Blue Cheese Dressing: A Keto-Friendly Option?

Blue cheese dressing is a popular salad dressing with a distinctive tangy flavor. It is also used as a dip for chicken wings and vegetables. While many store-bought blue cheese dressings are keto-friendly, some contain ingredients that are not ideal for a keto diet, such as added sugars, soybean oil, and canola oil. Making your own blue cheese dressing at home ensures that you know exactly what's in it, and it's easy to make—requiring just a few simple ingredients and taking only about 5 minutes to prepare.

Blue cheese dressing ingredients

Blue cheese dressing is a popular salad dressing and dipping sauce. It is easy to make and only requires a few simple ingredients. Here is a list of ingredients that you can use to make your own blue cheese dressing at home:

• Blue Cheese: This is the key ingredient that gives the dressing its distinct flavour. You can use crumbled blue cheese or crumble it yourself from a block of cheese. Choose a variety that you enjoy, such as Gorgonzola, Roquefort, Stilton, or Cambazola.
• Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise adds creaminess to the dressing. You can use store-bought mayonnaise or make your own homemade mayonnaise.
• Sour Cream: Sour cream gives the dressing a tangy flavour and a creamy texture. Greek yoghurt can also be used as a substitute.
• Milk: Milk is used to thin out the dressing and adjust its consistency. You can use regular cow's milk, unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, half-and-half, heavy cream, buttermilk, or even water.
• Lemon Juice: Lemon juice adds a tangy flavour and a fresh pop of flavour to the dressing. You can use bottled lemon juice or freshly squeeze lemons.
• Seasonings: Simple seasonings like salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and freshly minced parsley can be added to enhance the flavour of the dressing. You can also add other herbs such as dill or chives.

Optional ingredients that you can include or adjust to your taste are:

• Fresh parsley: Adds colour and flavour to the dressing.
• White wine vinegar: Adds a tangy flavour.
• Worcestershire sauce: Gives the dressing a unique flavour profile.
• Mustard powder: Adds a subtle kick to the dressing.

To make the blue cheese dressing, simply combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and stir until well blended and creamy. You can adjust the consistency by adding more milk or almond milk to thin it out or omitting the milk for a thicker dip. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and your homemade blue cheese dressing is ready to be served!

How to make blue cheese dressing

Ingredients:

• Blue cheese crumbles
• Mayonnaise
• Sour cream
• Lemon juice
• Milk (almond, cow's, buttermilk, or heavy cream)
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Fresh parsley (optional)
• Worcestershire sauce (optional)
• Chives (optional)

Method:

• In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, milk, and crumbled blue cheese.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Refrigerate until needed.

Tips:

• For a blue cheese dip, omit the milk.
• For extra tang, add a splash of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar.
• To make the dressing thinner, add milk a tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
• To make the dressing thicker, add more sour cream.
• To make the dressing chunkier, mash less or stir in extra blue cheese crumbles at the end.
• For a lighter dressing, swap the mayonnaise for light mayo and the sour cream for plain yogurt.
• To store, keep the dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Serving Suggestions:

• Drizzle over a wedge salad, Cobb salad, or grilled chicken salad.
• Serve as a dip for fresh vegetables, such as cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, broccoli, or cherry tomatoes.
• Use as a dip for chicken wings, or drizzle over buffalo wings, buffalo cauliflower wings, or buffalo chicken rice bowls.
• Drizzle over a burger or steak.
• Mix with shredded cabbage for a twist on coleslaw.
• Use as a spread on sandwiches.

Blue cheese dressing storage

Blue cheese dressing is a popular salad dressing and dipping sauce. It is easy to make at home and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. However, it is recommended to consume it within 5-7 days for optimal freshness.

To store blue cheese dressing, transfer it to an airtight container or a glass jar with a lid and keep it in the refrigerator. This will ensure that the dressing stays fresh and flavorful.

Some signs that blue cheese dressing has gone bad include a very strong pungent flavor, discolouration, and the growth of mould on the dressing or inside the container. If you notice any of these signs, discard the dressing immediately and make a fresh batch.

Additionally, freezing is not recommended as it can cause the dressing to separate and lose its creamy texture.

Blue cheese dressing uses

Blue cheese dressing is a versatile condiment that can be used in various dishes to elevate their taste. Here are some ways to use blue cheese dressing:

Salads

Blue cheese dressing is a perfect pairing for classic salads like a wedge salad or cobb salad. It can also be drizzled over a simple lettuce wedge salad or a buffalo chicken salad.

Buffalo Flavours

Blue cheese dressing is an ideal complement to buffalo wings, buffalo cauliflower bites, or juicy baked buffalo chicken. It adds a creamy texture and tangy flavour to these dishes.

Veggie Dip

Blue cheese dressing makes a great dip for fresh, crisp vegetables like cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, broccoli, or cherry tomatoes. It adds a tangy and creamy dimension to the veggies.

Burgers and Steaks

Adding blue cheese dressing to burgers and steaks takes them to the next level. It provides a tangy and creamy element to grilled steak, New York strip, or air-fried filet mignon. It can also be spread on burgers or used as a condiment, giving them a unique zing.

Potatoes

Blue cheese dressing can be mixed with mashed potatoes or drizzled over baked potatoes or roasted potatoes. It adds a rich and creamy flavour to potato dishes.

Soups

A dollop of blue cheese dressing can be added to soups like chilli, broccoli cheddar soup, or creamy celery root soup instead of sour cream. It adds a tangy and creamy twist to these soups.

Appetizers and Sides

Blue cheese dressing can be used as a dip for chicken wings, keto fried pickles, or fresh vegetables. It can also be drizzled over stuffed buffalo chicken, buffalo chicken zucchini boats, or served with crockpot chicken wings.

Blue cheese dressing substitutions

Blue cheese dressing is a popular salad dressing and dipping sauce. It usually features blue cheese, buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, vinegar, and seasonings. Here are some substitution options for making your own blue cheese dressing:

Base Ingredients

• Sour Cream and Mayonnaise: These two ingredients create the creamy base for the dressing. You can use either homemade or store-bought mayonnaise. Greek yogurt can also be used as a substitute for mayonnaise, but it will result in a different flavour.
• Blue Cheese: Any type of blue cheese can be used, such as Gorgonzola, Roquefort, Stilton, or Cambazola. Crumble the blue cheese into the dressing for a smooth consistency.

Additional Ingredients

• Lemon Juice: Lemon juice adds a fresh pop of flavour to the dressing. Bottled or freshly squeezed lemon juice can be used.
• Milk: Milk is used to thin out the dressing. Unsweetened almond milk, dairy milk, coconut milk, heavy cream, half-and-half, or buttermilk can be used. Alternatively, water can be used in small amounts.
• Salt and Pepper: These seasonings add flavour and spice to the dressing.
• Garlic: Both fresh garlic and garlic powder can be used to enhance the flavour of the dressing.
• Herbs: Fresh herbs like parsley can be added for colour and flavour. Other herbs such as dill or chives can also be included.

Tips for Preparation and Storage

• When preparing the blue cheese dressing, mash the blue cheese and buttermilk together first before adding the remaining ingredients.
• Adjust the consistency of the dressing by adding more milk to thin it out or omitting the milk for a thicker dip.
• Store the blue cheese dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will typically last for about a week, but some recipes suggest it can be stored for up to two weeks.

Frequently asked questions