Blue Cheese Vinaigrette is brimming with olive oil, blue cheese, two types of vinegar and a unique blend of spices. It's inspired by a delicious salad dressing served at a restaurant called Buddy's. This vinaigrette is tangy and cheesy. Toss it with crisp lettuce greens for a memorable salad.
Buddy's Copycat
The recipe is inspired by the best blue cheese and olive oil-based salad dressing I've ever had. Scroll down for the story.
Ingredients to have on hand
Finding just the right balance of seasonings and spices is what took the longest time for me to "perfect" this blue cheese vinaigrette dressing.
- extra light olive oil
- white wine vinegar
- oregano
- garlic powder
- Tone’s Rosemary Garlic Seasoning Blend
- blue cheese - I recommend the Danish Blue variety
- garlic
- balsamic glaze
Salad Dressing Spices
This recipe includes a generous amount of dried oregano and fresh garlic, and the essence of rosemary from Tone's Rosemary Garlic Seasoning Blend. The combo of herbs and spice is a great companion to the distinctive, creamy blue cheese.
Blend the Dressing
I use an immersion blender to blend the ingredients. Honestly, that type of blender is my go-to kitchen appliance, especially when it comes to combining liquid ingredients.
As an option, using a counter blender will work just fine with this recipe. Be careful not to over-do it when blending. A quick few pulses of the blades are all you need to combine the blue cheese with the olive oil, vinegar and spices.
Choosing the Blue Cheese
Not all blue cheese varieties are equal. I recommend using Castello Danish Blue for this recipe, but any brand of the Danish Blue variety blue cheese will be delicious.
You should be able to find Danish Blue Cheese in your grocery store wherever the speciality cheeses are sold. I've made this using Gorgonzola blue cheese, but I've found that the flavor was a little too tangy and not as rich and robust as Danish Blue.
Balsamic glaze has a more intense flavor and the almost sweet taste is more robust than what we find in a balsamic vinegar. In this recipe, I've found that adding a ½ teaspoon of balsamic glaze helps to "soften" the tangy white wine vinegar. Be assured, you'll use the glaze beyond just this recipe. It's handy to have on hand and it's delicious drizzled on roasted brussels sprouts, fresh mozzarella and diced tomatoes. Yum!
Great Flavor the Next Day
This blue cheese vinaigrette is terrific served fresh and as soon as you make it. Toss it right away with those leafy greens. But the flavors blend beautifully after a day in the fridge and the "cheesy" flavor of the blue cheese is a little more dominant. So good!
The inspiration: Buddy's Salad Dressing
This is my copycat version of a VERY famous salad dressing from a beloved Italian restaurant in Pocatello, Idaho called Buddy's. I've been trying to create this version of salad dressing for a long, long time.
About 20 years ago, someone gave me what they thought was a copy of the actual Buddy's Salad Dressing recipe (it wasn't) and since then I've been dabbling with spices, blue cheese variations, olive oils and vinegar combinations to try and hit the mark.
I've gone through gallons of olive oil and vinegar trying to get this recipe just right. Now, at long last, I think I'm as close as I can get without actually working in their kitchen! But I would encourage you, if you are ever in Pocatello, to stop in at Buddy's and try the real thing!
The Crinkled Cookbook is not in any way affiliated with Buddy's Italian Restaurant. This recipe is simply my best guess at what their special recipe for delicious salad dressing might be.
What to serve with your salad
A crispy green salad always pairs well with pasta, meatballs and tomato sauces. Here are a few ideas that go great on the plate with Blue Cheese Vinaigrette Dressing:
Recipe
Jessica says
Absolutely beautiful recipe! I didn't have white wine vinegar so I substituted apple cider vinegar. Soooo yummy!! Just a tip so your olive oil doesn't separate. Wait to add the olive oil until last. Turn on your blending implement and very slowly add your olive oil and it will emulsify and not separate. I've done this in a blender and Immersion blender. They both will work just fine. I like you though, prefer my Immersion blender.
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
Thank you Jessica, I so appreciate the five star rating and the great tip on when to add the olive oil.
Linda Pollack says
I'm soo glad that I came across this recipe. Marie's used to have sell a refrigerated Blue Cheese vinaigrette salad dressing that I loved, and it is no longer available. Your recipe is fantastic.... and I happened to have Tone's Rosemary Garlic Seasoning Blend already!!! Thanks for sharing your recipe!!!
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
Hi Linda, Thank you for the five star rating! Great to hear that you had the seasoning on hand too. Win, win!
Elizabeth says
Not usually a fan of blue cheese but this vinaigrette is delicious! Perfect for summer!
Jacqueline says
I'm a big blue cheese fan so I had to try this dressing. Wow so good. We've had it twice, once with just salad greens as a side dish and once on a chicken salad. Both ways were yum!
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
The flavors do go great with chicken! Thank you for the five star rating Jacqueline.
Oscar says
I've never been a fan of blue cheese, but this dressing converted me. It's creamy without being heavy, and the blend of spices adds a unique depth of flavor.
Gloria says
I have stopped buying bottled salad dressings. They are so easy to whip up when you need them. They taste fresh and have no preservatives either.
Stephanie says
This is probably the best salad dressing I've made! Loaded with great flavor from the spices and blue cheese. I especially enjoy poured over the top of a large wedge of lettuce.
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
Thank you for the five star rating Stephanie!
Nancy Sulse says
Followed exactly but my gut told me the oil to vinegar ratio was off; typically 3:1 and this was just over 1:1. Far too sour and I couldn't taste anything other than vinegar. Ended up cutting the finished dressing in half, added more oil and balsamic glaze to one half, and tossed out the other. It was passable but frankly a waste of $12 worth of blue cheese.
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
Sorry the dressing didn't work out to your liking Nancy, thank you for giving it a try.
Cathy K says
I’ve never heard of Buddy’s but I’m glad you did…because this salad dressing is absolutely fantastic!
Made it exactly per your recipe and it is the best homemade dressing I’ve ever tried. Used it on a steak salad and it was delicious.
Thanks!
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
Wow, thank you for the great review Cathy! I'm so happy you enjoyed this salad dressing. I agree, it does go great with steak!
Sam says
This is SO good! I had a blue cheese vinaigrette on a salad in an airport that was amazing and I’ve been looking for a copycat recipe. This tastes exactly like it. Thank you!
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe Sam, thank you for the review and the five star rating!
Alexandra says
This is perfect served alongside a green salad - it is so creamy and delicious and we absolutely love the garlic! Tasty recipe - thank you!
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
Thanks Alexandra! This is a great salad dressing for those of us who love garlic. 🙂
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
This dressing is a blue cheese lovers delight!! It's so rich and flavorful, I won't be buying bottled anymore!!
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
Thanks for the five star rating Helen! Agreed, homemade salad dressings can't be beat.
Nora says
I love a good blue cheese vinaigrette; your recipe turned out perfectly! I will use this more often in the future!
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
Wonderful, I'm glad you enjoyed it Nora!
nancy says
this recipe is so lovely. I love the hint of blue cheese with vinaigrette. It's perfect for any salad or pasta meal!
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
Thanks for the five star rating Nancy!