Basic, Bang Up Blue Cheese Dressing Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Grill/Barbecue

by: Tara O'Brady

October4,2022

4

8 Ratings

  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Makes 1 1/2 cups

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

For the longest time, I thought I didn't like blue cheese dressing. I'd had too many disappointing versions, often served alongside Buffalo Wings. Those ones hit you in the face with an overpowering funk of cheese, and a consistency that could only be described as weirdly plastic. Then I was introduced to the Iceberg Wedge; the perfect balance of crunch, fat and cool, bold with a proper blue cheese dressing, and the recipe was forever redeemed.

Blue cheese dressing can, and should be, brash yet still refined. Gutsy with cheese, bright with vinegar, mollified with a hint of sweetness that’s bolstered by the richness of the mayonnaise and sour cream. It should have body without unnecessary weight.

I've said it elsewhere before, but I think it can be repeated: as silly as it sounds, blue cheese dressing is an art more than a science. There are variables to consider and balance, ones that can't be pinned down to hard and fast rules: the pungency and the moisture of the cheese, the astringency of the particular vinegar, the consistency of the sour cream and buttermilk. As such, the quantities here should be viewed only as guidelines to steer you in the right direction.

It is best to consider the intended use for the dressing when tweaking both the texture and seasoning. Also, I don’t recommend adding the hot sauce until use, if you're using it, or the dressing will turn pink. It’s not a tragedy, but not a look I’m fond of and, what’s more, letting the heat perforate the richness of the dressing keeps things especially interesting.

I’ve taken to making thicker blue cheese dressings to slather on grilled steak. As a condiment, the fat adds even more oomph to the meat, and the cheese has more than enough personality to stand up to some char. Made well, it’s undeniably good with crispy chicken wings, too. A moderately luxe version is just the thing for those beloved chunks of iceberg lettuce, and I make a light, velvety rendition to drape wedges of juicy peach, or to dress arugula tossed with fresh corn off the cob. —Tara O'Brady

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 4 ouncesblue cheese, crumbled
  • 2/3 cupmayonnaise
  • 1/4 cupsour cream or thick yogurt
  • 1/4 cupbuttermilk, shaken well
  • 1 tablespoonwhite wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoonrunny honey
  • 1 tablespoonminced fresh chives, scallions, or garlic scapes
  • 1 pinchfreshly ground black pepper
  • 1 dashCaynne-based hot sauce, dried red pepper flakes, or chili oil, to serve (optional)
Directions
  1. If you like a smooth dressing, grab a medium bowl and mash the blue cheese into the mayonnaise with the back of a fork. If a chunky dressing is preferred, keep the blue cheese aside and proceed to step 2.
  2. Mix the mayonnaise with the sour cream, most of the buttermilk, and all of the vinegar and honey.
  3. Add the chives to the bowl, along with the blue cheese, if making the chunkier style. Fold to combine, and season with pepper. Taste for seasoning, adding more buttermilk, vinegar, honey and pepper, as necessary.
  4. You can use the dressing right away but I think it's even nicer after a day in the fridge, which gives the flavors a chance to round out. The dressing will thicken as it sits, but can be thinned with a few drops of water. Serve with a dash of hot sauce. Keep any leftover dressing in an airtight container in the fridge, and use up in a few days.

Tags:

  • Salad Dressing
  • Condiment/Spread
  • American
  • Honey
  • Vinegar
  • Buttermilk
  • Chive
  • Mayonnaise
  • Blue Cheese
  • Cheese
  • Sour Cream
  • Grill/Barbecue

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • robin lewis

  • Larkin O'Toole

  • Megan Town

  • catalinalacruz

  • Tara O'Brady

Recipe by: Tara O'Brady

Food writer and creator of the site Seven Spoons. Author of the bestselling cookbook of the same name (Ten Speed Press and Appetite by Random House). Food columnist for The Globe and Mail.

Popular on Food52

11 Reviews

Linda D. May 20, 2023

This dressing is absolutely fabulous, Tara. Had to sub a garlic clove as I didn't have scallion, chive, or garlic scape. Same with the white wine vinegar. Did not have so used white vinegar. And based on comments, went with the Agave over honey. Again, fabulous! Thank you!

robin L. April 9, 2015

Thumbs up from my husband and young son. It did help to taste and (for me) to splash more buttermilk in, and to let it sit for about an hour so the flavors could meld. Yum.

Larkin O. January 27, 2015

I pinned this recipe a year ago, without even looking at it. I told myself, as I always do, that I would get to eventually. Isn't that the point of pinterest - Pin Now, Test Someday?

But now I could kick myself for depriving myself of this recipe (and the blog entry)for an entire year of life. We have two very important things in common, an O apostrophe surname and thoughts re: blue cheese dressing- and it's always nice to know there are others like me out there.

Thank you for sharing.

Megan T. December 2, 2014

Delicious! This went wonderfully on a chicken cobb salad, can't wait to make it again (and again)!

Greg August 14, 2014

You mentioned making versions of this recipe. When thickening it do you add less buttermilk, more sour cream/mayo? More cheese?

Tara O. August 14, 2014

Hello Greg! It depends on what I have on hand, and what I'm intending as the use. Most often, I just use less buttermilk. For something that I think can carry the richness (burgers fall into this category), I would go for extra sour cream or mayo. Hope that helps!

Greg August 14, 2014

Thanks for the tip. Can't wait to give it a whirl.

catalinalacruz October 8, 2013

Wonderful dressing! A dribble of agave nectar was substituted for the honey with great results. Thank you, Tara.

Nomnomnom August 24, 2013

Any thoughts about how long this will keep refrigerated? One week, maybe? And do you suppose it would work with creme fraiche in place of the sour cream? I keep creme fraiche in the house but not sour cream normally. Thanks! This recipe looks great.

Tara O. August 25, 2013

Hello! I'm comfortable keeping it in the fridge for a week or so, but that's based only on personal experience. As for the crème fraîche, I'm sure it could be used, though you'll want to adjust the seasoning accordingly (since it is not as tangy as sour cream, you might need to up the vinegar). Please report back if you give it a try!

GourMel May 19, 2014

Ditto on the sour cream. Do you think greek yogurt would work?

Basic, Bang Up Blue Cheese Dressing Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Basic, Bang Up Blue Cheese Dressing Recipe on Food52? ›

What Is Blue Cheese Dressing? Blue (or bleu) cheese dressing is a popular salad dressing and dipping sauce. Every home cook has their own recipe, but it usually features the following ingredients: blue cheese, buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, vinegar, and simple seasonings that pack a flavorful punch.

What is blue cheese salad dressing made of? ›

What Is Blue Cheese Dressing? Blue (or bleu) cheese dressing is a popular salad dressing and dipping sauce. Every home cook has their own recipe, but it usually features the following ingredients: blue cheese, buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, vinegar, and simple seasonings that pack a flavorful punch.

Why does my homemade blue cheese dressing get watery? ›

Why does my homemade blue cheese dressing get watery? As blue cheese dressing sits, the water in the sour cream can begin to separate. That's natural. Just stir the dressing before you spoon it onto the salad or sandwich.

Is there a difference between blue cheese and blue cheese dressing? ›

Adding a bit of white vinegar, lemon juice,or even buttermilk can turn a tasty blue cheese dip into the perfect consistency to be used as a dressing. Blue cheese dressing adds a salty, umami-packed bite to your favorite salad and also highlights a heartier salad like a modern wedge perfectly.

How do you thicken bleu cheese dressing? ›

There are lots of other recipes so might be worth finding one with less liquid to dry ingredients: more cheese, or other dry ingredients like mustard powder or onion powder. You can thicken it by blending some of the cheese in or adding more cheese by crumbling.

What is the old name for blue cheese dressing? ›

Blue cheese dressing is a mayonnaise-based creamy dressing with crumbled blue cheese. Its origin is a bit unknown, but the earliest recording is in the Edgewater Beach Hotel Salad book in 1928, but it was called Roquefort dressing.

What is the blue stuff in blue cheese dressing? ›

Blue cheese is made using Penicillium, a type of mold that's responsible for its unique taste, smell, and appearance. Unlike other types of mold, Penicillium does not produce toxins and is safe to consume.

Does homemade blue cheese dressing go bad? ›

To be on the safe side, I would keep homemade blue cheese dressing no more than 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator. Make it in smaller quantities so you don't waste it. If anything with cheese or milk base develops a strange color (often pink) or an off odor, definitely throw it out.

Can I eat old blue cheese dressing? ›

Salad Dressing – A change in texture, smell or taste is the easiest indicator that salad dressing has gone bad. Dressings containing dairy or egg, such as Caesar, ranch and blue cheese, should never be kept past their expiration date.

How long does fresh blue cheese dressing last in the fridge? ›

Here's the great news, this easy homemade dressing lasts for about a week when stored in the fridge. We love making a double batch so we can add it to salads, use a veggie dipping sauce, or spoon onto dinners throughout the week.

What are the 4 types of blue cheese? ›

There are dozens of varieties of blue cheese. The four classics are French roquefort, English stilton, Italian gorgonzola, and Spanish cabrales. But today, blue cheese is made in many countries and in a growing variety of styles.

What makes blue cheese taste better? ›

Penicillium roqueforti and Penicillium glaucum are the stars here. These molds are added during the cheese-making process, and as the cheese ages, they grow to create the characteristic blue or green veins. But fear not, these molds are perfectly safe to eat and are responsible for the cheese's unique taste and aroma.

Is blue cheese dressing good for high blood pressure? ›

Potential Threat to Your Blood Pressure

Since blue cheese contains a high amount of sodium, it can increase your blood pressure levels. A high-sodium diet makes controlling blood pressure difficult, and healthy individuals should consume no more than 2,300 milligrammes of sodium per day.

How do you keep blue cheese dressing from separating? ›

It can be painful, but thankfully we have the solution. It's all about emulsification: the key to making dressings that stay mixed for days – yes, days – in the refrigerator. All you need is a food processor, blender, or, in a pinch, stick blender, or basic hand whisk.

Does blue cheese go bad? ›

Like other types of cheese, blue cheese can go bad if it's not properly stored. Therefore, it's important to store blue cheese tightly wrapped in the refrigerator. If stored properly, blue cheese can last 3–4 weeks in the refrigerator. You can also freeze blue cheese to help extend its shelf life even further.

Is blue cheese dressing just ranch with blue cheese? ›

For example, ranch dressing typically contains herbs such as dill, parsley, and chives, while blue cheese dressing contains crumbled blue cheese and vinegar. Because of these differences, ranch dressing is known for its tangy and slightly sweet flavor, as well as its creamy consistency.

Is blue cheese dressing healthy for you? ›

Blue cheese dressing does not contain many vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients. But it can increase the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E, and K from the diet. Moreover, it provides calcium and phosphorus which are great for bone health and energy production.

What is blue cheese made of? ›

Blue cheese is a generic term used to describe cheese produced with pasteurized cow's, sheep's, or goat's milk and ripened with cultures of the mold penicillium. Blue cheese generally has a salty, sharp flavor and a pungent aroma. It is often relatively low in fat but has a high sodium content.

What are the ingredients in Trader Joe's blue cheese dressing? ›

INGREDIENTS: blue cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, microbial enzyme, penicillium roguefort) natamycin (for freshness) mayonnaise (expeller pressed canola oil, water, whole eggs, apple cider vinegar, egg yolks, salt, white mustard (distilled white vinegar,water, mustard seed, salt), lemon juice ...

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