Description
This Marinated Cheese is easy, festive, can be made ahead, and is perfect party food!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 8oz. block of Colby Jack or Cheddar Cheese
- 8 oz. brick Cream Cheese
- 4 oz. jar of diced pimentos (do not drain)
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 Tbsp. chopped green onions (4-5 sprigs)
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 3/4 tsp. dried basil
- 3 cloves of crushed garlic
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
- Crackers, for serving
Instructions
-
- Grab your cutting board, a pretty platter, and begin slicing up the cheeses. Cut an 8-ounce brick of cream cheese and an 8-ounce block of Colby Jack or Cheddar Cheese in half lengthwise. Then cut each half into 1/4-inch slices.
- To make the log of cheese, begin stacking them alternating between the hard cheese and the soft cream cheese on a platter. (See tips below!!). The slices will not all be the same size and that's okay - the marinade will cover the cheese and it will be beautiful! If you don't have a long platter, you could make two or three logs on a square platter or in a rectangular dish.
- Now you need to make up the marinade! Grab a small bowl or I used a large glass measuring cup and begin adding in all of the remaining ingredients. First I poured in the pimentos (juice and all!), the olive oil, and the white vinegar. I also went ahead and chopped up the green onions and added them.
- Grab the spices and garlic and add those.
- Using a whisk or fork, mix up the marinade thoroughly.
- As soon as it's mixed up, pour it evenly over the cheese.
- Tightly cover the platter with plastic wrap and stick it in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or overnight.
- When you're ready to serve it, remove it from the refrigerator and remove the plastic wrap at least half an hour ahead of time so the oil will soften and not be solidified.
- Serve with a variety of crackers!
Notes
- Putting the cream cheese in the freezer for about 30 minutes helps it hold its shape when you go to slice it.
- To save time - buy pre-sliced cheese!
- If you have trouble getting the cheeses to stick laying down, lay a slice flat and stack them up in a tower, then lay them down.
- Don't worry if the cheese shapes aren't all the same - the marinade will cover any and all imperfections!
- Make the marinade in a liquid measuring cup with a spout for easier pouring (I forgot to do this when I took pics!)
- Allow the cheese to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes for the best flavor and so the oil will soften.
- Prep Time: 8 hours 20 mins
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Marinate
- Cuisine: American