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Antipasto Cheese Log 79.png

Antipasto Cheese Log

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πŸ§€ This Christmas Appetiser Italian Cheese Loaf combines creamy cheeses with savory herbs, roasted peppers, and salami for a festive crowd-pleaser.
🌿 Topped with sundried tomatoes and fresh herbs, it offers a rich, flavorful appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings.

  • Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
  • Yield: 1 cheese loaf (serves 10)

Ingredients

– 500g (1 lb) cream cheese, softened

– 1/3 cup sour cream (can substitute with yogurt or mayonnaise)

– 1/2 tsp thyme

– 1/2 tsp oregano

– 1/2 tsp basil

– 1/2 tsp rosemary

– 1/2 tsp black pepper (or use 1 tsp Italian Seasoning for all herbs and pepper)

– 1 tsp garlic powder

– 1 tsp salt

– 1 tsp red pepper/chilli flakes (adjust to taste)

– 2 cups cheddar or other flavorful, melting cheese, freshly grated (options include cheddar, tasty, Swiss, gruyere, pepper jack, emmenthal, or Asiago for authentic Italian flavor; avoid mozzarella)

– 280g (9 oz) roasted peppers, drained and finely chopped (mixed colors preferred for visual appeal)

– 180g (6 oz) salami, finely chopped (can omit for meatless version)

– 3/4 cup green olives, finely chopped

– 1/3 cup green onion, finely minced (3-4 stalks)

– 220g (7 oz) sun dried tomato strips with oil, roughly chopped (for topping)

– 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped (or chives, for topping)

– Rosemary sprigs (for decoration)

– Crackers (for serving)

Instructions

1-Start by gathering your ingredients, including 500g of softened cream cheese and the fresh herbs and spices. This step takes just 5-10 minutes and sets you up for success. Drain and chop the roasted peppers and salami finely to ensure even flavor throughout. Follow the provided directions to mix and chill the log for at least 4 hours, allowing the flavors to meld.

2-In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese, sour cream, herbs, garlic powder, salt, and red pepper flakes until smooth. For the creamiest texture, use freshly grated cheese and fold in the roasted peppers, salami, olives, and green onions next. This Antipasto Cheese Log not only tastes great but packs in nutritional benefits like vitamins from the peppers. Scrape the mixture into a sprayed and lined loaf pan, press down to remove air pockets, and cover it before refrigerating.

3-After chilling, turn the log out onto a platter and top with chopped sun-dried tomatoes, pouring over their oil for extra juiciness. Garnish with parsley and rosemary sprigs to make it look festive. Serve with crackers, and remember, for a meatless version, simply omit the salami and add grated parmesan for flavor. This step-by-step guide highlights tips like mincing ingredients finely for even distribution, a trick from pro cooks. If you’re looking for more cheesy ideas, check out our delicious baked macaroni recipe on Homemade Tasty.

Last Step:

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Notes

πŸ”ͺ Mince salami finely for even flavor distribution.
πŸ… Place sun-dried tomatoes on top to maximize flavor and visual appeal.
❄️ Refrigerate at least 4 hours to firm up and meld flavors before serving.

  • Author: Brandi Oshea
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Chill time: 4 hours
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Mixing and Chilling
  • Cuisine: Italian, American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 278
  • Sugar: 1g
  • Sodium: 876mg
  • Fat: 24g
  • Saturated Fat: 12g
  • Carbohydrates: 6g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 9g
  • Cholesterol: 64mg