Pineapples have long symbolized Southern hospitality, but especially so in the sultry port city of Charleston, South Carolina. Its centuries-long business ties to the West Indies are reflected in its culinary history of serving tropically flavored—if not daringly bold—chutneys and curries to well-heeled, well-traveled people. Beau Monde, the Spice Islands brand’s legendary seasoning, is an heirloom-exotic blend of salt, celery, and onion with an underlying sweetness (think cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and mace). You can tweak this cheese ball recipe any number of ways by using different cheeses, crumbled bacon, plumped golden raisins, or dried cranberries . . . you get the idea. Serve with hearty crackers.
Ingredients
- 1 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
- ½ cup mango chutney
- 1/3 cup finely sliced fresh chives or green onions
- 1 teaspoon Beau Monde or Old Bay Seasoning
- 1 cup shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
- ½ cup finely chopped pecan pieces, toasted, plus 2 to 2½ cups (about 120) unbroken, equally sized pecan halves, toasted
- Salt
- ½ teaspoon curry powder (optional)
- 1 tablespoon orange-flavored liqueur (such as cointreau; optional)
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Rosemary sprigs for garnish
How to Make It
- In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese, chutney, chives, and Beau Monde and blend until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the Cheddar and chopped pecan pieces and mix until just blended. Season with salt, if necessary, and the curry, liqueur, and cayenne (if using).
- Scoop the cheese mixture onto a plate lined with plastic wrap overhanging each side. Fold each side of the plastic wrap up to cover the cheese and use your hands to press the mixture into a teardrop shape (it will be soft). Refrigerate the cheese ball for 8 hours to let the flavors meld and texture bind.
- Loosely unwrap the cheese ball and let it sit at room temperature about 20 minutes. With the tip of the oval facing downward, work from the bottom up to place pecan halves in overlapping tile fashion to mimic a pineapple’s exterior; add rosemary sprigs for the “crown” before serving.