Crème Fraîche Blue Cheese Salad Dressing

Jeff the Chef

I used this homemade Crème Fraîche Blue Cheese Salad Dressing for a fresh berry and vegetable salad to which I added a rotisserie chicken breast. This dressing works equally well as a dip, or condiment. You simply have to adjust the thickness, which is easy to do.

Blue Cheese Salad Dressing
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Blue Cheese Salad Dressing

Makes

1

cup
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

40

minutes
Calories

300

kcal

Simple, easy, and so delicious.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup crème fraîche

  • 1/4 cup mayo

  • 1 Tbs fresh lemon juice

  • 1 tsp dried parsley (or 1 Tbs minced fresh)

  • 1 tsp white vinegar

  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder

  • 1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce

  • Pinch of salt

  • Generous pinch of freshly ground black pepper

  • 4-5 oz crumbled blue cheese

  • 1 Tbs (or as needed) buttermilk

Directions

  • Combine all ingredients except cheese and milk. Separate your cheese into larger and smaller crumbles. Add the smaller crumbles, and stir and mash them in vigorously, so that they melt into the dressing. Add the larger crumbles, and stir (or mash) until they break down to a size that you like. Add milk to acheive desired consistency, if needed. Note that the dressing will firm up significantly when refrigerated.

The Backstory

This dressing, and salad I put it on, came about impulsively at the grocery store. I saw a delicious-looking, pre-made salad, and almost bought it. But then it occurred to me that I could make one like it for a fraction of the cost. Two ounces of baby spinach per person is about right for this salad. The grocery carries seven-ounce packages of berry trio (blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry); one of those is good for two salads if you want to be generous with the fruit. Nuts go nicely with this salad. I had pistachios already onhand at home, and they went beautifully with the dressing … but I think walnuts would also be a good choice. I included rotisserie chicken in the salad; one small bird is enough for four salads.

Social Learning

The kind of cheese you use will make a tremendous difference in the dressing. I chose a cheese that came already-crumbled, because I know that that kind of cheese is usually very mild, and that’s how I roll with blue cheese. The dressing it made is flavorful and delicious, and mildly, pleasantly blue. Think of it as a homemade blue cheese dressing for the masses, but far superior to anything you’re likely to get from a grocery story shelf. My husband, on the other hand, would’ve preferred a much stronger cheese flavor. If you’re one of the blue cheese elite, this is still a good recipe for you; you simply need to choose a cheese that you love, and mash it in thoughtfully and carefully until you have exactly what you want.

Crème fraîche is like sour cream (which is more common in a blue cheese dressing) in tang and texture, but it’s unlike sour cream in its ultra-suave, creamy flavor. That creamy flavor is also a bit more neutral than sour cream, so you really need to take the time in the first cheesey addition to mash that cheese into the liquid. You need to flavor the liquid, not just add flavor chunks to it. The result will be a dressing that has a distinctive luxuriousness to it that many similar dressings lack, although I’ve no doubt that you could achieve something similar with a mixture of sour cream and heavy cream.

Crème Fraîche Blue Cheese Salad Dressing

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33 thoughts on “Crème Fraîche Blue Cheese Salad Dressing”

  2. This dressing sounds delicious. We’re big salad eaters but I couldn’t help thinking this would be good on a hamburger or fried chicken sandwich. lol

    Reply

  6. I bet I would love this! I’m with you on the side of milder blue cheese. Otherwise it’s just overwhelming – especially as a dressing. Great recipe.

    Reply

  10. The older I get, the stronger I like my blue cheese Jeff, and I love the way you throw a salad together. This looks delicious.

    Reply

  12. Blue cheese dressing sounds perfect for a salad with berries. It looks delicious and makes a pretty presentation too.

    Reply

  13. I just taught my students a class on how to make salad dressings (so they would never have to buy bottled dressing), and I wish I’d had your recipe for blue cheese dressing. Perfect, Jeff!

    Reply

  14. Hi Jeff,
    I am fan of homemade salad dressings. The flavor and quality cannot be beat. Blue cheese dressing is the epitome of fresh taste when homemade. Love it. Love it.

    I never thought of using a blue cheese dressing on berries and spinach. Nice! I will remember this-
    Velva recently posted…On A Wild Goose Chase

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  15. You totally nailed it on the store-bought salads, Jeff. They look delicious, but you can recreate ’em for much less…and you end up with leftovers, too! I would never have thought about using crème fraîche as a salad dressing base, but it makes perfect sense. This salad sounds fantastic…perfect for summer!!
    David @ Spiced recently posted…Muffaletta Grilled Cheese

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  16. Blue cheese seems to bring salads to another level. Love it in this dressing and creme fraîche is a favorite ingredient of mine. What a great meal with the chicken and bright fruit and greens. 🙂 ~Valentina

    Reply
  18. Pingback: Adult Lunchbox 1 - Make It Like a Man!

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