Blue Cheese and Port Spread
A savory spread that makes an ordinary cracker an extraordinary appe
This blue cheese and port spread is really easy to make, but your guests will never know it! It can be made in advance and refrigerated until party time.
Blue cheese is a delicious base for this tangy and tasty appetizer spread. For best results, use a good quality blue cheese such as Stilton, and allow the spread to sit in the refrigerator overnight for the flavors to mingle. Gorgonzola cheese may be substituted for the blue cheese, if desired.
Port is a sweet fortified wine with a strong flavor. It compliments the strong taste of the blue cheese perfectly in this recipe. Port has a higher alcohol content than regular wine, and makes a wonderful accompaniment to any type of cheese and cracker platter. Use your favorite variety of dark or tawny port for this spread. White port can tend to spoil when left unchilled.
Serve with fancy crackers or crusty bread rounds and plenty of spreaders. It can also be piped into celery stalks or endive leaves to make individual appetizers.
Blue cheese and port spread makes a terrific hostess gift or Christmas gift when placed in a small gift basket with a box of crackers and a holiday-themed spreader, along with a packet of holiday napkins. If you really want to impress, add a bottle of port to the gift basket.
Before serving, allow the spread to come to room temperature. This allows the cheese to reach its full flavor, and softens the mixture so it's perfect for spreading.
Blue Cheese and Port Spread
- 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1/3 cup port
- 12 ounces blue cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons chives, chopped
- 1/4 - 1/2 cup walnut halves, toasted
In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Stir in port and mix to combine. Add blue cheese and chives; continue stirring until combined. Mixture will be slightly lumpy.
Spoon blue cheese mixture into serving dish and smooth the top with the back of a spoon or a spatula. Cover and refrigerate for at least six hours or overnight. (Spread will keep for up to three days.)
Remove spread from refrigerator and remove cover. Arrange the toasted walnut halves in a cirular pattern on the top of the spread. Allow spread to come to room temperature before serving.
Makes 8-12 servings.
