I have always loved blue cheese. I have fond memories of dining out with my family as a child at the local steak house and diving into the blue cheese dressing when the salad dressing caddy was delivered to the table. I never thought twice about a casual 1000 Island Dressing fling. Nor was I tempted to ‘go exotic’, with Green Goddess dressing. And Italian dressing? Did not turn my head; even once.
I remember reading in one of Michael Pollan’s books (author of the ‘Omnivore’s Dilemma’, ‘Food Rules’, and more) that people are drawn more strongly either to sugar, salt or fat. It’s all Darwinian type stuff; survival related. After considering that proposition I realized the foods I most covet would fall within the fat category. I’m not saying my survival is based on blue cheese but I’d hate to experiment with living without it.
I never anticipated my love for blue cheese being tested. Living through the era where all fats were looked at as contraband, women were expected to be on perpetual diets consuming vast quantities of things like celery which were believed to burn more calories in the consumption process than the poor celery bears itself. Of course no blue cheese for dipping.
Then I became gluten free. The fabulously flavorful dark blue-gray veins in my beloved cheese are created from wheat based mold growth (sexy I know, sorry). There is great debate about whether the final creamy, tangy cheese bears gluten itself, despite the origins. The Canadian Celiac Association has formally added blue cheese to their ‘ok to eat’ list. One needs to decide for themselves (I found this article on the topic interesting) but I’m opting ‘in’. (Note: I used Point Reyes Blue Cheese which is gluten free).
I have been craving football food and with the Super Bowl coming up finding some tasty options seemed apropos. You immediately know if a food is a fit with the ‘football’ genre or not. The dish I am submitting is not a stereotypic choice but one that works nonetheless: Savory Blue Cheese Cake. Sound weird? It’s not. It is a baked dish but not a cake in the traditional sense though does bear the consistency of a sweet traditional cheesecake. Imagine the flavor of blue cheese commingled with cream cheese and sour cream, baked to a light round enhance by some green onion and pecans. This dish great for any party or gathering; no pigskin required. It’s spreadable on crackers or cocktail toast. Perfect paired with grapes and you can make it ahead of time (my favorite type of dish). It’s elegant, sophisticated and something out of the ordinary. And it’s made with blue cheese.
Recipe
Savory Blue Cheese Cake {appetizer}
Ingredients
- 2 8- ounce packages Cream Cheese
- 8 ounces Blue Cheese , crumbled
- 2 ½ cups Sour Cream
- 1/8 teaspoon White Pepper
- 3 Eggs
- ¼ cup Green Onions , minced
- ½ cup Pecans , minced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Prepare a 9 inch springform pan by buttering it liberally.
- Beat together the cream cheese and the blue cheese until light and fluffy.
- Mix in 1 cup of the sour cream (reserve the remaining 1 ½ cup) and the pepper.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating after each egg.
- Stir in onions and nuts.
- Pour into prepared pan and bake for 60 minutes or until a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and let stand on a cooling rack for 5 minutes (do not turn off the oven).
- Spread the remaining 1 ½ cups sour cream on the top of the cake and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Remove, allow to cool on a wire rack and then refrigerate for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight. Remove outer ring of springform pan when serving to allow ease of slicing.
- Serve with crackers, cocktail rye toast and grapes.
Nutrition
Dana Cabral says
Where do you get such lovely and yummy looking gluten free crackers?? I would love that source! I am so excited to have just found your site!!! Dying to try everything!!!!! Thank you for Real gluten free food!!
Toni Dash says
I’m so glad you found me too! These crackers were purchased at Luckys Market. I’m not remembering the brand at the moment but next time I’m there I’ll leave the brand name for you!
Bill Stearman says
Thank you! I had a mini blue cheese cake beside a phenomenal steak many years ago and have secretly wanted to try and reproduce it. No one believes me when I tell them it was one of the greatest surprise tastes/textures I can recall. Looking forward to testing your recipie.
Toni Dash says
Thanks Bill! It is definitely one of my favorite appetizers and so unexpected. I hope you’ll love this version!
Cat says
Can this be made a day ahead??
Toni Dash says
I’m sure it could be Cat. It’s best when left to set so I can’t see why it wouldn’t be fine!
Dinah says
This sounds fantastic! I can not believe that no one has commented: “What? There is gluten-free Blue Cheese?” I must say that in my gluten days, I was known for my cheesecake and my blue cheese dressing and dip.
This dish gives me hope that I can reclaim my life with one dish. I can hardly wait for the compliments at the upcoming holiday carry-ins.
To tag along to some of the prior comments: if you cut fat out of your diet, you will be missing something very important. Most likely, you will seek solace in foods with the wrong kind of fat, hidden. For me, pass the butter and cream; keep the sugar and carbs. 60+ and never been close to a negative cholesterol test!
Toni Dash says
I agree Dinah! I think despite the Candadian Celiac group ruling there is no gluten in blue cheese from the molding process, I still check from habit! We have enjoyed this thoroughly and as a secondary physical check indeed have never had any of the tell tale responses we do when accidentally ingesting gluten.
I too have low cholesterol and would go so far as to label myself a cheese addict! Were I shipwrecked with only a small wheel of Brie, I’d be good! Fat provides so many necessary functions in the body, cutting it out is not only ill-informed but I’d go so far to say it can have extremely detrimental effects. And if you are going to eat it, enjoy it! This ‘cake’ fills that bill and more.
Beeloved says
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Can’t wait to make this. I love blue cheese and this sounds fantastic.
Toni Dash says
Colleen I agree this is fantastic. I’ve been a blue cheese fan since I was a child and this recipe is like heaven for me! It’s a beautiful blend of flavors, with enough blue cheese but still creamy. It’s very unusual making it perfect to dazzle guests….and they’ll never know how easy it was to make! You are welcome!
Ferfreak says
Fantastic recipe, one question though. Do I understand correctly that the ingredients should be at room temperature?
P.S.Planning to make it on a rye rusk base from another recipe – will let you know how it works out. 🙂
Toni Dash says
I do not believe they must be at room temperature. Was there something in the recipe making you think so? Perhaps if you can point that out I can clarify.
Ferfreak says
No, nothing in particular, just being picky on details (yep, that’s me 🙂 )
Toni Dash says
It really doesn’t matter Diane especially since everything ends up being baked. Hope you’ll love the recipe!
Lori Lynn says
Claudia sent me. So glad she did!
LL
Toni Dash says
I’m so glad too Lori Lynn! Hope you’ll find some things you like!
Linda@There and Back Again says
Just printed the recipe. Can’t wait to try it…I love blue cheese!
lindsay | rosemarried says
What a FANTASTIC idea. This is the kind of cake I can get behind! Seriously, I love this on every level. Will be trying it out soon. Thanks, Toni!
Claudia says
Oh my goodness me. If it wasn’t snowing, I’d be out for more blue cheese (yes, I have some). I need this in my life. Especially in my “January in Minnesota” life.
Toni Dash says
And after you DO make it Claudia I feel sure you’ll know what you said is true! It is beyond delicious; promise!