The Polarizing Cheese You Should Be Adding To Mashed Potatoes

There's no wrong way to prepare a potato, but some ways are arguably better than others. If we're ranking potato preparations, mashed potatoes easily show up near the top of the list. They are rich and comforting, reminding us of gathering around the table with our family. Mashed potatoes are also the blank canvas of dinner sides: There is almost nothing you can't do to them to add flavor and bring them to life. The humble potato lends itself to partnering with other foods, and one of its favorite collaborators is cheese.

The definition of a beautiful friendship, cheese and potatoes are the ultimate comfort food pair. People usually reach for the cheddar when picking what cheese to mix in with their spuds, but there's an even better cheese out there: Blue cheese. It's robust and threaded with ribbons of pungent goodness, the perfect pair with chicken wings and so much more. However, it is the potato mix-in you've been missing in your life, and it's easy to make up for lost time and enjoy the best potatoes you've ever made.

Some people may be divided on blue cheese due to its intense flavor, but potatoes don't benefit from a mild cheese. Blue cheese may get a bad rap as being "stinky," but the reality is the bold flavors that blue cheese offers are well-matched with the natural creaminess of mashed potatoes. Those intense flavors will mellow out to provide a touch of tang and brightness to the finished dish.

The world of blue cheese is wide, but you've probably heard of the big four: Gorgonzola, Roquefort, stilton, and Cabrales. Hailing from Italy, France, England, and Spain, these four offer the classic pungent flavor you expect from a blue cheese, and they'll blend well with buttery-rich potatoes. There's no reason to limit yourself to the classics; potatoes provide a great opportunity to experiment. Looking for something a little less robust? Dunbarton Blue offers a great option with a mellow bite, as will a triple cream blue cheese that brings bonus creaminess. There are many artisanal farms producing blue cheese today, and they all bring something to the table.

Of course, sometimes you're in the mood for potatoes that have a pop of flavor but maybe one that's not as dominant as crumbled blue cheese. A cheese that's milder is the choice when you know you'll be adding other big notes. Chef Suzette Gresham of Acquerello recommends her favorite: silky Comté that takes a supporting role to bolder notes. It makes for a potato dish with "subtle nuance" she explained to Insider, "these quintessential mashed potatoes have an uncommon twist. They are made with smoked butter and French imported Comté cheese." The nutty flavor of the cheese highlights the smokiness in the butter, resulting in decadent potatoes worthy of being a side at any meal. 

Of course, there's no wrong cheese to pick for your taters. Whether you're grabbing the gorgonzola or reaching for something less pronounced, the result is still satiating, cheesy spuds. Fluffy potatoes blended with butter and a nicely pungent blue cheese may be hard to top, but there's always room for experimentation when it comes to potatoes and cheese.