Make Ahead

Fromage Forte

by:
February 15, 2011
4
1 Ratings
  • Serves 2-4
Author Notes

I don't know if you could even count this a a recipe...it's more of a guide. I once worked at a restaurant the specialized in fermentation...wine/cheese/beer, we often had various and sundry bits of cheeses left over that were too small to serve, so we banked them and once a week I would make Fromage Forte...since our cheeses changed often, so did the Fromage Forte.

This is as strongly flavored as you want it... I love it nice & stinky, definitely not a good first date choice. A combination of hard & ripe cheeses is fab, great way to prolong the life of a washed rind cheese that may be heading towards over ripe. Mozzerella is the only cheese I would shy away from it just doesn't add anything.

If you are going to go out and buy cheese for this...try to mix in a nice variety of flavors even if you stay in one region ...I bet you could find a friendly cheese monger/ counter person who would be happy to gather together an assortment of odds and ends for you (maybe even at a discount?)

As for the alcohol..depends on what you have on hand, drier whites or roses and strong flavored beers work best (porters, ales etc)- a Bud light just won't cut it. IF you avoid using alcohol for any reason you could sub sparkling apple cider, see if you can find a drier one.

Its a also abulous fridge cleaner!!!! Great with breadsticks, toast points, and apples.

You can up the amounts as you wish...this is like a formula, also use less garlic if you are not a GARLIC fan, you can also sub roasted garlic for a milder version. - - Aliwaks —Aliwaks

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 2 cups Cheeses odds & ends (anything but mozzerella)
  • 1 large clove garlic
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped thyme leaves
  • 1/2 cup white wine/vermouth/champagne or beer....red wine will make it a weird gray color esp if you have blue cheese bits involved
Directions
  1. Blend everything up in food processor until it's a smooth paste
  2. Pack into individual ramekins or one large dish
  3. Bake @ 375 till bubbly and warm
  4. Left overs can be stored for awhile in the fridge, should you become addicted to this, you can just keep adding to the original..sort of like that bread that has a 100 year old starter. (you can also smear leftovers on toast and grill till bubbly)
  5. Absolutely delicious with toasted buttered pumpernickel or Russian black bread, grissini, tart apple slices & radishes
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5 Reviews

Sagegreen
Sagegreen February 19, 2011
Very cool. Love that you bake this, too.
 
Midge
Midge February 15, 2011
Yum! Love black and rye bread too.
 
hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour February 15, 2011
Love the flexibility, and anything that helps me clean out my fridge is great!
 
Aliwaks
Aliwaks February 15, 2011
I am currently obsessed with the black Russian bread at Whole Foods...esp with buttered radishes, raw scallions or strong cheese (or all three!)..puts me in touch with Eastern European roots. Still on a hunt for this one chewy crusted sour-ish rye-ish bread my grandmother used to buy from the Ukrainian butcher on 2nd ave in NYC.

One of these days I will attempt to bake bread.
 
AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames February 15, 2011
Great recipe!! I am so indebted to you for sharing this method. Plus, I now am inspired to pick up some of that pumpernickel flour that's been calling my name the last few times I've been at my bulk flour place. I can hardly wait to make a good sturdy loaf of pumpernickel, or perhaps a Black Russian using pumpernickel, just a bit of rye, and barley flour. ;o)