Blue Cheese Pizza: Perfect Pairing Ideas For Your Pie

Blue cheese is a popular pizza topping, especially in Italy, and it's now becoming more common in American pizzerias. Blue cheese has a strong flavour and a distinct smell, and when combined with other toppings, it adds a unique taste to your pizza. There are many different toppings that go well with blue cheese, including sweet, salty, or crunchy ingredients to balance out the strong flavour of the cheese. Some popular toppings include bacon, caramelized onions, spinach, walnuts, pears, and buffalo chicken.

Blue cheese, pear, walnut, and honey

This pizza is a great option for a weeknight meal as it is easy to make and requires little preparation time. The base is simple—just brush some garlic-infused olive oil on store-bought naan or a whole-wheat pizza crust. The addition of honey to the base also helps to balance the flavours of the toppings.

For the toppings, sliced or diced pears are paired with crumbled blue cheese, creating a delicious combination of sweet and savoury. Toasted walnuts add a nice crunch, and a drizzle of honey brings everything together. Some recipes also include other ingredients such as arugula, caramelized onions, or spinach to add extra flavour and texture.

The baking process is straightforward—simply bake the pizza in the oven until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted. The result is a unique and tasty pizza that is sure to impress.

Olive and blue cheese

This unique and flavourful pizza is a brilliant option for those looking to experiment with different pizza toppings. The sharpness of the parmesan and blue cheese, combined with the brininess of the olives, creates a delightful taste. The addition of spicy garlic and jalapeno peppers further enhances the flavour profile, resulting in a truly exceptional pizza.

Ingredients:

• Your favourite pizza dough, to be hand-tossed to about a 16-inch size
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 cup thinly shaved parmesan cheese
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeds removed, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup green olives with pimento, sliced in half
• 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Start by preheating your oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a large circular baking sheet or pizza pan into the oven to preheat while you prepare the pizza.

Lightly flour your dough ball and begin pressing it out with your fingers to fit the size and shape of your pizza pan. Flip and repeat. If needed, use a rolling pin to get the dough to your desired thickness. You can also try tossing the dough, which is a fun activity that kids will surely enjoy!

Once your dough is ready, carefully remove the hot pizza pan from the oven using kitchen mitts and place it on a wooden cutting board or a potholder. Drizzle the olive oil onto the pan, tilting it to ensure full coverage. Place the dough onto the pan, being cautious as it will be very hot.

Now, it's time for the toppings! Scatter the garlic on top of the pizza, followed by the shaved parmesan cheese. You can use a microplane to create nice, thin ribbons of cheese. Add the jalapeno peppers, followed by the olives, blue cheese, and finally, a small amount of mozzarella cheese.

Place the pan into the oven and bake for approximately 18 to 24 minutes, or until the cheese turns golden. Once done, remove the pizza from the oven, slice it, and serve. Be prepared for a delicious and addictive pizza experience!

Spinach and blue cheese

Ingredients

The ingredients you will need for this pizza are:

• Spinach
• Blue cheese
• Walnuts
• Mushrooms
• Onion
• Garlic
• Flour
• Yogurt
• Baking powder
• Oil

Method

First, heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and place a baking sheet inside. Then, heat some oil in a large non-stick frying pan and cook the mushrooms and garlic, stirring frequently, until softened. Next, add the spinach, a handful at a time, and cook until just wilted but not soggy. Add the onion and stir it through, then turn off the heat.

For the base, mix the flour and baking powder in a bowl and stir in the yogurt to make a soft dough. Dust a sheet of baking parchment with flour, put the dough on top, and press with floured hands to make a flat 20cm round. Top with the spinach mixture, scatter over the cheese and walnuts, then bake on the hot baking sheet for 12 minutes or until the dough is cooked through and golden.

Variations

There are many variations of this pizza that you can try. For example, you could use sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan, or pine nuts instead of walnuts. You could also use gorgonzola or feta cheese instead of blue cheese. Additionally, you can add other toppings such as red onion, bell peppers, or marinated artichokes.

Blue cheese and bacon

Ingredients

• Pizza dough
• Butter
• Flour
• Salt
• Pepper
• Nutmeg
• Bacon
• Blue cheese

Optional Ingredients

• Garlic
• Olive oil
• Bay leaves
• Thyme
• Onions
• Figs
• Gorgonzola

Method

• Place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 475-500ºF. Let the stone heat for at least 30 minutes.
• Make the béchamel sauce by melting butter in a saucepan. Add flour and whisk, ensuring there are no clumps. Allow the mixture to cook for at least 1 minute. Whisk in milk and season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste. Continue to cook until slightly thickened.
• Roll out the pizza dough on a sheet of parchment paper.
• Spread the béchamel sauce evenly over the pizza dough.
• Top with bacon and blue cheese.
• Transfer to the oven and bake until the crust is cooked, approximately 8-10 minutes.

Variations

For a more substantial meal, you can add ground beef to the pizza. Simply cook and crumble the beef with garlic, onion, salt, pepper, and parsley in a frying pan before adding to the pizza.

For a vegetarian option, try adding caramelized onions, figs, and gorgonzola to your pizza. This combination is inspired by the flavours of southeastern France and the Italian border. Simply cook the onions with thyme and bay leaves in butter until softened and golden brown. Then, cook the bacon until brown and crispy. Top the pizza dough with the caramelized onions, followed by the figs and bacon, and finally, the gorgonzola. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with cracked black pepper before serving.

For a completely different take on blue cheese and bacon pizza, try using a blue cheese dressing as the base sauce. Top with bacon, red onion, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese.

Blue cheese and buffalo chicken

When making a blue cheese and buffalo chicken pizza, it's important to consider the other ingredients that will complement these two strong flavours. One option is to go for a simple approach, with just the chicken, blue cheese, and a drizzle of buffalo sauce on top of your pizza dough. This allows the two main flavours to shine through.

However, if you want to add some extra ingredients to enhance the flavour profile and add some texture, here are some suggestions:

• Mozzarella: This mild, melting cheese adds a creamy texture and helps to balance the sharpness of the blue cheese.
• Red onions: Thinly sliced red onions add a sweet and tangy flavour, as well as a crunchy texture.
• Banana peppers: These mild peppers bring a subtle heat and a bright, colourful touch to the pizza.
• Garlic: A little garlic in the sauce or brushed on the crust adds depth of flavour.
• Butter: Brushing melted butter on the crust before baking gives it a rich, golden colour and extra flavour.
• Parmesan: Adding some grated Parmesan to the crust adds a salty, savoury note.
• Spices: A sprinkle of dried oregano, chilli powder, or black pepper can enhance the overall flavour of the pizza.
• Vegetables: Spinach, mushrooms, and walnuts are great vegetarian options to add some extra nutrients and texture.

• Prepare your pizza dough and preheat the oven to a high temperature (around 400-500°F).
• Marinate your cooked chicken in buffalo sauce and a small amount of blue cheese.
• Roll out the dough and poke holes with a fork to prevent bubbling.
• Spread a layer of pizza sauce or béchamel sauce on the dough.
• Top with mozzarella, followed by the marinated chicken, red onions, and banana peppers.
• Drizzle with blue cheese dressing and a little extra buffalo sauce.
• Bake the pizza for approximately 13-20 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
• Remove from the oven and garnish with chopped green onions, red pepper flakes, and parsley.

Feel free to experiment with different ingredients and toppings to create your own unique blue cheese and buffalo chicken pizza!

Frequently asked questions