SaurabhIf cream cheese is your favorite ingredient that takes part in both sweet and savory dishes then you know then this article is for you. This soft, creamy, and rich fresh cheese is made of milk and cream with added lactic acid bacteria.
The bacteria are decreasing the pH of the mixture and the fat is separated from the liquid. This curdled mixture is then heated and with the addition of the stabilizers like carob gum and guar gum, they are making a final product- cream cheese.
Cream cheese is unmatured cheese that is used fresh in sweet and savory recipes.
You can use it as a spread, dip, or in sauces, cheesecake, mashed potatoes, and many other recipes. Therefore, if you want to have a rich, smooth, and creamy dish, you can use cream cheese in desserts, sauces, salads, dips, and as a spread.
Cream cheese is usually sold in blocks and as a spread. You can buy non-fat, low-fat, and full-fat types of cream cheese.
There are also cream cheeses flavored with herbs, fruit, vegetables, and smoked salmon.
15 Things You Can Eat With Cream Cheese
Which one you are going to use depends only on your preferences. Here are a few suggestions on what to eat with your favorite type of cream cheese.
1. Pasta sauce
Melted cream cheese is smooth and silky and perfect for adding into a pasta sauce.
Just sauté some garlic in olive oil and add the cream cheese, grated parmesan, and pasta cooking water. Stir well, drain the pasta and add it into the sauce.
Mix the pasta until it is well combined with the sauce and serve it with a pinch of freshly ground black pepper, a drizzle of olive oil, and extra parmesan at your taste.
2. Puff pastry filling
Cream cheese can be also used as a filling for puff pastry.
You can make a delicious sweet or savory filling with just a few ingredients. For the sweet filling, you can use sugar, cream cheese, vanilla extract and raspberries, strawberries, or blackberries.
While for the savory filling you can use cream cheese and baby spinach, bacon, parmesan, and many other ingredients and herbs to your taste.
3. Macaroni and cheese
If macaroni and cheese are your favorite dish you can make them taste even better if you add some cream cheese. They are a match made in heaven. The cream cheese will give a lovely and creamy texture to the macaroni and cheese dish.
You can add few cubes of cream cheese in the macaroni and cheese before baking and enjoy in this rich and extra creamy dish.
4. Tomato soup
Tomato soup can have better flavor and texture if you add cream cheese.
Tomatoes pair nicely with cream cheese, and you don’t need too much time to make this soup. You can serve it with toasted slices of bread topped with melted cheddar to add some crispiness to the dish.
5. Ice cream
Ice cream is one of the desserts that are made with different ingredients and comes in different flavors. You can use cream cheese to add extra creaminess and nice flavor to the ice cream.
6. Brownie’s mix
If you are making a brownie at home, you can use brownie mix and add cream cheese into the mixture. Your brownies will have a beautifully smooth and creamy texture and rich flavor.
7. Pastry dough
Pastry dough with cream cheese can be used both for sweet and savory recipes.
It can be used in tarts, pies, strudel, and other recipes to get a nice and smooth dough that is easy to roll very thin without tearing it.
Therefore, if you want a flaky and tender pastry, add some cream cheese into the dough.
8. Crepe filling
Cream cheese can be also used as a sweet or savory filling for crepes. For sweet filing, you can mix the cream cheese with strawberries or some other berries.
For savory fillings, on the other hand, you can use cream cheese and pulled pork, smoked salmon mixed with cream cheese, lemon, capers, and dill, or other types of meat.
9. Miso spread
Miso spread is an appetizer that is easy to make.
You only have to marinate the cream cheese in a mixture of miso and mirin for a few days. This snack can be served whipped or sliced on crackers, or with wasabi on the side.
10. Cream cheese frosting
Cream cheese frosting is made with cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar. Whip all the ingredients together and you will get a frosting with a delicious flavor and thick texture. You can use it in cakes, muffins, cookies, and cupcakes.
11. Stuffed chicken breasts
Stuffed chicken breasts with cream cheese is a flavorful recipe.
It is made with a few ingredients. First and foremost, season the chicken breasts with some salt and pepper, then stuff them with cream cheese, dill, parsley, garlic, and chives.
Roast or pan-sear the stuffed chicken breasts until golden and fully cooked.
12. Meatballs
Cream cheese can be also used to stuff meatballs.
Place a small piece of cream cheese into the meatballs and bake them in the oven. If you want the meatballs to be nice and crispy you can sear them in a pan with hot oil.
You can also use pieces of cheddar cheese and some jalapeno peppers to make them spicy.
13. Crackers with jelly or jam
Crackers with jelly or jam and cream cheese are one of the most delicious snack options.
Just spread some cream cheese on top of crackers and add some jelly or jam to your taste. Your delicious snack is ready in no time.
14. Polenta
Polenta made with cream cheese is a light, creamy and fluffy dish.
It is often made with coarsely ground cornmeal and fresh herbs like sage, chives, parsley, thyme, or oregano. Polenta pairs well with pork, lamb, chicken, and veal meat, ribs, and roasted veggies.
15. Mashed potatoes
To make the mashed potatoes creamy and thick you can use cream cheese.
Add it into the potatoes together with butter, milk, freshly ground black pepper, salt, and garlic. You will get a nice creamy full of flavors mashed potatoes that will melt in your mouth.
Serve this tasty dish with meatballs, fried chicken, steak, turkey, or meatloaf.
What to Eat With Cream Cheese On a Toast?
There are many ingredients you can eat with cream cheese on toast.
Common ingredients you can use include smoked salmon, roasted tomatoes, prosciutto, bacon, fruit, honey, cucumbers, jam, and jelly.
Spread the cream cheese on the toast while it is hot and add your favorite ingredient. The cream cheese will start to melt from the heat of the toast and will give a nice feeling inside your mouth.
What to Eat With Cream Cheese As a Snack?
You can also use cream cheese to make a flavorful and creamy snack.
You can easily spread it on crackers and bagels, and top with different ingredients of your choice. If you like savory snacks, you can use bacon, olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, onions, garlic, avocado, and mushrooms.
However, if you prefer sweet snacks you can sweeten up the cream cheese and top it with jam, jelly, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, raspberries, kiwi, cherries, and other ingredients.
What to Eat With Cream Cheese for Breakfast?
There are many options for how to use cream cheese for breakfast and make something special and delicious. For instance, if you prefer scrambled eggs for breakfast, you can apply some cream cheese to make them nice and creamy.
Spread cream cheese on a baked toast and add sliced avocado, cherry tomatoes, a dash of black pepper, and salt. Or you can spread cream cheese on a slice of challah bread and add some bacon on top of the cream cheese.
Dip bread slices into a mix of eggs, parmesan, and milk, and fry in a pan until it gets a golden-brown color on both sides.
You can also prepare oatmeal with cream cheese, agave syrup, almond milk, vanilla, ground flax seeds, and fresh berries if you want to start the day with something healthy.
And the best for last. Try bagel with cream cheese, slices of strawberries, and fresh basil to start the day with something refreshing and tasty.
Final Thoughts
Cream cheese is a popular ingredient that you can use to prepare many different dishes. You can use it in both sweet and savory recipes and they will always turn great. It has a nicely texture and flavor and bonds all the flavors and products into one delicious dish full of different flavors.
Cakes, cookies, pies, and ice creams, are just some of the things that include cream cheese. There are even more savory recipes where cream cheese is one of the main ingredients.
Just stir cream cheese in a scrambled egg or polenta, or spread it on bagels, toasts, or crackers, and top with veggies, fruits, or a few pieces of salmon or bacon. You can also use cream cheese to make frostings and many different types of dips.
There are plenty of possibilities. Just use your imagination!
