Blue Cheese Pairings: What Complements This Bold Flavor

Blue cheese is itself a category of cheese, so the question contains a common misunderstanding. What actually pairs well with blue cheese includes pears, honey, walnuts, crusty bread, port wine, and bold red wines. For cheese boards, blue cheese complements milder cheeses like brie rather than other strong blue varieties.

When exploring what goes with blue cheese, it's important to clarify that blue cheese is a distinct category of cheese characterized by its blue-green veins of mold. The query "what cheese goes with blue cheese" likely stems from a slight misunderstanding—blue cheese doesn't pair with other cheeses in the same way it pairs with complementary foods and beverages. Instead, cheese enthusiasts typically seek the best accompaniments to enhance blue cheese's bold, tangy flavor profile.

Understanding Blue Cheese Characteristics

Blue cheese varieties—from creamy Danish Danablu to pungent Roquefort and sharp Stilton—share distinctive characteristics that inform ideal pairings. These cheeses develop their signature blue veins through Penicillium mold cultures introduced during production. The resulting flavor profile features:

• Sharp, salty tang with earthy undertones
• Creamy to crumbly texture depending on aging
• Complex aroma ranging from mushroomy to ammoniated

These intense characteristics mean blue cheese requires thoughtful pairing partners that either contrast or complement its powerful presence. Understanding blue cheese food pairings begins with recognizing how different elements interact with its saltiness, creaminess, and mold-derived complexity.

Perfect Food Pairings for Blue Cheese

Certain foods create magical combinations with blue cheese through contrasting textures and complementary flavors. The best pairings balance blue cheese's saltiness while enhancing its earthy complexity.

Fruit Partnerships

Fruits provide essential sweetness that counteracts blue cheese's saltiness. The most successful what to serve with blue cheese options include:

• Pears (fresh or poached) - Their juicy sweetness and soft texture contrast beautifully with crumbly blue cheese
• Figs (fresh or dried) - Earthy sweetness mirrors blue cheese's complexity
• Apples (particularly Honeycrisp or Fuji) - Crisp texture and mild sweetness provide refreshing contrast
• Grapes (red varieties) - Burst of juice cleanses the palate between bites

Nuts and Accompaniments

Nuts add crucial textural contrast while their natural oils complement blue cheese's richness:

Nut Variety	Why It Works	Serving Suggestion
Walnuts	Earthy flavor matches blue cheese's complexity	Toast lightly with honey glaze
Pecans	Buttery richness balances saltiness	Candied with brown sugar
Almonds	Mild flavor provides neutral contrast	Marcona almonds with rosemary
Pistachios	Saltiness enhances blue cheese without overwhelming	Dry roasted, unsalted variety

Honey deserves special mention as perhaps the ultimate blue cheese companion. Its floral sweetness creates a stunning contrast with blue cheese's saltiness. Drizzle high-quality honey directly over a wedge of blue cheese or serve alongside for dipping.

Beverage Pairings That Elevate Blue Cheese

The right drink transforms blue cheese from bold to brilliant. Consider these best drinks with blue cheese options:

Wine Selections

Certain wines cut through blue cheese's richness while harmonizing with its flavors:

• Sauternes - France's sweet Bordeaux wine with honeyed notes balances blue cheese's saltiness
• Port - Particularly tawny port, whose caramel notes complement blue cheese's earthiness
• Zinfandel - Bold red with jammy fruit stands up to strong blue varieties
• Riesling (late harvest) - Sweetness contrasts salt while acidity cleanses the palate

Beer and Non-Alcoholic Options

Don't limit yourself to wine when considering what to drink with blue cheese:

• Barleywines - Intensely malty beers balance blue cheese's saltiness
• Imperial Stouts - Roasted notes complement blue cheese's earthiness
• Apple Cider (hard or non-alcoholic) - Crisp acidity cuts through richness
• Pomegranate Juice - Tartness and fruitiness provide refreshing contrast

Creating a Balanced Cheese Board with Blue Cheese

When assembling a cheese platter featuring blue cheese, follow these principles for the best cheese board with blue cheese:

1. Include texture variety - Pair crumbly blue with soft brie and hard aged cheddar
2. Balance intensity - Place blue cheese between milder cheeses to prevent flavor dominance
3. Provide palate cleansers - Include cornichons, olives, and plain crackers between bites
4. Consider progression - Arrange from mildest to strongest cheeses for optimal tasting

For a four-cheese board, consider this classic combination:

• Mild: Brie or Camembert (creamy contrast)
• Medium: Aged Cheddar (nutty complement)
• Strong: Your chosen blue cheese (the star)
• Unique: Manchego or goat cheese (textural variety)

Serving Blue Cheese Properly

Even the best pairings fall short without proper serving technique. Follow these blue cheese serving tips for optimal enjoyment:

• Temperature matters - Remove blue cheese from refrigerator 30-60 minutes before serving
• Cut strategically - Slice from tip to rind to distribute mold evenly across servings
• Use appropriate tools - Soft cheese knives prevent smearing delicate blue varieties
• Portion wisely - Blue cheese is intense; 1-2 ounces per person suffices on a cheese board

Common Blue Cheese Pairing Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced cheese lovers make these errors when considering what pairs with blue cheese:

• Overpowering accompaniments - Avoid strongly flavored items that compete with blue cheese rather than complement it
• Serving too cold - Chilled blue cheese loses aromatic complexity and becomes overly hard
• Mixing multiple blue cheeses - Unless carefully curated, multiple blues can create flavor confusion
• Insufficient contrast - Pairing only salty items without sweet or acidic elements creates imbalance

Remember that personal preference ultimately determines the best blue cheese pairings for you. While traditional combinations provide excellent starting points, don't be afraid to experiment with unexpected partners that suit your individual palate.

Can you pair blue cheese with other cheeses on a cheese board?

Yes, but strategically. Blue cheese pairs best with milder cheeses like brie or camembert that provide contrast, rather than other strong blue varieties which can create flavor competition. On a well-constructed cheese board, place blue cheese between milder options to prevent it from overwhelming other cheeses.

What fruit works best with blue cheese?

Pears are considered the classic pairing for blue cheese due to their juicy sweetness and soft texture that contrasts beautifully with crumbly blue. Figs (fresh or dried), apples (particularly Honeycrisp), and red grapes also work exceptionally well, providing the necessary sweetness to balance blue cheese's saltiness.

Does blue cheese pair better with red or white wine?

Blue cheese generally pairs better with sweet white wines like Sauternes or late harvest Riesling, though bold reds like Zinfandel can work with milder blue varieties. The sweetness of white dessert wines provides the ideal counterbalance to blue cheese's saltiness, while the tannins in many red wines can clash unpleasantly with blue cheese's strong flavor profile.

Should blue cheese be served cold or at room temperature?

Blue cheese should be served at room temperature for optimal flavor. Remove it from the refrigerator 30-60 minutes before serving to allow the cheese to warm up. Cold temperatures mute blue cheese's complex flavors and aromas, while room temperature allows its full complexity to shine through and creates a better texture for pairing with accompaniments.

How much blue cheese should I serve per person on a cheese board?

Due to its intense flavor, 1-2 ounces of blue cheese per person is sufficient on a cheese board. Blue cheese is meant to be savored in small quantities, so generous portions can overwhelm the palate. When creating a balanced cheese selection, allocate about 25% of your total cheese assortment to blue varieties, with the remainder comprising milder options for contrast.