cream — For a more indulgent option, mix blue cheese with cream to make a creamy dip or dressing. This could be served with vegetables or crackers.

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Bakes

Blue cheese sauce is a bold, salty, tangy, and garlicky sauce that can be used in a variety of bakes. Here are some ideas for bakes that go well with blue cheese sauce:

Baked Chicken Goujons

Blue cheese sauce can be served as a dip for baked chicken goujons, adding a tangy and creamy dimension to the dish.

Baked Gnocchi with Broccoli and Blue Cheese

This bake combines creamy blue cheese with broccoli and gnocchi, resulting in a comforting and flavourful dish.

Broccoli Blue Cheese Bake

This bake is an upgraded version of the classic side dish, with the addition of chunks of blue cheese. It is a simple yet indulgent dish, perfect for a comforting meal.

Steak and Blue Cheese Pie

A golden-crusted puff pastry pie filled with braising steak, blue cheese, brown ale, and thyme. This hearty bake is perfect for chilly winter nights, combining the robust flavours of steak and blue cheese.

Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon and Blue Cheese

This bake takes the classic macaroni and cheese to the next level by adding bacon and blue cheese. The saltiness of the bacon and the tanginess of the blue cheese create a unique flavour profile that takes this comfort food to new heights.

Chicken Quesadillas with Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onions

Blue cheese sauce can be drizzled over chicken quesadillas, especially when paired with caramelized onions, for a tangy and savoury twist on this classic dish.