Jalapeño Cheese Spread

If there is an easier way to eat cheese, LMK. My quest for the best cheese spread in the world was part of my recent Florida journey. I never really found a good store-bought brand -  from Publix to the farmers markets - and I’ve tasted and devoured many examples. So I made it myself. Resisting the urge to make it French and add cognac or wine, I went with apple cider vinegar and hot sauce. I like a respectable American cheddar in my cheese spread and an aged Gouda from Holland. Firm aged goat cheese works well too. Adding a little Sriracha chili sauce to this cheese spread makes it spicy with the color of a classic pimento cheese spread.

Ingredients:

8 oz sharp cheddar cheese

4 oz aged gouda or aged goat cheese 

¼ cup Kewpie mayonnaise

¼ cup whipped cream cheese

2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

2 Tbsp Sriracha sauce

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp granulated garlic (otional)

1 tsp chili powder or paprika (optional)

1 red Fresno chili, trimmed, seeds removed, minced

1 jalapeno pepper, trimmed, seeds removed, minced 

1  clove garlic, microplaned into a paste (optional)

Salt and fresh black pepper, to season

Method:

Working in batches, on the medium blade of a box grater, grate the hard cheeses by hand onto wax paper and set aside. I like fine-to medium- size grated cheese.

In a big bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, cider vinegar, worcestershire sauce, granulated garlic,chili powder and the microplaned garlic. Wisk in the whipped cream cheese until nice and smooth. Add a little Sriracha chili sauce - up to two tablespoons. The mixture should be bright orange with a smooth consistency.

Add both grated cheeses, fold well with a spatula, then add the minced Fresno chili and jalapeno peppers. Use a wooden spoon, combine and mix together. Season and mound the cheese spread into a big ball in a bowl. 

Scoop generously with ice-cold peeled celery spears, spread onto warm buttered toast points, crackers or crostini, and crudités -  Belgian endive spears, baby carrots or romaine lettuce leaf spears. 

Cheese ball in a bowl at a party is easy!