Calabrian Chili Cream Cheese (Printer View)

Smooth, spicy blend of cream cheese and Calabrian chilies perfect for savory toasts and dips.

# What you'll need:

→ Dairy

01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened

→ Chilies

02 - 2 tablespoons Calabrian chili paste or finely chopped jarred Calabrian chilies

→ Seasonings

03 - 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
04 - 1 garlic clove, finely minced, optional
05 - 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
06 - 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
07 - 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Method:

01 - Place softened cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl.
02 - Add Calabrian chili paste, olive oil, minced garlic if using, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to the cream cheese.
03 - Using a spatula or hand mixer, blend all ingredients until fully combined and creamy in texture.
04 - Taste the mixture and adjust seasoning by adding more salt, lemon juice, or chili paste as desired.
05 - Spoon the mixture into a serving dish and drizzle additional extra-virgin olive oil on top if preferred.
06 - Serve immediately with toasted bread or bagels, or refrigerate up to 5 days in an airtight container.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's ready in ten minutes, which means you can serve something impressive without the stress.
  • The heat builds slowly, letting the sweetness of the Calabrian chilies shine through instead of just burning your mouth.
  • One batch lasts days in the fridge, so it's perfect for snacking or last-minute entertaining.
02 -
  • Don't use cold cream cheese straight from the fridge—it'll be lumpy and frustrating, and you'll spend five minutes fixing what should take thirty seconds.
  • Calabrian chilies have a distinct fruity sweetness that gets lost if you over-compensate with salt or acid, so go easy at first and taste between additions.
03 -
  • Room temperature cream cheese is everything—don't skip the waiting, because it saves you minutes of frustration and guarantees a silky result.
  • Keep the finished spread in a small jar with a thin layer of olive oil on top; it protects the flavor, looks beautiful, and makes you feel professional every time you open the fridge.
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