If last week we went on a trip with a spreadable weekend snack, today we continue betting on fresh, creamy and very easy appetizers thanks to the same base: the cream cheese. Any variety will do, although there is no doubt that the typical spread popularized by the famous brand philadelphia It is the most accessible, economical and versatile.
With a tub of natural flavor, which also many brands already offer in lactose-free versions, we can improvise an almost instant appetizer simply by mixing it with various ingredients. Then there is nothing more than serve it as we likefrom accompanied by slices of bread to assemble mini toasts to a selection of crackers, nachos, nags, crackers or vegetable crudités.
Most of the ingredients in this selection are surely already waiting in your pantry or in the fridge, and many are typical products that are left in half-spent jars waiting for an outlet that will save them from the garbage before spoiling forever. You can try one of the suggestions or combine several each other, and the best thing is that there are no measures that are worth; do not be afraid to add by eye, testing and adjusting amounts to your liking.
aromatic fresh herbs
A simple handful of finely chopped chives transforms cream cheese into a dip or exquisite pâté that can be enriched by combining other herbs that we have at home. There are little room for error and we only recommend adding little by little, mixing and testing until you find the intensity that you like the most.
the classics provencal mediterranean They go together very well, but we can give it a more exotic touch with coriander or with some herb that we have bought for another recipe and that we no longer know how to use. Parsley, thyme, dill, rosemary, chervil, oregano… A little salt and pepper will round out the mix.
pickles and olives
The salty, sour and umami, sometimes sweet and sometimes spicy, of these pantry basics, deserves more attention. Gherkins, capers, olives, capers, onions, garlic, peppers, carrots or any other pickled vegetable, or a mixture of them (such as the typical minced meat for the Murcian salad) will transform the flavor and texture of the cheese.
Seafood, smoked and salted cans
The medium quality anchovies -it is not necessary to spend your salary on them for this preparation-, well chopped, they also provide an intense flavor and umami to cream cheese, which is usually neutral or sweet. It is not in vain that we use them as an enhancing ingredient in a multitude of sauces, such as Caesar or puttanesca.
But it is not the only preserve from the sea that we can mix with this cheese to make an instant seafood appetizer; tuna or bonito, mussels, cockles and sardines They are good options, as well as the classic smoked meats, finely chopped. Salted meats such as mojama or roe, grated or minced, make up another good alternative. Due to its saline intensity, it is always better to add them in moderate amounts, and not add more salt.
Sausages and cured meats
Resorting to sausage or even cold cuts that we have in the fridge is a good resource to take advantage of leftovers or seduce those who prefer more meaty or Iberian flavors in the aperitif. Here there is almost absolute freedom to play and try new combinations: serrano or cooked ham, chorizo, loin, cured meat, mortadella, turkey, crispy bacon, etc.
spice mixes
homemade or with a mix commercial already ready to use, we can use them on their own or as an addition to any of the other combinations in this compilation. Once again, the universe that opens up before us is endless according to tastes or what we have at home.
The typical curry From the supermarket it goes very well with fresh herbs and pickles, but more special mixes such as zaatar, ras el hanout, shichimi togarashi or a Japanese furikake are also good options.
raw vegetables
Here they work better crispy vegetables that they do not release too much water when cutting them, and it is preferable to add them freshly finely grated, although they can also be served very finely chopped.
Carrot, radishes or white radish, raw zucchini, cucumber, white cabbage, red cabbage or cabbage, celery, green onion or some lettuce especially firm and crispy are good choices. If we don’t mind dyeing our cheese, cooked or roasted beetroot is another great resource, albeit combined with other ingredients to reduce its sweetness.
sauces and condiments
Another good idea to throw leftovers from the pantry or fridge. All you have to do is take out the sauce or vinaigrette jars that we have at home and add to our taste to the cream cheese, testing and making adjustments as we go. As we come up with new flavors, inspiration will come to us to complete the mix with other components.
Mustard, fish sauce, harissa, caesar sauce, soy sauce, barbecue sauce, sriracha, various vinegars, worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, herb oil, tahini, sesame oil… we all have jars or tubes half spent -or unopened- in the pantry.
fresh and dried fruit
A mixture of both or combined with other ingredients that complement the sweetness of the fruits can give us deliciously addictive flavors. A good vinegar or spicy touch, as well as slightly salty roasted nuts, will go well with raisins, dates, figs, dried apricots, fresh apple or pear, pineapple, peach, etc. Dried tomato in oil is another fantastic ingredient to flavor spreadable cheese.
Jam, compote and chutney
Even easier than fresh fruit is to open a jar of preserves, or take advantage of what we already have hanging around the fridge. Jams and cream cheese They make a delicious combination, although for an aperitif we may be more interested in a less sweet compote, or opt for chutneys with their salty, sour and spicy touch.
Another alternative is to resort to jams with saltier ingredients, such as bacon, pepper, red wine or tomato.
Caramelized or fried onion
This basic kitchen vegetable deserves a separate consideration in two of the formats that bring the most joy with its presence in a multitude of dishes. With a very different flavor and two totally different textureswe can decide on just one or combine both, adding the fried one on top so as not to lose its crunchy factor.
Nuts and seeds
In both cases we will have more flavor if we use them toasted, well already bought like this, well passed through a frying pan without greasing at the moment. The mixtures that they sell to dress salads are an easy resource but we can always customize them to taste, depending on the other ingredients that we have added.
Nuts and cheese are a classic pairing, but not the only possible one. The pistachios or some peanuts Chopped will give us new flavors, we could even use the typical fried with honey, although they are not the healthiest in the world.
French fries and other snacks
Precisely we end with another idea that nutritionists will not like very much, but that will give us an almost addictive snack: the commercial potato chips, and related snacks, such as nachos or salty pretzels. Crushed into small pieces and combined with the cream cheese we will obtain a creamy, crunchy, sweet and salty bite, all at the same time, to spread, dip or use as a base for canapés.
And if we use potato chips adventurous flavors such as ham, truffle, fried egg, roast chicken, hot chili or cheese, the taste experience can be much more interesting.
Photos | Unsplash – Pixabay – Marcho Verch – Saaleha Bamjee
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