Go Back

Fromage Fort

The beauty of fromage fort is in its flexibility. Whether you have soft, semi-hard, or hard cheeses, they can all be used, provided you blend them thoroughly for a smooth and cohesive texture. This spread can range in flavor from mild and creamy to strong and tangy, depending on the cheeses used. It’s a perfect accompaniment to a charcuterie board, as a dip, or even melted over vegetables and meats. By modifying the preparation, fromage fort can be made IDDSI-compliant, ensuring that everyone can enjoy this unique and comforting spread.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Appetizer, Dips and Spreads
Cuisine: French, Gluten Free
Calories: 140
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 cups assorted cheese pieces soft, semi-hard, and hard cheeses, trimmed of rinds and cut into chunks
  • 1/4 cup white wine or use broth for a non-alcoholic version
  • 1-2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
  • Fresh herbs such as parsley or chives, finely chopped (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Equipment

  • Food processor
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Knife and cutting board
  • Spatula (for scraping and transferring spread)
  • Serving bowl or ramekins

Method
 

  1. In a food processor, combine the assorted cheeses, minced garlic, and softened butter. Pulse a few times to start blending.
  2. Gradually add the white wine or broth while blending until the mixture reaches a smooth and spreadable consistency.
  3. Taste and season with salt, black pepper, and herbs if desired. Serve chilled or slightly warmed as a spread.

Notes

IDDSI Texture Modifications:
  • Puree 4 (PU4): Blend the cheese mixture thoroughly until it is completely smooth, being sure to add liquids slowly to ensure mixture does not thin out too much. 
  • Minced & Moist 5 (MM5): Consider serving with soft vegetables, rice, or pregelled breadcrumbs/mince. 
  • Soft & Bite-sized 6 (SB6): Breads should still be pregelled at this level, and pieces smaller than 15mm.
  • Easy to Chew 7 (EC7): Focus on the accompaniment's compliance by selecting soft vegetables, grains or bread as tolerated.  
Unsure of your current IDDSI level? Click Here
Macro Adjustments:
  • Protein: Blend in cottage cheese or Greek yogurt for more protein and lighter texture.
  • Fats: Use part-skim cheeses, reduce butter to 1 tbsp, or add extra broth instead of more butter to lower fat content. Use triple-cream brie or mascarpone as part of the mix, keep full butter, or drizzle with olive oil before serving.
  • Carbs: Already very low carb, consider what you're pairing with, swap rice crackers or veggies. 
Dietary Swaps:
  • Gluten-free: Naturally gluten free, just focus on what you pair with it to be compliant. 
  • Dairy-free/Vegan: There is a wide variety of textures of vegan cheese alternatives, you can mix cream cheese with a cheddar style with a hard and vegan butter.
Low-Spoons Shortcuts:
  • Use precubed cheese trays and use jarred garlic to reduce chopping.
  • Toss everything in the food processor all at once; it will come together but will be harder to control the texture if not adding gradually.