Pairing Danish Blue Cheese: The Ultimate Flavor Guide

Danish Blue Cheese, also known as Danablu, is a strong, blue-veined, semi-soft cheese with a sharp, salty taste. It is often served crumbled on salads, paired with fruit, or served on bread or savoury biscuits. Its strong flavour means it's best enjoyed in small amounts. Danish Blue Cheese can also be melted into sauces or used as a topping for pizza, burgers, or steak. To offset its saltiness, it can be paired with something sweet, such as honey or jam.

Danish Blue Cheese on Bread or Crackers

Danish Blue Cheese, also known as Danablu, is a strong, blue-veined cheese with a sharp, salty taste. It is often served on bread or savoury biscuits/crackers.

Danish Blue Cheese on Bread

In Denmark, Danish Blue Cheese is commonly served on bread, either on its own or with toppings. It can be spread thinly on bread or buns/toast and paired with other toppings such as butter, jam, honey, or mustard. It can also be melted on white bread or buns with butter and honey drizzled on top.

Danish Blue Cheese on Crackers

Danish Blue Cheese is also often served on crackers, either on its own or as part of a dish. It can be crumbled or sliced and paired with toppings such as honey, jam, or port wine. It can also be served as a snack or appetiser with crackers and toppings like pastrami or celery.

Other Serving Suggestions

Danish Blue Cheese is a versatile cheese that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Besides bread and crackers, it can be served with fruit, such as apples and pears, or crumbled over a salad. It can also be melted into soups, pastas, or stews, or used as a pizza topping. It pairs well with red wine and is suitable for cooking, melting, or crumbling.

Danish Blue Cheese with Fruit

Danish Blue Cheese, or Danablu, is a strong, blue-veined cheese with a sharp, salty taste and a creamy, smooth texture. It is often served as a dessert cheese with fruit, and pairs well with fruits that provide a contrast in flavour, such as zesty apples, pears, and dark chocolate. The sharpness of the cheese is subdued by the sweetness of the fruit, making it an excellent choice for those who are hesitant to try blue cheese.

When creating a cheese platter with Danish Blue Cheese and fruit, consider including a variety of fresh and dried fruits to complement the cheese. Fresh apples and pears, as well as dried apricots, figs, or dates, can provide a range of textures and flavours that will enhance the cheese-tasting experience. Additionally, nuts such as walnuts or almonds can add a crunchy contrast to the creaminess of the cheese.

For a more creative approach, you can incorporate Danish Blue Cheese into fruit-based recipes. For example, try making a blue cheese and apple grilled sandwich, a pear and blue cheese salad, or even a cheese platter with dark chocolate and fresh berries. The combination of sweet and savoury flavours will delight your taste buds and impress your guests.

When selecting the perfect fruit to pair with Danish Blue Cheese, consider the seasonality and availability of fresh produce. During the summer months, fresh berries, peaches, and melons can provide a refreshing contrast to the richness of the cheese. In the winter, opt for heartier fruits such as baked apples or poached pears, which will complement the cheese's salty and sharp characteristics.

In conclusion, Danish Blue Cheese and fruit is a classic combination that offers a delightful sensory experience. By selecting complementary fruits and incorporating them into recipes or cheese platters, you can elevate the flavours of Danish Blue Cheese and enjoy a delicious and sophisticated treat.

Danish Blue Cheese in a Salad

Danish Blue Cheese, also known as Danablu, is a semi-soft, blue-veined cheese with a sharp, salty taste. It is often served crumbled on salads or as a dessert cheese with fruit. Its distinct flavour and texture make it a versatile ingredient that can enhance a variety of dishes.

When incorporating Danish Blue Cheese into a salad, consider the following combinations to create a well-rounded and delicious dish:

Ingredients

• Greens: Start with a base of mixed greens such as lettuce, spinach, or arugula. These greens provide a fresh canvas for the strong flavour of the cheese.
• Fruit: Danish Blue Cheese pairs well with fruits such as apples, pears, and grapes. The sweetness of the fruit balances the saltiness of the cheese.
• Nuts: Add some crunch and texture with nuts such as pecans, walnuts, or almonds. Toasting the nuts lightly can enhance their flavour and make them even more delicious.
• Vegetables: Include vegetables such as beets, carrots, or roasted squash. These provide additional texture, colour, and nutritional value to the salad.
• Dressing: A simple vinaigrette made with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard can bring all the flavours together. Alternatively, a creamy blue cheese dressing can be drizzled over the salad for an extra indulgent touch.

Composition

When composing the salad, consider the visual appeal as well as the taste. Arrange the ingredients in a way that showcases the colours and textures of the various elements. Here are a few tips for composing the salad:

• Layering: Start with a bed of greens, then add the Danish Blue Cheese crumbles, followed by the chosen fruits and vegetables. Sprinkle the nuts on top, or place them strategically for added visual appeal.
• Height: Create height in the salad by stacking certain ingredients. For example, roll slices of cheese and alternate them with slices of apple or pear. This adds interest and makes the salad more inviting.
• Garnish: Finish the salad with a garnish, such as fresh herbs like basil or chives. This adds a final touch of colour and flavour.

Serving Suggestions

• Portion Size: Danish Blue Cheese has a strong flavour, so a little goes a long way. Consider serving the salad as a side dish or starter, rather than a main course.
• Accompaniments: Serve the salad with crusty bread or savoury biscuits on the side. These can be used to scoop up the cheese and other ingredients, creating a delightful textural contrast.
• Beverage Pairing: A glass of port wine or a crisp white wine can complement the flavours of the salad. The sweetness of the port, in particular, will contrast beautifully with the salty cheese.

Danish Blue Cheese on Pizza

Danish Blue Cheese, also known as Danablu, is a strong, blue-veined, semi-soft creamery cheese. It is made from full-fat cow's milk and homogenized cream, resulting in a fat content of 25-30%. It is typically aged for eight to twelve weeks and has a yellowish, slightly moist, edible rind. Danish Blue Cheese has a sharp, salty taste and a creamy and smooth texture.

When it comes to putting Danish Blue Cheese on pizza, there are several recipes to consider. One option is to make a BBQ Chicken Pizza. For this recipe, you will need Greek yoghurt, self-raising flour, Danish Blue Cheese, a poached chicken breast, barbeque sauce, spinach, a red onion, and olive oil. Start by preheating your oven to 240C/220C fan. Prepare the dough by mixing the yoghurt and flour, then crumbling in 50 grams of Danish Blue Cheese and kneading it into a firm dough. Roll out the dough and place it on a baking sheet. Spread BBQ sauce on the dough, then add sauteed spinach, shredded chicken mixed with BBQ sauce, and sliced red onion. Finally, crumble the remaining 75 grams of Danish Blue Cheese on top, brush the crust with olive oil, and drizzle olive oil over the toppings. Bake for 10 minutes, then let it cool for 5 minutes before slicing.

Another option for a Danish Blue Cheese pizza is to pair it with turkey sausage and radicchio. For this recipe, you will need ground dark meat turkey, garlic, fennel seed, olive oil, pizza dough, fontina cheese, radicchio, and Danish Blue Cheese. Preheat your oven to the highest temperature and prepare a baking stone or cast-iron pan. In a bowl, mix the turkey, garlic, fennel seed, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in a pan and brown the turkey sausage. Roll out your pizza dough and place it on a peel or parchment paper. Top with fontina cheese, radicchio, and cooked turkey sausage. Bake until the crust is golden brown, then remove from the oven and add the Danish Blue Cheese and remaining radicchio. Return to the oven for about 1 minute, just until the cheese melts. Finish by adding small dollops of kumquat or orange marmalade near the chunks of blue cheese.

When adding Danish Blue Cheese to pizza, it is important to consider the balance of flavours. Danish Blue Cheese has a strong, salty taste, so pairing it with ingredients that complement or contrast with its sharpness can enhance the overall flavour of the pizza. Additionally, Danish Blue Cheese melts well, creating a creamy consistency that blends with the other toppings.

Danish Blue Cheese in a Sauce

Danish Blue Cheese, also known as Danablu, is a semi-soft, blue-veined cheese with a sharp, salty taste. It is often served crumbled on salads, or as a dessert cheese with fruit. Its strong flavour means that a little goes a long way.

Danish Blue Cheese Sauce

Danish Blue Cheese can be melted into a sauce to accompany a variety of dishes. Its strong flavour means that a little goes a long way, so it is often used in small quantities alongside other cheeses.

One way to make a Danish Blue Cheese sauce is to melt the cheese into a béchamel sauce, which can then be used to make a gratin. This combination works particularly well with cauliflower, creating a rich, indulgent side dish.

Another option is to make a blue cheese dressing, which can be used to accompany salads or as a dip. This can be as simple as mixing the cheese with yogurt, or a vinaigrette. For a warm dressing, the cheese can be melted into a little cream.

Danish Blue Cheese sauce can also be used to top a steak, or to add flavour to a burger. It can be used in place of Gorgonzola in a sauce, or to make a blue cheese butter to accompany a rib-eye.

Frequently asked questions