L’Auberge Chez François Herbed Cottage Cheese Spread
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This blend of cottage cheese, sour cream, garlic and fresh herbs makes an irresistible spread.
(Photo by Alexandra Grablewski, Chronicle Books 2018)
My first job out of culinary school was as an apprentice at the acclaimed L’Auberge Chez François, a romantic French restaurant right outside of Washington, DC. If you’re from the area, you’ve likely spent a special occasion there. If not, just imagine an Old World style cottage in the rolling hills of Virginia, dining rooms appointed with cozy fireplaces and traditional Alsatian decor, an old-school French menu featuring the likes of escargots, foie gras, and Chateaubriand, and a whole lotta charm. It’s a very special place.
However, I found out pretty quickly that working there wasn’t quite as romantic as dining there. The restaurant has a large, European-style brigade kitchen with the chef at the helm and all the cooks “manning” their stations. Not only was I the only woman, at five feet two inches tall, I was also hopelessly undersized for the massive equipment that surrounded us. I had to get lifts on my shoes just to reach the plates over the stove—and don’t even ask about those fifty-pound sacks of potatoes! If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to cook in a restaurant kitchen, just imagine trying to juggle multiple orders in your head, cooking on four different burners with food in the oven at the same time, flames, sharp knives, hot pans, and the incessant stream of orders coming in and going out. It was terrifying!
I did eventually get the hang of it, and though I never once forgot what a privilege it was to work there, I have to admit that I’m much happier to be a guest at Chez François now. One of the nicest parts about dining there is all the unexpected treats that show up at your table throughout the meal, like decadent chocolate truffles after dessert, sorbets garnished with candied violets in-between courses, or my personal favorite, the Herbed Cottage Cheese Spread that comes with a basket of toasted garlic bread while you peruse the menu. It’s a blend of cottage cheese, sour cream, garlic, scallions, and fresh herbs that’s irresistible—the perfect beginning to an always perfect meal.
“This was beyond delicious. I served it for a girls cocktail night and then couldn’t stop eating the leftovers the next day…Three friends asked for the link to the recipe that evening!”
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L'Auberge Chez François Herbed Cottage Cheese Spread
This blend of cottage cheese, sour cream, garlic and fresh herbs makes an irresistible spread.
Ingredients
- 1 pound 4% small-curd, cream-style cottage cheese
- ⅔ cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon finely minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon finely minced shallots
- 1 tablespoon finely minced green onions or chives
- 1 tablespoon finely minced parsley, plus more for garnish
- Garlic bread or crackers, for serving
Instructions
- Combine the cottage cheese and sour cream in a medium bowl and blend well. Add the remaining ingredients. Mix thoroughly and adjust seasonings. Cover and chill well before serving. Serve with toasted garlic bread or crackers and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Nutrition Information
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- Serving size: About 1/3 cup
- Calories: 95
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Sugar: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 7g
- Sodium: 368mg
- Cholesterol: 20mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Is it good idea to put the cottage cheese in cheesecloth to squeeze out some of the moisture before using it in this spread?
Hi Dave, I don’t think it’s necessary unless your cottage cheese is particularly watery. Hope you enjoy!
Now, I love cottage cheese, so I knew I’d like this recipe…but, oh my gosh, be still my heart! This is incredible and has been my breakfast, on its own/without toast, for days now. This will definitely be a fridge staple. Jenn, I’m about to turn “Julie & Julia” into “Abby & Jenn” [vegetarian-remix] with all the great recipes!
So good! This is now my favorite way to use cottage cheese – such a healthy and delicious dip!
Would you be able to give me the nutritional count and what’s your opinion of using lower “fatty” ingredients? Thanks!
Hi Judy, The nutritional data has been added underneath the recipe. I can tell you that the lower fat ingredients don’t work nearly as well — I have tried it!
So pleased to learn from you. Loved the story and photos with this recipe.
This sounds terrific and I’ll trying it soon!
This was beyond delicious. I served it for a girls cocktail night and then couldn’t stop eating the leftovers the next day. It really was better the next day as I didn’t let it rest long enough before serving. Three friends asked for the link to this that evening!
I believe that this recipe first led me to Once Upon a Chef–for that, I will be forever grateful! This is an elegant, subtle spread that won’t compete with the main course that follows. I like it for it’s simplicity and clean flavors.
I found your website by google searching a recipe for this spread about a year ago. I’m so glad that I did because it opened up the door to some amazing recipes that I have tried. The spread is one of my favorites. Chez Francios is sentimental to me as it is where my husband took me on our first date. I was worried it wouldn’t taste exactly the same as the restaurant but it indeed did. I did not modify it from your recipe at all. I would highly recommend it and it is usually the first thing to disappear when i have a dinner party.
I’ve been to this restaurant for anniversary dinners and love this spread. So glad to know how to make it for the 364 days between our anniversary dinners 🙂
Love the restaurant, love this spread! Thank you so much for the recipe. I made it today and was in heaven! I sliced up a baguette and served plain, untoasted slices and toasted garlic slices, either way it was delicious! Thanks again!