With warmer weather in sight, March Madness on television and spring holidays right around the corner, it is time to invite some friends over. My husband and I have attended several cocktail parties in the past few weeks to meet prospective members of our pool and tennis club and seeing so many friends and neighbors after the long winter reminded me what a joy it is to entertain.
If you need a surefire hors d’oeuvre for your next get-together, look no further. Equally at home at casual gathering to watch the NCAA tournament or an elegant cocktail party, my Cheddar Horseradish Spread is easy to throw together and has a distinctive, bold flavor.
I start, of course, with Cabot Creamery’s Horseradish Cheddar Cheese. I am nutty about this creamy cheese with a kick, but then again, I love horseradish. At our Passover Seder, my husband and I are the ones piling slices of fresh horseradish root on our matzo while everyone else looks on in horror. If you cannot source Cabot Horseradish Cheddar, a sharp cheddar will do. This spread gets another healthy dose of horseradish later on.
The Cabot Horseradish Cheddar is combined with mild Cabot cream cheese, some prepared horseradish, and a splash of white wine. So yes, this is an adult spread, not that too many kids would go for anything with this much sinus-clearing, eye-watering horseradish flavor.
You could serve this spread as I suggest here, with crackers, perhaps topped with dried fruit for a touch of sweetness. But its uses do not end there. Given how perfectly horseradish goes with prime rib, I am imagining smearing a generous helping of this Cheddar Horseradish spread on my next roast beef sandwich. Or stir some into mashed potatoes for an especially flavorful, indulgent version of that classic side dish.
Because horseradish is such an important part of the Passover Seder, I think that this spread would be be especially fitting on your holiday table. (Of course, it contains dairy, and a lot of it, so if you observe kosher dietary laws, you would not want to include it in a holiday meal with meat.) With a recipe as easy as this one is, you will never run out of ways to serve it.
- 16 oz Cabot Horseradish Cheddar Cheese (2 8-oz packages)
- 8 oz Cabot cream cheese, softened
- ⅔ cup dry white wine
- 2 tsp prepared horseradish
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Cut the cheddar into cubes.
- Place cheddar, cream cheese, white wine and horseradish into the bowl of a food processor.
- Process until very smooth and creamy.
- Stir in the nutmeg, salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Best if prepared a day in advance to allow the flavors to develop.
- Refrigerate until needed. Allow to come to room temperature prior to serving.
Full disclosure time: As a member of the Cabot Cheese Board, I regularly receive Cabot products free of charge. I am not required to write about the products, nor do I receive any compensation for doing so. All opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.
Don’t tell anyone, but Cabot Horseradish Cheddar is my very favorite. And your spread looks like you’ve put it to it’s best – and most versatile – use. If I had any left over, I might just use it as the perfect grilled cheese sandwich filling, maybe even throw in a couple of pieces of bacon for good measure. ‘Cause that’s just how I roll.
Love it! I brought three jars of this spread to the Chicago Food Swap and one of the people I traded with told me that it was delicious on turkey and veggie burgers! Another great idea.