Swiss Cheese Spread
Dec 21, 2025
'Way back in the 1980s, not too long after we moved to our "homestead" out in the woods, the nearest actual grocery stores were around ten miles (or so) away, so there was no such thing as a quick foray to the store for a single item to complete a meal. Everything had to be planned in advance, and one never went shopping without a list.
On one shopping trip - well before My Honey decided I couldn't be trusted to shop cost-effectively - I happened to be in a chain supermarket store in a (relatively) nearby town, and happened upon something I'd not seen before: a sandwich or cracker spread in which the main ingredient was swiss cheese. So I bought it. It wasn't cheap, so I figured it was probably a one-off purchase, but when I later tasted it at home, I decided otherwise.
It really was too expensive to become a regular part of our snacking though, and so I decided to try to come up with my own variant. This is the end result of my experimentation, and I'm pretty happy with it.
Suggested Equipment:
- 2-quart stainless steel mixing bowl
- box grater (optional)
- 16 oz, lidded glass storage container
- common kitchen tools and measures
Ingredients:
| 8 | oz | Swiss cheese1, | sharp, shredded |
| ¼ | cup | Sour cream, | no added sugar! |
| ¼ | cup | Mayonnaise, | sugar free |
| ¼ | cup | Sweet red onion2, | finely diced |
Directions:
If you purchase your cheese already shredded, then simply place it in the mixing bowl; otherwise use the box grater (or any other tool you prefer) to shred the cheese into the bowl.
Measure the diced onion into the bowl, and stir to distribute as evenly as possible throughout the cheese.
Measure the mayonnaise and sour cream into the bowl and stir to distribute evenly throughout the mixture.
Pack the mixture into the lidded storage container, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before using it.
Use as a sandwich spread, or as a snack with bread dippers, chicharrones or your favorite crackers.
This spread, without the onion added, pretty accurately reproduced the flavor profile of that which I purchased at the grocery; however, my palate appreciated the pleasantly sharp and appetizing flavor added by the onion. Experiment with your own added herbs and spices if you want, but don't use so much that it overpowers the great taste of the Swiss cheese!
Catagories: Cheese, Spreads, Sandwiches, Snacks, Party Food