One thing has become abundantly clear, the humble garlic clove has stolen our hearts in recent years. Today, we're taking a few minutes to celebrate the "stinking rose", more commonly known as garlic. This little bulb of flavor has been tickling our taste buds for centuries and keeps growing in popularity as years go on. Even world renowned Chef Julia Child was known to cram a whopping 30 cloves into her mashed potatoes.
That, however, is not today's focus. We want to inspire your creativity with some simple ingredients that will make your next simple sandwich soar. Start simply by mashing some diced garlic into a tub of plain cream cheese for a surprisingly impressive sandwich schmear that you can keep in your fridge for up to a month (it will never last that long). It's a simple, single ingredient that will kick up the flavor of any sandwich, plus, it adds a mouth-watering moisture component to keep your sandwich from being too dry without being a runny mess.
Exploring the possibilities of garlic cream cheese schmears
We take the guesswork and effort out of the equation for you with a variety of garlicky cream cheese schmears for your tasting pleasure: From the simplicity of Onion Garlic to the surprisingly unusual flavor of Sundried Tomato, to the sweet, smoky, zing of Honey Garlic Jalapeno, we have a schmear for any taste.
Want to try experimenting with making your own? Simply grab a container of any store-bought cream cheese and, using a fork, stir in 2-3 tablespoons of minced fresh garlic, a bit of olive oil, and salt and pepper. Ta-da! You just created a flavorful schmear that will make your whole family proud. You can even store it right in the original cream cheese container.
Do you want to experiment with some slightly different options?
Try using dehydrated minced garlic for a crunchy texture
Try roasting the garlic in the oven for a sweet, smoky flavor
This can be just the start. Embrace your own creativity. There is no "right answer" when it comes to developing your own personal flavors. Want a more powerful kick of garlic? Add more. Want a kick of heat? Add some red pepper flake or a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce. Herbs and spices are a great way to experiment with flavor without breaking the bank. If you prefer that we create your perfect schmear for you, we have the option for you to PERSONALIZE YOUR SCHMEAR with balanced flavor and expertise. All you have to do is place your order and select your combination from over 35 available ingredients.
What do I schmear it on?
Cream cheese schmears work best with cold sandwiches. You can, of course, apply your garlic cream cheese to hot sandwiches, but keep in mind that it's prone to melt and may quickly become runny. A bit more care and attention may be needed when using it with a hot sandwich.
A schmear of this garlic cream cheese would instantly elevate a fresh vegetable sub. We're talking about bringing exciting new life to the simple combination of cucumber, tomato, roasted red pepper, raw red onion, and baby spinach between two pieces of focaccia, as you bite into the layer of your flavorful garlic cream cheese. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar would be the perfect finishing touch of sweetness here, too.
The smoky nature of this schmear would also make a delicious, savory finishing touch for a grilled cheese sandwich (best to smear it on post-grill to keep it from melting off).
For a jalapeño-popper-inspired sammy, you could even pop a few jalapeño slices onto your grilled cheese, too.
Or, for a sweet-savory-umami bite, spread your flavored cream cheese on your favorite bread with some red pepper jelly and a few flakes of sea salt, slice into mini rectangles, and serve 'em at your next tea party.
Break out some sliced roast beef, caramelized onion, and a sub roll. Schmear our Honey Garlic Jalapeno (or Horseradish Dill) on the bread, heat the meat or eat it cold and you'll thank us.
Your schmear is your canvas. Go play with your food!
Hopefully, by sharing these ideas, we have inspired you to explore simple ways to elevate the ingredients you already have in your kitchen. Are we afraid that sharing these ideas and inspiration will hurt our sales? Not a chance! We love inspiring others. Some of our most successful flavor combinations have come from ideas given to us by our customers. We would rather inspire your imagination and creativity than worry that we may miss out on a potential sale.
Now it is your turn. Look around your pantry and explore your refrigerator. What looks interesting to you? We would love to hear from you- share your successes (and failures) with us.
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