Name: Fromage Fort
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces leftover cheese , cut into roughly 1-inch pieces; 3 tablespoons dry white wine; 1 garlic clove , chopped; 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves; ½ teaspoon pepper

Why This Recipe Works

Inspired by a technique we learned from chef Jacques Pépin, our take on fromage fort (meaning “strong cheese”) blends leftover bits of cheese with aromatics for a savory spread. Using a mix of cheeses added complex flavors (though avoid very pungent cheeses such as blue cheese). Blending them with acidic white wine, garlic, and fresh thyme until creamy transformed the leftover cheese into something elegant and new. It’s delicious served with crackers or smeared over baguette slices and broiled.

Before You Begin

You can use a mix of leftover cheeses here, but avoid pungent cheeses such as blue cheese. We suggest using an unoaked white wine here; we developed this version with Pinot Grigio.