Mediterranean Style Cheese Terrine Recipe
Make this Mediterranean Style Cheese Terrine Recipe for your next party. This appetizer spread has layers of creamy cheese and flavorful pesto to top crackers & bread. Add this recipe to your classic party appetizers list and make it for holiday entertaining or for girls night in.
Mediterranean Style Cheese Terrine Recipe makes a pretty presentation with it’s colorful layers.
Last Friday night I hosted our neighborhood ladies night and made this layered cheese terrine to serve. This is one of my go-to appetizers which I think I first found about 20 years ago, and made a copy of it to include in my recipe binder.
Back when I was a young newlywed, new to Richmond, and working in an office, my husband and I were invited to go with a group {from the office} to the steeplechase and tailgate all day. Everyone was assigned food items to bring and share, and mine was “cheese.” Well, eager to impress this crowd with my entertaining prowess I decided I would provide the best cheese selection possible. I made 2 different cheese terrines + loaded up a new marble cheese board {I bought for the event} with a variety of cheeses and crackers. It was overkill to say the least! LOL Sure it would have been a nice spread for a wine and cheese party, but there was tons of other food so… It makes me giggle to this day.
This is one of the cheese terrines I made for that event. It’s pretty easy to put together, and the layers make it look so special and festive – would be beautiful for a red and green Christmas party too!
Don’t you think the layers of color look fabulous?! If you’re a fan of pesto and sun dried tomatoes you’re going to love this. I made this White Peach Sangria for our signature cocktail of the night and the group drank almost 3 batches of it!
BTW, I had plans to top this with pine nuts for a cute presentation but since I was literally serving it an hour later and trying to get pictures, I totally forgot to add them! Sometimes it’s hard to combine real life and blogging. LOL
Mediterranean style Cheese Terrine Recipe
Serve this delicious layered cheese terrine at your next party. This appetizer spread has layers of creamy cheese and flavorful pesto for a mouth watering topping for crackers or bread.
Ingredients
- 2 {8 oz} packages light cream cheese, softened
- 2 sticks {1 cup} butter, softened
- 1 jar prepared pesto, or your own homemade
- 1 jar sundried tomato pesto
Instructions
- Combine the cream cheese and butter together until smooth, using a food processor if you have it {makes it much easier}.
- Choose a medium size bowl and line it with a large piece of saran wrap.
- Spoon a layer of the cream cheese mixture into the bowl and smooth it out so it reaches the edge and is pretty level.
- Add a layer of the sun dried tomato pesto, smoothing it out to the edges, and level.
- Place in refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to set.
- Remove from refrigerator and repeat with another layer of cheese mixture and then the pesto.
- Add a final layer of the cream cheese mixture. This will actually be the base once it’s served. Pull the saran wrap over the terrine to cover.
- Refrigerate for about 6 hours or over night.
- When ready to serve, open the saran wrap and invert the terrine on to a serving plate with crackers or crostini, and enjoy!
- Garnish with toasted pine nuts, chopped pistachios or walnuts, or fresh basil leaves.
Notes
Cue the recipe in half for a smaller party, using 1 package of cream cheese and 1 stick of butter.
I have made this but my recipe calls for pine nuts on the top (or bottom)–the top when flipped over AND it is sinful and DELICIOUS!!!!
Yes, I like to garnish the top with them…of course, I forgot, since I was getting ready for the party 😉