Thursday, December 31, 2009

Mexican Beer-Cheese Spread



From the Kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is one of my go-to cheese spreads. Success with this recipe depends on the quality of cheese that you use. Here in the Pacific Northwest, I use Tillamook Special Reserve Extra Sharp Cheddar and their Pepper Jack cheese to make my spread. Having lived in other areas, I can tell you that premium Wisconsin and Vermont cheeses can also be used and will produce an equally great cheese spread. It takes 5 minutes to prepare and it's close to effortless if you use a blender or food processor to make it. I like to make this several days before serving it in order to allow all the flavors to blend. Truth be told, it can be served in eight hours if you are in a bind. The spread will keep in the refrigerator for 10 days or so. Because jack cheeses vary in heat, I've included an optional addition of hot peppers or pepper flakes in the recipe. If you like heat and feel the base mixture is too tame, go for it. Otherwise take a pass. I think you'll like this spread for its great flavor and ease of preparation. Here's the recipe.

Mexican Beer-Cheese Spread
...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:

1 small grated onion and juice
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 cup + 1/4 cup flat Mexican beer (i.e. Corona), divided use
1 tablespoon tomato based steak sauce (i.e. Heinz 57)
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1/2 pound freshly shredded extra sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 pound freshly shredded pepper jack cheese
Optional: 1 small, finely minced jalapeno pepper or 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Directions:
1) Combine minced onion and onion juice, garlic, 1/2 cup beer, steak sauce and mayonnaise in the bowl of a food processor. Process until blended.
2) Add cheeses and process until perfectly smooth. Add additional beer by the tablespoon until mixture has a spreadable consistency. Fold in optional jalapeno pepper or pepper flakes if using. Transfer to a refrigerator container and chill for several days before serving. Serve at room temperature with crackers or crisp chips. Yield: about 2-1/4 cups.

29 comments :

My Little Space said...

Oh my, this a kind of yummy spread! Sounds delicious to me. Saving it up for later use too. Thanks, Mary! Btw, HAPPY NEW YEAR to you & your love ones. Hope you've a blessful & joyous new year.
Best wishes, Kristy

Claudia said...

I'm going to give this a whirl. I may tire of Christmas cookies - but never of cheese. Happy, happy New year... and I left something for you on my blog.

susan said...

Mary--I know we would like this! Looks like a good one for the guys for the upcoming bowl games. Happy 2010 to you!

Donna-FFW said...

Oh this would be gobbled up by my hubby in 2 seconds flat. He loves everything in here.

Happy Happy New Year to you and yours Mary!

Bob said...

Sounds good to me! Do you always use a light flavored beer or have you ever done it with, say, Negro Modelo?

Esi said...

Sounds fabulous for a party.

Deb in Hawaii said...

Looks like the perfect hearty dish for New Years and of course with Tillamook Cheese it has to be good! ;-)

Happy New Year!

Martha said...

What a good idea for party food!

Happy New Year!

NKP said...

Yum, looks delicious. I love the bold flavours.
Happy New Year!

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

I am loving this... and tonight is the party, and I have everything in my pantry (except will use Killian's Irish Red of course)!

And Mary, I know you are too busy holding that grandbaby, but if you get a chance, come see my New year's eve post, and follow the links to my guest post at OURKRAZYKITCHEN... I used your Puff Pastry blue cheese recipe fro last month!

Mary Bergfeld said...

Bob, I've always mad this with a light beer but I would imagine that the Negro Modelo could be used here with great success. It should play nicely off the sharp cheddar.

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Cheese spreads are one of my favorites. I too have found the pepper jacks vary in heat and have to taste and be careful.

I hope you and your family have a healthy and happy new year Mary.
Sam

pigpigscorner said...

I've never had beer spread, looks and sounds really good!

Cathy said...

Love this quick and easy cheese spread, Mary. The heat of the jalapeno is perfect with the sharpness of the cheddar. Just the thing for game time.

May 2010 be a wonderful, healthy, happy year for you and your family.

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

Oh yes, another goody from Mary! This has been such a great year, getting you know you better and enjoying so many of your fantastic recipes. Wishing you and yours a healthy and happy new year.

Allie said...

This sounds yummy! I will be trying this soon.

Shellbelle said...

I remember years ago I used to make a beer-cheese soup, so I know this will be delicious. I think I'll pass this one on to my son, he is always having parties and his friends would love this.

Happy New Year Mary!

Lea Ann said...

Love it! Happy New Year Mary

Chats the Comfy Cook said...

I love your photographs. I must learn from you. I wish I had the time to just observe your pics for a few hours but I don't think my boss would like it.

Great recipes and great photos and great words. A winning combination. Thanks.

Martha said...

I came over by way of Dave at Our Krazy Kitchen. What a delightful and delicious blog you have here, Dave was right!
I will most definitely be trying this cheese spread and from what I've seen so far many other things too!
Happy New Year Mary! :-)

Megan said...

This looks and I have almost everything I would need. I'm also thinking Superbowl. Gotta try it! Happy New Year Mary!May it be the best ever!

Alessandra said...

Happy New Year Mary, I may try the dip, possibly without the steak sauce (to delete a few calories....) ...but very rarely I can find flat beer here :-) my husband thinks that it is a crime! I'll need to hide some!!!!

Can I use fresh beer?

Joan said...

Thanks goodness, you recommended a beer to use! I have no beer knowledge. This looks like it will go into my appetizer section. I love good cheese spreads.

Happy New Year, Mary!

Amy said...

Perfect dish for tomorrow. Looks like it will be a hit. Mary...wishing you a healthy, safe and happy new year. I'm glad I found your blog this year! ~amy

Katy ~ said...

Aahh, this looks good. Perfect for super bowl Sunday! I'll have to tell my brother about this.

Phoo-D said...

I love Tilamook's Extra-Sharp Cheddar. It is one of our must have at all times cheeses. This looks like a great way to use it for a party!

Unknown said...

I made this for new year's day and it is fabulous! Huge hit with our crew!

Jill Anderson said...

I just made this Mexican beer-cheese spread. It takes great right out of the food processor. I can hardly wait to taste it tomorrow and the next day. Thank you Mary.

Jill Anderson said...

Two quick things:
* the spread is fantastic! Everyone loved it at the party.
* I just used some leftovers (not taken to the party as there wouldn't have been any) to make a grilled cheese sandwich. Double delicious!

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