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Tuesday 8 September 2020

Stilton ... Britain's Historic Blue Cheese, and some recipes


The history of Stilton can be traced back to the early 18th century and although it is clear that the recipe used has changed quite dramatically over the years it remains one of the world’s best known and much loved cheeses. Since 1996, Stilton has borne European Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. This means that it can only be made in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, and producers have to follow traditional recipes that have been around for generations.

Stilton is a creamy, strong-flavoured British blue cheese. Read more and find out how to buy the very best stilton, plus how to store, cook and serve it.


What is stilton? 
A true glory of British cheese-making that has much controversy about its origins, how it’s made, where it’s made and how it’s best eaten. 

Stilton is a large, tall round of lightly pressed cheese with a rugged grey crust; its creamy to golden-yellow body is tangled with savoury blue-green veins. Originally made with unpasteurised milk, most stiltons are now made with pasteurised and the difference on the palate is marked.

How to cook stilton 
Adding a crumble of stilton at the last minute to a sauce or onto pasta or a baked potato can be interesting but take care not to heat stilton too much, as warmth increases the cheese’s inherent bitterness and changes the flavour.

The savouriness of stilton makes a great addition in small cubes to a salad and it makes for a great pairing with sweeter stone fruits. It is very amenable to combining with butter, which softens its salty savouriness. A dribble of fine, clear, floral honey onto stilton is a simple but effective accompaniment. The classic way to eat stilton, of course, is with a glass of port, although other dessert wines such as Tokaji, or Satuternes also pair very well. 

How to store stilton 
Stilton should be kept cool, with any cut surface protected from the air. 

Where to buy stilton 
Stilton is available year round, usually in pre-cut portions but plenty of speciality cheese stores and counters still buy the whole barrel and slice it to order. 

Choose the best stilton 
Stilton cheese, the full-sized one, takes three months to mature to perfection. Those made with rich autumn milk are thought best, hence why stilton is so featured at Christmas time.

A perfect cheese is neither white and chalky, meaning it’s immature; nor yellow and oily, nor with a sharp nose, both of which mean it’s over ripe.

Most stiltons available are pasteurised but a cheese called stichelton is made the same way with unpasteurised milk; try it if you see it and decide which you prefer.
Above information/read more here and here

Some recipes that feature Stilton
Stilton bites, a crisp and refreshing canapƩ, low carb and gluten free - here
Broccoli and Stilton soup, with a pinch of nutmeg and Stilton croƻtons - here
Baked Salmon Steaks with garlic, shredded cabbage and Stilton - see here

Can I offer you a Stilton Bite, see recipe details here

You will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan

27 comments:

Margaret D said...

Blue vein cheese here it's called. Don't care for it but my late mum loved it.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

I have never heard of Stilton. I love most cheese and would definitely give it a try. The Salmon recipe sounds yummy.. Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

Jo said...

I'm a cheese lover but unfortunately, I don't like blue cheeses, they're just that bit too strong for me.

Tom said...

...blue cheese taste better than it looks.

Divers and Sundry said...

I have never had this cheese, I suppose because I was timid about the strong flavor and intimidated at cheese cases. I should be braver lol

Carla from The River said...

Hi,
I enjoyed this post. I am from Wisconsin, and Wisconsin is known for its cheese. Colby cheese is a number one favorite here in Wisconsin. I was fascinated to learn that Stilton is a protected cheese and can be only made in the three areas. Fascinating indeed!!

Valerie-Jael said...

I love Stilton, always one of me faves. Valerie

Jeff said...

I learned something new today, thanks!

www.thepulpitandthepen.com

sandy said...

i would love to try their blue cheese.

We have a restaurant up here that makes the most fabulous blue cheese dressing for salads. I could drink buckets of it.

Buttercup said...

You can definitely offer me Stilton bites. So sad to have missed my trip to England and Scotland this summer. Would have been my third summer in a row for England. Fingers crossed for next year.

Christine said...

Thanks for the info, I like good blue cheese.

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Debbie said...

i think blue cheese may be one of my favorites but i think i say that about all of the cheeses!!! those little appetizers look amazing!!!

Elephant's Child said...

Yum. You may get multiple comments from me. If so I apologise and please delete the extras. Blogger is not playing nicely this morning.

Victor S E Moubarak said...

Now you're talking ... the best of cheeses. Much better than Gorgonzola or Roquefort or Danish Blue or any other imitations. Stilton. The king of cheeses. Don't forget the port. Or Drambuie.

God bless.

Snowbird said...

I do miss cheese, how I wish someone would come up with a good vegan cheese.xxx

Jeanie said...

Stilton. I adore it. I'll enjoy the substitutes as well -- gorgonzola or roquefort -- but no -- nothing is better than a wonderful stilton! I've got to check out that recipe!

Lee said...

I love Stilton...and all other blue cheese. Yum! :)

happyone said...

I like blue cheese but not a lot of it at once.

Angie said...

Jan - I have enjoyed Stilton on many a cheese board - good in small quantities, and especially with port! Yum.

My name is Erika. said...

I'd heard of Stilton but knew nothing about it. Now I do. If I should see it anywhere I now need to try it.

peppylady (Dora) said...

Didn't know blue cheese was popular in England, one of my favs

Lorrie said...

My mother-in-law was a fan of Stilton with pears and I grew to like it because of her. In her later years I always included a wedge of Stilton in her Christmas parcel - a real treat for her.
The Salmon with Cabbage and Stilton recipe is one I've earmarked for the near future. We can get British Stilton here in the specialty cheese department.

Iris Flavia said...

We do have a "British" Store here, but they have but tea and cookies.
I think it´s what you call BlauschimmelkƤse. Never had it yet, the (German) word makes me gag (Schimmel - mold).

DVArtist said...

I love Stilton cheese. Thanks for the recipes.

Sami said...

I love blue cheese, it's my favourite!

Unknown said...

Stilton and Roquefort are the two greatest blue cheeses in the world. Nothing else comes close.