Blue Cheese Companions: Perfect Pairing Partners

Blue cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads to burgers and even desserts. Its bold, sharp, and tangy flavour with grassy notes and hints of mushroom, along with its crumbly and creamy textures, make it a unique and popular cheese. When it comes to pairing blue cheese with other cheeses, there are several options that complement its distinct taste and characteristics.

For a sweet-to-bitter contrast, dark chocolate is an ideal pairing for earthy blue cheeses. The bitterness of the chocolate enhances the rustic, barnyard-like qualities of the cheese. Butter is a great match for bold blues, as the extra fat mellows the strong flavour and helps spread the complexity across the tongue. Salty blues, on the other hand, pair well with honey, creating a delightful contrast between sweet and savoury.

Additionally, creamy blues go well with beef, as the natural meatiness of the cheese complements red meat dishes. Blue cheese can also be paired with other cheeses to create unique flavour profiles. For example, a three-cheese fonduta combines whole-milk ricotta, crumbly Gorgonzola, and nutty Parmigiano-Reggiano for a rich and indulgent experience. Another option is a three-cheese cauliflower gratin, featuring English cheeses like Montgomery's cheddar, Ogleshield, and Colston Bassett Stilton.

In summary, blue cheese offers a range of pairing options, from sweet to savoury, and can be combined with other cheeses to create indulgent and flavourful dishes.

Blue cheese with beef

Blue cheese is a popular topping for steak, and it can be served in a variety of ways. One option is to make a blue cheese sauce to pour over the steak. To make this sauce, fry your steak, then set it aside to rest. In the same pan, fry up a shallot, add your blue cheese until it melts, and then add white wine, beef stock, and cream. Keep the pan hot so your steak doesn't get cold. This sauce can also be made without the steak; just start with melting butter in a pan.

Another way to serve blue cheese with steak is to crumble it over the steak while it's still on the grill. You can also make a blue cheese butter to melt on top of a steak.

Blue cheese also works well in a steak pie. Make a pastry with flour, mustard powder, salt, lard, butter, an egg, and water. Then, season and brown chunks of steak in a pan with oil. Fry up some bacon, carrots, onions, and bay leaves, and then add the beef back to the pan along with stock, thyme, and more mustard powder. Simmer until the beef is tender, and then transfer to a pie dish. Crumble blue cheese over the beef, add a marrowbone, and then cover with the pastry. Brush the pastry with a beaten egg and bake.

Blue cheese also works well with other types of beef. For example, you can make blue cheese burgers by crumbling and melting the cheese on top of a burger patty. You can also make a blue cheese butter to spread on a burger bun.

Blue cheese with honey

Blue cheese and honey is a simple, yet effective, flavour combination. With just a few ingredients and a short preparation time, it can be served as an appetizer or snack.

Ingredients

To make blue cheese and honey on toast, you will need:

• Blue cheese
• Honey
• Bread (a French baguette or artisan loaf)

Method

Firstly, bring the cheese to room temperature. Then, warm and slice the bread. You can brush the bread with olive oil and toast it in the oven, or simply serve it sliced with no additional preparation. Next, crumble the blue cheese and place it on the bread. Finally, drizzle honey over the cheese.

Serving Suggestions

This combination can be served on its own, or with sliced apples or other seasonal fruit, celery sticks, or sliced bell pepper. It also goes well with a glass of wine.

Blue cheese with butter

Blue cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads to burgers and pizzas. One way to elevate your blue cheese experience is to pair it with butter. Blue cheese butter is a simple yet indulgent combination that can be used in a multitude of ways.

How to Make Blue Cheese Butter

The process of making blue cheese butter is straightforward. You will need butter, blue cheese, and optionally, some fresh herbs and garlic. The type of blue cheese you use is up to your preference, but stronger varieties like Stilton or Roquefort will require less cheese to achieve a more potent flavour. Allow the butter and blue cheese to come to room temperature, then combine them in a bowl, mashing with a fork until thoroughly mixed while maintaining some texture with tiny cheese chunks. You can add in your herbs and garlic at this stage, if desired.

Once combined, scoop the mixture onto plastic wrap on a flat surface and form it into a log shape. Chill the blue cheese butter for a couple of hours before serving. This compound butter can be stored in the fridge for up to a week or frozen for later use.

Ways to Use Blue Cheese Butter

Blue cheese butter is a versatile condiment that can elevate a variety of dishes. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Steak: Melt the blue cheese butter on top of a grilled steak for a juicy, flavourful experience.
• Vegetables: Try steamed or grilled vegetables like corn on the cob, or charred broccoli drizzled with blue cheese butter.
• Mashed Potatoes: Add a generous dollop of blue cheese butter to your mashed potatoes for extra creaminess and flavour.
• Crostini: Spread the blue cheese butter on crostini for an elegant appetiser or snack.
• Grilled Corn: Elevate your grilled corn on the cob by topping it with melted blue cheese butter.
• Burgers: Take your burger to the next level by spreading some blue cheese butter on the patty or bun.
• Dipping: Use the blue cheese butter as a dip for breadsticks, pretzels, or even vegetables.

Blue cheese with dark chocolate

Blue cheese and dark chocolate might seem like an unusual combination, but it's a flavour pairing that has gained a following. The intense, salty, and spicy notes of blue cheese are complemented by the sweetness of dark chocolate.

Blue Cheese and Dark Chocolate Truffles

A popular way to combine these two ingredients is in truffle form. A chocolate shop in Norway serves blue cheese and dark chocolate truffles, and the combination has inspired home bakers to create their own versions. These truffles can be made by blending blue cheese with dark chocolate and buttery ganache, and then finishing them with chopped almonds.

Blue Cheese and Dark Chocolate Brownies

For those who want to take the flavour combination a step further, blue cheese and dark chocolate brownies are an option. This unusual twist on a classic dessert involves swirling blue cheese into the brownie batter to create a marbled effect. The resulting brownies have a rich, fudgy texture and an intense flavour that some find addictive.

Other Pairing Ideas

Blue cheese and dark chocolate can also be enjoyed in other ways. Some people like to melt dark chocolate over thin slices of blue cheese, creating a gooey pudding. Others pair blue cheese with dark chocolate squares, using the chocolate as a base instead of crackers. Adding almonds to this combination enhances the flavour further.

For those who enjoy a tipple, ruby port wine is recommended to complete the trio. The sweet and strong flavours of the fortified wine complement the blue cheese and dark chocolate nicely.

Whether you're a self-proclaimed "flavour monster" or simply curious about unusual food pairings, blue cheese and dark chocolate offer an intriguing sensory experience.

Blue cheese with fruit spreads

Blue cheese is a versatile cheese that can be eaten on its own or as part of a cheeseboard, crumbled, spread, or melted. It has a bold, sharp, and tangy flavour with grassy notes and hints of mushroom. Its texture ranges from buttery to crumbly.

When pairing blue cheese with fruit spreads, it is important to consider the characteristics of the cheese and what you want from the pairing. Do you want to complement the flavours of the cheese or create a contrast? Blue cheese's bold acidity allows for sweeter pairings than other cheeses. However, overly sweet jams can be too heavy and smother the natural characteristics of the cheese. Instead, opt for pairings with a balanced acidity, such as chutneys, savory spreads, or fruit compotes.

• Wild Blueberry Maple Walnut Compote (with balsamic and rosemary) - Wild blueberries steeped in balsamic and grade A maple syrup, combined with toasted walnuts and floral rosemary. This compote is an excellent pairing for blue cheese, especially when served with crackers or crostini.
• Triple Ale Onion Jam Spread - Fresh onions caramelized with craft beer, brown sugar, and roasted garlic create a savory and sticky jam that pairs well with blue cheese on a cheeseboard or as a base for flatbread.
• Sour Cherry Spiced Wine Fruit Compote - Sour cherries simmered with winter spices, red wine, and cracked black pepper create a fruit-forward compote that complements mild to medium blue cheeses.
• Rum Toddy Toffee Dessert Sauce - This decadent sauce pairs surprisingly well with salty, creamy blue cheeses like Cozier Blue, creating a unique dessert-style cheese plate.
• Balsamic Fig Mostarda Spread - Figs simmered in balsamic with apples and pears, finished with pure mustard oil. This mostarda is a classic pairing with blue cheese and is also delicious with roasted meats.

Frequently asked questions