Blue cheese is the bold way to jazz up your next batch of potato salad

There are so many potato salad recipes using various ingredients, dressings, and types of potatoes that it’s impossible to list them all here. Maybe you have a family recipe that’s been served at holiday meals and gatherings for generations, or you’re craving a modern twist on the side dish after listening to your favorite food influencer. No matter which recipe you choose for your next batch, blue cheese is one of the most unlikely ingredients that can elevate potato salad with its bold, funky (in a good way) flavors.

Blue cheese is mild and creamy, so it combines well with other common ingredients in potato salad, like mayonnaise. The cheese offers a salty, tangy flavor that’s hard to replicate, and it will completely infuse the dish with its unique notes. There are several varieties of blue cheese to choose from, such as Roquefort (if you like stronger flavors), Gorgonzola for a milder taste, or other types like Blue Stilton and Cambozola. All of them will complement the potato salad, so it really depends on how bold you want the flavors. Whichever type you choose, choose a block of cheese and crumble it yourself for the freshest flavors.

Read more: 23 Types of Potatoes and When to Use Them

Incorporate Blue Cheese into Your Next Potato Salad

The amount of blue cheese you’ll need largely depends on the other ingredients in the potato salad and how many servings you want to make. For five servings of a traditional potato salad, 1 to 2 ounces of blue cheese should be enough. Meanwhile, some recipes call for up to 3 ounces of freshly crumbled blue cheese—a good option if you want its stronger flavors to come through in the potato salad. Start by making the base with wetter, creamier ingredients like mayonnaise, then incorporate the cheese with the potatoes and other dry ingredients. This ensures that it doesn’t break into too small pieces when mixing.

Because of the contrasting texture and added umami of pork, blue cheese pairs well with bacon. So feel free to add both to your next bowl of potato salad. Other ingredients like celery, red onion and green onions provide even more flavors and textures that contrast with the creamy soft cheese. If you don’t have a go-to recipe yet, consider Tasting Table’s Creamy Dill Potato Salad made with fresh dill and lemon juice, or experiment with ingredient swapping with our recipe classic Southern potato salad. Funky blue cheese will work with just about any variation of potato salad, as long as you don’t mind its bold and unique flavor profile.

Read the original article on the tasting table.