Blue Cheese Dressing: The Perfect Wine Pairing

Blue cheese is a popular salad dressing and dipping sauce, often whisked into a sour cream base to create a tangy, creamy texture. It is commonly used in salads, appetizers, and entrees. Blue cheese dressing is versatile and can be made at home with ingredients like sour cream, mayonnaise, milk, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. When it comes to wine pairings, a touch of sweetness in wines works well with the bitterness of blue cheese. For savoury dishes with blue cheese, a drier white or red wine is recommended.

Wines that pair well with blue cheese dressing: dry or medium-dry white wine, or a dry red wine

Blue cheese dressing is a versatile condiment that goes well with salads, appetizers, or entrees. It is a polarising food for those who enjoy its strong taste and aroma. The mould Penicillium roqueforti is often responsible for its funky, characteristic flavour and veiny blue appearance.

When it comes to wine, dry or medium-dry white wine, or a dry red wine, pairs well with blue cheese dressing. For example, a blue cheese and fresh fig salad is delicious with a smooth Italian white wine like a Gavi di Gavi. This wine would also work well with pasta or gnocchi with a blue cheese sauce where the cheese is mellowed by the addition of milk or cream. If you are serving a burger or steak with blue cheese, a hearty red like a Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec is recommended.

If you are looking for specific wine recommendations, Delipair suggests Australian Chardonnay, USA Riesling, and Chilean Merlot as the top three wines to pair with blue cheese dressing.

Blue cheese dressing is a versatile condiment

Blue cheese dressing is typically made with a combination of sour cream, mayonnaise, milk, vinegar, lemon juice, and garlic powder, along with salt and pepper to taste. It can be whisked or blended to create a smooth or chunky texture. This dressing is perfect for wedge salads, as a sauce for steaks, or as a dip for buffalo wings. It can also be used as a spread on sandwiches or burgers, adding a creamy and tangy flavour.

When it comes to wine pairings, a few famous combinations include port with stilton and roquefort with Sauternes. While sweet wines are a classic choice for blue cheese, drier whites or reds can also work well, especially with savoury dishes. For example, a blue cheese and fresh fig salad pairs well with a smooth Italian white wine like Gavi di Gavi. If you're serving a burger or steak with blue cheese, a hearty red like Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec is a perfect match.

In addition to the classic wine pairings, other options such as medium-dry Amontillado or Oloroso sherry, or even a sweet Madeira, can complement the strong flavours of blue cheese dressing. The versatility of this condiment allows for a range of wine pairings, making it a fun and experimental choice for food and wine enthusiasts.

Blue cheese is a semisoft cheese with a strong taste and aroma

When it comes to wine pairings, blue cheese is famously combined with port and Stilton, or Roquefort and Sauternes. However, you don't always have to opt for a sweet wine. Wines with a touch of sweetness can work well with the bitterness of blue cheese veining, but drier whites or reds are better suited for savoury dishes or when the blue cheese is combined with other ingredients.

For example, a blue cheese and fresh fig salad pairs well with a smooth Italian white wine, such as a Gavi di Gavi. This wine would also complement pasta or gnocchi with a blue cheese sauce, where the cheese is mellowed by milk or cream. A blue cheese-topped pizza or a burger or steak with blue cheese calls for a hearty red wine, such as a Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec. If you're looking for a white wine, an Australian Chardonnay or a USA Riesling can also be a good choice.

When it comes to creating a blue cheese dressing, the key ingredients are blue cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, milk, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. This dressing is perfect for those who enjoy the strong taste and aroma of blue cheese, as it infuses its unique flavour into salads, dips, or entrees.

Blue cheese dressing is easy to make at home

Blue cheese dressing is a versatile condiment that goes well with salads, appetisers, or entrees. It's easy to make at home and is perfect for those who enjoy the strong taste and aroma of the acidic and sharp cheese.

The essential ingredients are blue cheese crumbles, sour cream, mayonnaise, milk, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. You can also add fresh herbs like parsley for colour and flavour.

To make the dressing, simply whisk all the ingredients together in a medium bowl or combine them in a blender. The blender will create an ultra-velvety consistency, while whisking by hand will result in a smoother dressing with some small pieces of cheese.

You can customise the recipe to your taste preferences. For example, if you like your dressing on the chunkier side, use the hand-mixing method to incorporate small crumbs of cheese. If you prefer a thinner dressing for salads, add a splash of milk, buttermilk, or water.

Making blue cheese dressing at home is not only easy but also allows you to control the quality of ingredients and customise the flavour to your liking. It's a great way to elevate your meals and impress your guests.

Now, for the perfect wine pairing with blue cheese dressing, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, wines with a touch of sweetness work well to offset the bitterness of the blue cheese. This could be a dessert or fortified wine, such as port or Sauternes.

If you're enjoying blue cheese in a savoury dish, a drier white or a red wine would be a better choice. For example, a smooth Italian white wine like Gavi di Gavi would pair beautifully with a blue cheese and fresh fig salad. For heartier dishes like a burger or steak with blue cheese, a full-bodied red like Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec is the way to go.

So, the next time you're whipping up a salad or treating yourself to a steak night, remember that making blue cheese dressing from scratch is a delicious and rewarding endeavour. Bon appétit!

Blue cheese dressing is a popular salad dressing and dipping sauce

A blue cheese dressing is typically made with blue cheese, buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, vinegar, and seasonings. It is easy to make at home, and can be customised to your taste. The consistency can be adjusted by adding milk, buttermilk, or water to make it thinner and more pourable, or it can be kept thick for dipping.

Blue cheese dressing is a great choice for salads, especially wedge salads with iceberg lettuce and bacon. It also works well as a dip for chicken wings, crudites, or veggies. Additionally, it can be used as a spread on sandwiches or burgers, adding a unique flavour to your favourite handheld foods.

When it comes to wine pairings, blue cheese dressings offer some interesting options. While sweet wines like port are a classic pairing with blue cheeses, the right choice will depend on the specific ingredients and flavours in your dish. For instance, a blue cheese and fresh fig salad would pair well with a smooth Italian white wine like a Gavi di Gavi. On the other hand, if you're enjoying a hearty burger or steak with blue cheese, a robust red wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec would be a better match.

Frequently asked questions