Parmesan Cheese Spread Recipe
A Parmesan cheese spread made with grated cheese, olive oil, a splash of white wine, and any other accents you can think of.
Woah - what a week. I'm sitting in the lobby of a hotel in New York, and quite a lot has unfolded since I last checked in. The short version is: I flew to New York for the James Beard Awards, and then (holy s**t) I won one. I'm making my way back home now, and my fingers are crossed that some of my photos from the past few days turn out. In the meantime, I'll leave you with this. It's a Parmesan spread I make now and then, one I like for a number of reasons. You grate good Parmesan whisper-thin into a pot. Then combine that with a splash of white wine and a big glug of olive oil. That's really it. It's one of those stupid-simple, homemade, tastes-really-good things you can make in no time. If it gets lost in your refrigerator for a week, no worries, it's that much better when you rediscover it. Once you've made this base, it can hang out in your fridge for a week, or two, - or even three. Ready to use whenever (and, on whatever) you like.
It's also completely customizable on a whim. You can stir in any number or herbs, spices, dried or fresh fruits (before serving) to take the spread in whatever direction you like. I noted some suggestions in the recipe below. It's good on crostini, sandwiches, and tartines. It's good spread in the bottom of a tart crust. It's good drizzled with a bit of honey or as part of a cheese / antipasti platter.
Thanks again to everyone for the nice notes. Every one of them feels good to read. xo -h
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Parmesan Cheese Spread
You're going to want to use a Microplane grater here - the finer and whispier the cheese is grated, the better. this is also a perfect fit for Pecorino cheese, and I've been working on an aged gouda version using a bit of IPA (India Pale Ale) in place of the wine you see here. You can take this general idea in many different directions.
2 1/2 cups / 5 1/2 oz / 150g finely grated Parmesan cheese
scant 1/4 cup / 50 ml extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup dry white wineadd in ideas: chopped dried figs, chopped dates, finely lots of chopped chives, lemon zest, or red pepper flakes, dried herbs, chopped sun-dried tomatoes
Combine the cheese, olive oil, and wine in a jar or bowl. Stir gently until it all comes together, then press the cheese down a bit into a flat surface. It will keep like this, drizzled with a layer of olive oil, for a few weeks refrigerated.
When I want to serve the cheese, I typically scoop out a bit into a separate smaller bowl or plate, and incorporate any add-ins (or drizzles) at this point.
Makes ~1 1/2 cups of spread.
Prep time: 5 minutes
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Comments
Yay! Yay! Yay! Your website and cookbooks helped me begin my jaunt as a veggie cook; I'm forever indebted, and give you my own little award every time I bite into one of your scrumptious meals. Brava, Heidi!!
Hi Heidi, You met my friend Ginny Evans a while ago and she gave me a signed copy of your first book. I have loved your work since then! I am good friends with Lisa Gosselin, the editor of Eating Well magazine (a publication out of Vermont). She would love to be in touch with you. How can she reach you? Should I send you her email? Thanks and congratulations about James Beard! Lindsay
HS: Thanks for the nice note Lindsay :) - I'll ping you offline.
Congratulations on your award! You definitely deserve it, you talented lady, you! Your cheese spread looks simple and tasty. Would spread it on a cracker or sandwich any day!
Congrats on the award, Heidi!
Congratulations, Heidi! You deserve every ounce of recognition that you received at the James Beard Awards and elsewhere. You're an inspiration! Please keep on doing what you do. Oh and this spread? I'm trying it as soon as possible!
Congratulations on the award!
Wow, Congratulations on the award Heidi. Well deserved
Heidi, congratulations!! Your recipes and beautiful, beautiful photographs have been such an inspiration. I love reading your blog and will continue to do so for as long as I love cooking/eating (i.e. a very long time). Congratulations and enjoy basking in the well-deserved glory! :)
Woo! Congrats!
Congrats on the award! Plentiful champagne for you. :) (...I guess it's especially appropriate that there's wine in this spread!)
Congrats on the award!! That is so amazing :) This cheese spread looks delicious!
Congrats! And this sounds delish!
How wonderfully simple - I love it. And congratulations on the award. Well deserved :)
Congratulations Heidi. It's so wonderful to read about your much deserved achievement ... everything you do, you do with such grace.
Congratulations on the award! We grate hard cheese onto just about everything; never would have thought to turn it into a spread/sauce. Ingenious!
Congratulations, Heidi! I saw the list of winners yesterday and did a little dance for you.
cheese, olive oil, wine. You've got a winner on your hands :)
Congratulations on winning, Heidi! Very well-deserved.
What a fabulous idea! Love this!
Congrats on the JBA! Hip hip hooray!
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