Frederic Melton
Blue cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from appetizers to desserts. Its strong flavour and creamy texture make it a popular choice for dips, salads, and burgers. Blue cheese pairs well with beef, chicken, and bacon, and can be melted on top of dishes or served as a dressing or sauce. It can also be used to make a variety of dips, such as a simple mix of blue cheese and buttermilk or a more complex recipe incorporating other ingredients such as buffalo chicken or pear.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Blue cheese as a dip | Can be served with toasted pecans, tortilla wraps, hot wings, or pita chips |
| Blue cheese on a cheeseboard | Can be served with crackers |
| Blue cheese on a salad | Can be served with apples, pears, candied nuts, walnuts, grilled apples, balsamic dressing, or bacon |
| Blue cheese on a burger | Can be crumbled, melted, or stuffed |
| Blue cheese on a steak | Can be served as a sauce with shallots, white wine, beef stock, and cream |
| Blue cheese on fries | Can be served as a dip |
| Blue cheese with beef | Can be served with heirloom tomatoes |
| Blue cheese with chicken | Can be served with yoghurt, in a chicken salad, or in chicken quesadillas |
| Blue cheese with gnocchi | Can be served with a Gorgonzola cream sauce |
| Blue cheese with flatbread | Can be served with rosemary |
| Blue cheese with polenta | Can be served with ricotta, Gorgonzola, and Parmigiano-Reggiano |
| Blue cheese with broccoli | Can be served with a vinaigrette and Rice Krispies topping |
| Blue cheese with shrimp | Can be served as fried shrimp with blue cheese dressing |
| Blue cheese with dessert | Can be served as Blue Cheese, Bacon, and Candied Pecan Puff Pastry Bites |
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What You'll Learn
Salads
One option is to pair blue cheese with bitter greens such as chicory, radicchio, or fennel. Adding some crunch with candied nuts and a dijon vinaigrette (using champagne or cider vinegar) can create a well-rounded salad. If you're using a hard blue cheese, try shaving thin slivers, or crumble a softer blue cheese throughout.
For a fruity twist, consider adding apples or pears to your salad. Grilled apples go well with blue cheese, walnuts, and a balsamic dressing. Alternatively, a mesclun salad with figs, apples, and grapes, along with apple cider vinegar and whole-grain mustard, can be a great combination of sweet and spicy flavors.
Chicken salads are also a good option for blue cheese lovers. Chef Jonathan Waxman's recipe includes a mix of yogurt and Gorgonzola cheese. Another option is to add blue cheese to a Chicken BLT Salad, combining the usual bacon, lettuce, and tomato with creamy blue cheese.
For a heartier salad, try a deconstructed Caesar salad with bacon, blue cheese, and soft-boiled eggs. Or, for a vegetarian option, a mango salad with blue cheese can be a tasty combination.
Lastly, blue cheese can add a tangy twist to a classic steak salad. Try frying a steak and then using the juices to fry a shallot. Add blue cheese until melted, along with white wine, beef stock, and cream, for a rich and indulgent salad dressing.
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Dips
Blue cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dips. Here are some ideas for dips that feature blue cheese:
Blue Cheese Dip
A simple yet delicious dip can be made by mixing blue cheese with a few other ingredients. For example, a recipe from Roth Cheese combines their Original Buttermilk Blue® cheese with five other simple ingredients to create a dip that's perfect for a crowd. Another recipe features a quick blue cheese dip made with Gorgonzola cheese and served with toasted pecans.
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Blue cheese is a key ingredient in this dip, which is perfect for tailgates or potlucks. The recipe combines buffalo chicken with blue cheese to create a flavourful and creamy dip. You can also add your own twist by caramelizing the onions in the recipe to add a different flavour dimension.
Blue Cheese Fondue
For a luxurious and indulgent dip, consider a blue cheese fonduta. This recipe combines whole-milk ricotta, crumbly Gorgonzola, and nutty Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses with thyme-infused brown butter for a woodsy, nutty flavour. This dip is perfect for dipping bread, vegetables, or even apples and pears.
Blue Cheese Vinaigrette
This dip takes on a more liquid form, perfect for drizzling over salads or even for dipping fries. To make a blue cheese vinaigrette, combine blue cheese with olive oil, vinegar, and seasonings like garlic, salt, and pepper. You can also add a sweet element, such as honey, to balance out the sharpness of the blue cheese.
Blue Cheese and Sour Cream
For a simple dip, mix blue cheese crumbles with sour cream. This dip pairs well with bagels, chicken, and a drizzle of buffalo sauce. You can also add chopped scallions or chives for a touch of freshness and colour.
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Desserts
Blue cheese is a versatile dessert ingredient, adding a punch of salty, savoury flavour to sweet dishes. Here are some ideas for desserts featuring blue cheese:
A cheese board
A dessert cheese board is a great way to showcase a single variety of blue cheese, allowing you to focus on pairings. Blue cheese pairs well with sweet accompaniments, such as fresh and dried fruits, honey, jams, mostardas, candied nuts, toffee, and sweet, crunchy crackers. For a contrast of salty and sweet, serve blue cheese with cookies, such as Tagalong Girl Scout cookies, or thumbprint cookies with a layer of creamy blue cheese and a fruity spread, like raspberry or apricot jam.
Ice cream
Blue cheese ice cream may sound unusual, but it's a delicious way to showcase your creativity in the kitchen. The unexpected chunks of blue cheese in ice cream give it a textural and flavour kick. You can adjust the recipe based on the type of blue cheese you use, adding more or less sugar to complement a milder or bolder variety. Serve your ice cream with a slice of cheesecake for a two-cheese dessert, or drizzle with sherry and honey.
Baked goods
Blue cheese can be incorporated into baked goods, such as cookies, as described above. It can also be paired with baked figs and walnuts for a simple, yet elegant, baked dessert.
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Burgers
Blue cheese is a versatile ingredient that can add depth and flavour to many dishes, including burgers. Here are some ideas for how to incorporate blue cheese into your burger creations:
Blue Cheese Patty
Form a patty around a chunk of blue cheese. This will create heavenly bites as the cheese melts inside the patty. You can also make a pocket in the patty and stuff it with blue cheese, resulting in a bomb of melted cheese in the middle. This option is perfect for those who want a juicy, cheesy bite with every mouthful.
Blue Cheese Topping
Crumble and melt blue cheese on top of your burger. This classic option adds a creamy texture and a tangy flavour to your burger. You can also try a blue cheese sauce as a topping, providing a similar creaminess with a more subtle blue cheese flavour.
Blue Cheese and Bacon
Take your burger to the next level by adding bacon to the blue cheese patty or topping. The saltiness of the bacon pairs well with the creaminess of the blue cheese, creating a savoury delight. You can also try wrapping your patty in bacon before cooking for an extra indulgent treat.
Blue Cheese and Fruit
For a unique twist, pair your blue cheese burger with fruits such as pears or apples. The sweetness of the fruit creates a delightful contrast with the sharpness of the blue cheese. You can incorporate fruit in various ways, such as caramelised onions and pears on a focaccia burger or a mango salad on the side.
Blue Cheese and Nuts
Combine blue cheese with nuts such as walnuts or pecans. The crunch of the nuts adds texture to your burger, while the flavours complement each other beautifully. Try incorporating toasted pecans or candied nuts into your blue cheese topping or patty for an unexpected twist.
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Appetizers
Blue cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of appetisers. Here are some ideas for appetisers featuring blue cheese:
Blue Cheese Dip
A simple yet delicious appetiser is a blue cheese dip. You can make a basic dip with just a few ingredients, such as blue cheese, buttermilk, and simple seasonings. This dip can be served with crackers, pita chips, or even wings. For a more indulgent dip, you can add ingredients like gorgonzola, pecans, or walnuts.
Blue Cheese on Bread
Blue cheese pairs well with bread and can be used in a variety of ways. For a simple option, slice a baguette and top it with blue cheese. You can also make a grilled cheese sandwich with blue cheese, zucchini, and tomatoes. For a more indulgent option, try a rosemary flatbread with melted blue cheese, or a focaccia with caramelised onions and pear.
Salads
Blue cheese is a great addition to salads, providing a creamy texture and a tangy flavour. Try adding blue cheese to a classic Chicken BLT Salad, or pair it with bitter greens like radicchio, fennel, and chicory. For a touch of sweetness, add apples or pears, and candied nuts. You can also crumble blue cheese over a mesclun salad with figs, apples, and grapes, dressed with apple cider vinegar and whole-grain mustard.
Other Appetiser Ideas
- Blue Cheese Burgers: Form a patty around a chunk of blue cheese, or stuff the burger with blue cheese and top with bacon and additional blue cheese.
- Blue Cheese Wings: Coat wings in a generous amount of blue cheese crumbles.
- Blue Cheese Bites: Create sweet and savoury appetisers with blue cheese, bacon, and candied pecan puff pastry bites.
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Frequently asked questions
You can add blue cheese to a variety of salads, including a bitter greens salad with apple or pear, candied nuts, and a dijon vinaigrette, or a chicken BLT salad.
Blue cheese is very versatile and can be eaten on a cheeseboard, crumbled, spread, or melted. You can add it to burgers, dips, grilled cheese, or even dessert.
You can make a simple dip with blue cheese and a few other ingredients. You can also make a Pear & Buttermilk Blue® Dip or a blue cheese dip for hot wings.
