Clearman's Cheese Spread Copycat Recipe

Copycat Clearman's Cheese Spread

One of the restaurants our family used to go to way back in California the 1970s and 1980s was Steak 'N Stein. All I remember is that the decor was mostly red, and that they served the most delicious cheese bread in the world -- a slice of sourdough with a garlicky, cheesy, somewhat greasy spread that also had a little bit of a spicy bite to it. Mmm. 

My mom found the spread at the grocery store, and every summer when we would visit my parents from our new home in Iowa, Mom would make lots of this cheese bread for me and my kids. Now that Mom and Dad are gone, and our visits to California are not quite the same, I thought it was time to try out this copycat recipe on Food.com. 

After reading the reviews, I made a couple of adjustments, and I have to say, even if this isn't exactly the recipe, it's close enough, and it's delicious. If you do make this, be sure to find (or make) some real tangy sourdough bread on which to spread this if you want a more authentic, nostalgic experience.

Enjoy.

Clearman's Cheese Spread Copycat Recipe
Adapted from Food.com


Ingredients:

• 1 cup margarine, softened/room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (not garlic salt)
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 4-6 drops Tobasco sauce
• 8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 1.5 ounces grated Romano cheese
• 1.5 ounces grated/powdered Parmesan cheese

• Slices of real sourdough bread (don't know yet how many slices this will make)

Instructions:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the margarine, garlic powder, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and Tobasco sauce until completely combined and fluffy, if possible. (You can also use a regular hand mixer if you don't have a stand mixer.)
• Fold in the cheeses.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Spread a generous layer of the cheese spread on one side of a slice of sourdough bread.
• Bake at 425 for about 5-7 minutes and then turn on the broiler for about 2-3 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly and bread is as browned as you like it.
• Allow to cool a bit before eating.
• Refrigerate leftover cheese spread for later use.

Makes about 1 3/4 to 2 cups of cheese spread

Refrigerated leftovers