Blue Cheese Spread with Spiced Walnuts
When her winery, Single Leaf Vineyards & Winery, participates in big festivals, owner Pam Miller uses this appetizer, which can be made ahead and easily multiplied. It goes well with Single Leaf's Chardonnay.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Beat cream cheese, blue cheese, chèvre, butter, and brandy until creamy. Stir in 2 tablespoons chives. Mound in a small, shallow dish. If making ahead, cover and chill up to 2 days.
Step 2
2
In a small bowl, mix salt, pepper, cumin, cinnamon, and cardamom.
Step 3
3
Pour chili oil and olive oil into an 8- to 10-inch nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Add walnuts. Stir often until toasted, 5 to 7 minutes. Add sugar and stir until it melts onto nuts, about 1 minute.
Step 4
4
Pour hot nuts into bowl with spices and mix to coat. If making ahead, let cool and store airtight up to 2 days.
Step 5
5
Sprinkle nuts and remaining 1 tablespoon chives over cheese. Spread mixture onto crackers.
Ingredients
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
1/4 cup fresh chèvre (goat) cheese
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, at room temperature
2 tablespoons brandy or milk
3 tablespoons thinly sliced chives or green onions
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 teaspoons chili oil
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
2 teaspoons sugar
3 dozen unsalted water crackers or thin apple slices
Directions
Step 1
1
Beat cream cheese, blue cheese, chèvre, butter, and brandy until creamy. Stir in 2 tablespoons chives. Mound in a small, shallow dish. If making ahead, cover and chill up to 2 days.
Step 2
2
In a small bowl, mix salt, pepper, cumin, cinnamon, and cardamom.
Step 3
3
Pour chili oil and olive oil into an 8- to 10-inch nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Add walnuts. Stir often until toasted, 5 to 7 minutes. Add sugar and stir until it melts onto nuts, about 1 minute.
Step 4
4
Pour hot nuts into bowl with spices and mix to coat. If making ahead, let cool and store airtight up to 2 days.
Step 5
5
Sprinkle nuts and remaining 1 tablespoon chives over cheese. Spread mixture onto crackers.
Search All of Sunset's Recipes
The Latest
The Best Thing You Could Do for Your Health Is Quit the Gym—Here’s What to Do Instead
