Spanish Cabrales A Royal Blue Cheese From Spain

Cabrales is  produced in the rugged mountains of the Asturias region of Spain and is DOP Certified.Traditionally the cheese was produced from the local milk of cows ,goats and sheep and then wrapped with sycamore leaves. However, most of the Cabrales that we see in the United States today is made solely from cow's milk and is wrapped in foil. This Spanish blue cheese is made in the spring and summer using centuries old methods of production and aging.

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Details: The locally collected milk  is allowed to sit for three to four hours before goat rennet is added and the curdling process begins. The curds are then molded into 5lb wheels and set in  caves to age. After about a week the young cheeses are pierced with steel needles to allow the natural bacteria in the caves to seep into the white paste. This produces.veining in the interior paste that is very intense  and tends towards being purple in color. It should be noted here that Cabrales is not made by injecting penicillium mold so it's veining is natural. The curing process proceeds from the outside (the rind) to the inner paste, thus producing an inedible natural rind that can look very unsightly and is extremely salty. The local limestone caves provide the perfect environment for aging this great cheese at  45-55F and 90% humidity. The normal aging process lasts from two to six months however, the Cabrales that is imported into the United States is aged about 2 months and has a mellower flavor the longer aged cheeses. If after trying Cabrales you find it to be overpowering  you can substitute Stilton for it. 

Tasting notes:The aroma and flavor of Cabrales are strong and pungent, this cheese is not for the weak hearted. The flavor is explosive and powerful with a decidedly salty note and a spicy finish. As the cheese ages the the salty flavor will increase, the veining will get darker and pockets of crystalized amino acids will begin to form, all of this adds several magnitudes of intense flavor and aroma.

When shopping for Cabrales look for cheeses that have a clean light yellow crumbly but moist interior paste and thick veining. If the interior paste is gray or is oozing it is a sign that the cheese is past its prime and will be a very unpleasant purchase.

Serve Cabrales with sweet fruits like grapes figs or melons and crusty bread for brunch. It also livens up all vegetable salads and pairs well with almonds and walnuts. Cabrales is an excellent blue cheese for melting over grilled or roasted meats. Mashed with a bit of unsalted butter or heavy cream, it is delicious served as a spread for baguette slices, crackers, or fruit.

Wine Paring: Strong Spanish reds like el Bierzo, Navarra, Rioja and sweet or dry Spanish Sherries.

A Light Summer Salad With French Comte And Avacado

                                          French Comte and Avocado salad

This light summer salad will become a family favorite quickly due to its bold flavor and eye catching appeal. French Comte adds a rich nutty and grassy flavor to this salad and it is the headliner here because it also brings out the best from the other ingredients. This is a great for a light summer lunch with bread and wine. Steamed broccoli florets or sugar snap peas can be added instead of the avocado if you choose.

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Ingredients (serves 6)

1/4 cup of fresh squeezed lime juice

1/4 cup of fresh cilantro

2 Tbsp. of white wine vinegar

1 medium clove of garlic

1 small scallion cut into 1" pieces

3/4 Tsp of salt

1/2 Tsp of ground black pepper

1/3 of a cup of extra virgin olive oil

1Tsp of horseradish

1 large avocado cubed

1 large tart green apple sliced

1/2 of a large cucumber sliced

2 large celery stalks chopped

1 cup of seedless green grapes

1 1/2 cups of French Comte cheese cubed

1 head of washed curly green leaf lettuce

Prep and total Time 20 min  

1) Combine the lime juice, cilantro, vinegar, garlic, scallion, horseradish, salt and pepper in a blender. While the blender is running add the olive oil . Continue blending until the mixture is smooth. Prepare and refrigerate overnight.

2) Combine the cubed avocado, chopped green apple, sliced cucumber, sliced celery grapes and Comte cheese in a large bowl. Add the dressing and toss to coat the entire mixture.

3) Place the leaf lettuce on individual plates and spoon out the mixture onto the lettuce.

Wine paring: Due to the citrus and vinegar dressing  serve a fruity Reisling or Sauvignon Blanc

How To Set Up A French Cheese Breakfast Plate

Yes we are providing a French cheese assortment for a breakfast cheese plate. The Europeans never set a clock for good food so live the good life and have a cheese entree as your morning wake up call or for a light brunch. The cheeses listed below are all easy to find and will make you smile with their flavors and aromas.




Ossau-Iraty or Petit Basque: Both are sheep cheeses from the Pyrenees Mountains with wonderful buttery flavors with an aroma of hazelnuts. Cut either in small but thick wedges.

Crottin Frais: This fresh goat cheese is from the Loire Valley and has a natural rind  a soft creamy inner paste and a light nutty flavor.

Fleur Du Maquis/ Brindamour: Is a soft, mild and aromatic sheep milk cheese from Corsica. The outer rind is encrusted with dried savory and rosemary. Cut in small wedges

Comte (aged):  This is a cow milk cheese is from the Nor-Pas de Calais. Try to find a cheese that is aged for at least 18 months so the nutty flavor is fully developed. Cut into thin wedges or small cubes

Blue d'Auvergne: Is a rindless pasteurized cow's milk blue cheese. This is a mild flavored blue so it will work nicely on our breakfast cheese plate, cut it into small wedges.

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Arrange the cheese on a tray or plate that is big enough to hold all four cheeses so they do not run into each other. Place sweet berries  (strawberries, blackberries and blueberries) around the cheeses to seperate them. Sweet fruits like honeydew or cantelope will work nicely also. Serve with mini toasts, crackers or crusty bread and hot herb tea.