Savory Coeur à la Crème

  Posted on May 25, 2012  by Leslie Blythe  1 comment

Coeur à la crème – click for dessert recipe –  is French for heart with cream. It is usually made as a classic dessert using a special heart-shaped wicker basket or mold with holes in it. Cream cheese is mixed with sour cream or whipping cream (and sometimes sugar) and placed into the special mold or cheesecloth-lined basket. The dessert is served with fresh berries or other fruit. This recipe is Ina Garten’s savory version to serve with crackers.

Savory Coeur à la Crème

Serves 8 – 10

12 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup heavy cream
1 lemon, zested
1 Tbs freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 bottle Major Grey’s chutney
Crackers, for serving

Place the cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whip until it is firm like whipped cream. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the cream, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Beat on high speed until the mixture is very thick.

Line a 6-inch coeur à la crème mold or 6-inch sieve with a few layers of cheesecloth, allowing the excess to drape over the sides. Pour the cream mixture into the cheesecloth and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Fold the excess cheesecloth over the top of the cream. Place the mold on a plate or suspend the sieve over a small bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.

When ready to serve, unmold the crème upside down onto a plate and pour the chutney over the top, allowing it to drip down the sides. Serve chilled with crackers.