For gourmets, blue cheese is well known. It is specific, has a sharp-creamy taste and contains a greenish-blue mold that is beneficial to the body. This cheese is traditionally served with fortified and dessert red wines, as well as dry white ones. There are many varieties of blue cheese besides Dor Blue: Roquefort, Gorgonzola, Danabloux, Fourme d'Ambert, Bleu d'Auvergne, Bleu de Cos, Bleu de Bres. Each of them can be used in the preparation of many dishes: soups, salads, sauces, casseroles, appetizers and even cookies.
Blue cheese, like any other cheese, is widely used by culinary experts all over the world in the preparation of many familiar and original dishes. Blue-mold cheese perfectly reveals its aroma in combination with fruits, especially grapes and pears.
Salad with smoked chicken, grapes and blue cheese
This salad will take 10 minutes to prepare. It is suitable for both lunch and dinner.
For 4 servings you will need:
- 400 g smoked chicken breast;
- 200 g red grapes;
- 1 Granny apple (or any sweet and sour);
- juice from half a lemon;
- 100 g sour cream;
- 100 g of blue cheese;
- ½ tbsp Sahara;
- 2 tsp vinegar;
- half a head of iceberg lettuce;
- 1 sprig of fresh tarragon;
- 1 tsp olive oil;
- ½ tsp water.
Instructions step by step:
Step 1. Cut the red grapes into halves, remove the seeds.
Step 2. For dressing, mix sour cream and blue cheese. Add sugar, vinegar and 1 tsp. water.
Step 3. Arrange the iceberg lettuce leaves on a plate. Lay out the grapes.
Step 4. Cut the apple, sprinkle with lemon juice so that they do not darken and place on the salad.
Step 5. Cut the smoked chicken breast into thin strips and place on the salad.
Step 6. Decorate with a sprig of tarragon and drizzle with olive oil. Season with freshly ground black pepper if desired.
Potato casserole with blue cheese
In this recipe, blue cheese can be combined with any other of your choice. You can bake more than one potato casserole, but several small pancakes with cheese filling.
For 4 servings you will need:
- 600 g potatoes;
- 150 g blue cheese;
- 1 tbsp olive oil;
- black pepper, herbs, or 1 pinch of nutmeg if desired.
Step-by-step instruction:
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 180-200 degrees.
Step 2. Peel the potatoes and grate on a coarse or medium grater. Place in a cloth and squeeze out excess juice.
Step 3. Take a frying pan, pour olive oil, heat. Spoon out half of the grated potatoes. Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes.
Step 4. Place the sliced blue cheese on top of the potatoes, not reaching the edges a few centimeters.
Step 5. Place the other half of the grated raw potatoes on top of the cheese. Wait a few minutes and turn over. Cook for another 4-5 minutes.
Step 6. Place the skillet in the oven for 10 minutes.
The potato cheese casserole can be served with vegetable salads or meat dishes.
Cheese and nut ball
Cheese balls were at their peak of popularity abroad in the 1970s. They look interesting and can decorate the table of any celebration. This snack can be prepared in advance and will be kept in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. It is even allowed to be frozen.
For sprinkling, you can use any nuts that are available. The most delicious sprinkle for a cheese snack is a mixture of pine nuts, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews and peeled pumpkin seeds.
Usually nuts are dried on a baking sheet until light golden brown in the oven or microwave, then crushed.
The appetizer comes out creamy and nutty, with a sweet-spicy taste. If you wish, you can make several small balls instead of one large one.
You will need:
- 225 g of cream cheese or creamy curd cheese (processed will not work);
- 115 g blue cheese at room temperature;
- 1 tbsp cream;
- 3 tablespoons chopped dates;
- 1 tbsp chopped onion;
- 1 tsp lemon zest;
- ¼ tsp fine salt;
- ¼ tsp freshly ground pepper;
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley;
- 2, 5 tablespoons chopped nuts.
Step-by-step instruction:
Step 1. In a bowl until smooth, mix cream cheese, blue cheese, cream for 2 minutes. The consistency should be creamy.
Step 2. Add chopped dates, onions, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Mix well with curd.
Step 3. Spread the cheese mass out on plastic wrap. Twirl and shape into one large ball. Refrigerate until the mixture holds its shape well (this can take up to two hours).
Step 4. In a small bowl, combine chopped nuts and parsley.
Step 5. Take out the cheese ball, free from cling film. Place in a bowl of nuts and parsley, roll on all sides.
The cheese ball is placed on a nice plate. Chips, bread sticks, crispbreads, stalked celery, carrot sticks are suitable for serving.
Potato and Onion Soup with Blue Cheese
It will take about half an hour to prepare a healthy and tasty soup.
For 2 servings:
- 2 tsp olive oil;
- 50 g butter;
- 1 small onion, chopped;
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced;
- 400 g fresh potatoes;
- 150 g leeks;
- 300 ml of chicken or vegetable broth;
- 150 g blue cheese, for serving.
- black pepper and paprika to taste.
Step by step:
Step 1. Peel potatoes, cut into cubes.
Step 2. Heat the olive oil and butter in a skillet. Fry the chopped onion and garlic over medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
Step 3. Add potatoes and leeks, cook for 3-4 minutes.
Step 4. Pour in chicken or vegetable broth. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 10-12 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. If desired, you can grind the soup with a blender.
Step 5. Pour into serving bowls, garnish with blue cheese on top, season.
Baked pears with blue cheese, nuts and dates
This dish is perfect both as a dessert and as a light dinner. The total cooking time is 45 minutes.
You will need:
- 4 any pears (for example, Conference or Comis);
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice;
- 125 g blue cheese;
- ¼ glasses of walnuts;
- ¼ glasses of dates;
- 1 sprig of fresh rosemary
- ¼ glasses of sugar;
- 3 tsp apple cider vinegar;
- 3 tsp softened butter;
- ¼ tbsp sea salt;
- ¼ tbsp freshly ground black pepper.
Cooking instructions:
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
Step 2. Cut the pears in half, remove the core. Drizzle with lemon juice to keep them from darkening.
Step 3. In the first bowl, combine blue cheese, walnuts, dried dates and rosemary.
Step 4. Place the pears in a baking dish.
Step 5. In a second bowl, combine apple cider vinegar, sugar, butter, salt and pepper. Pour this mixture over the pears.
Step 6. Fill each half of the pear with the filling.
Step 7. Bake the pears for 25-30 minutes.
Stuffed raw pears can be prepared the day before baking. In this case, they must be covered with cling film.
Blue cheese can be substituted for brie cheese or mozzarella.
Almonds serve as a substitute for walnuts.
Creamy Cheese Butter with Bacon
This is a very simple and straightforward recipe that requires a minimum of food. This oil is suitable for topping many dishes, such as meat, potato or sandwiches. It keeps in the refrigerator for about a week. If desired, the oil can be supplemented with various spices, such as paprika, oregano, dill or garlic.
You will need:
- 50 g bacon or jerky;
- ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- ¼ glasses of blue cheese.
Instructions step by step:
Step 1. Grind the bacon and cheese. Bacon can be sautéed over medium heat, dried on a paper towel, and used for a recipe.
Step 2. Mix with butter with a fork.
Step 3. Place on parchment and form into a "sausage" shape.
Step 4. Send it to the refrigerator until it hardens completely or to the freezer for 20 minutes.
For those who follow their figure, it is worth remembering the high calorie content of this dish.
