Skip to content
Sugarfreechic
Appetizer

Mascarpone Reale

4.0 (1)

Method

  1. Line a 1-quart dish with cellophane, using enough so it hangs well over the sides.
  2. Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of mascarpone into the dish and smooth it over the bottom with the back of a spoon.
  3. Top with a 1/4-inch slice of blue cheese. A wire cheese cutter slices it cleanly, since blue cheese crumbles easily.
  5. Finish with one more layer of mascarpone.
  12. Serve with sliced zucchini. Enjoy!
Mascarpone and blue cheese appetizer unmolded like a cake and coated in walnuts
Mascarpone Reale, unmolded and pressed with walnuts

Mascarpone Reale is a no-bake Low Carb appetizer that looks like a little cake and is built entirely from cheese: layers of creamy mascarpone and firm blue cheese, unmolded and pressed all over with walnuts. It comes in around 2 grams of net carb a serving and takes nothing but layering and an hour in the fridge.

This was something that I discovered when I lived in Australia. In the Little Italy part of Sydney there was the most amazing cheese shop called Paesanella. It was there that I discovered something called "Mascarpone Reale." It is a cheese appetizer that appears to look like a cake. It is by far one of the most sinfully delicious Low Carb treats you will ever taste. It is made up of layers of blue cheese and creamy mascarpone and then topped with chopped walnuts. Mascarpone is an amazing fresh and creamy Italian style cheese. It is similar to cream cheese, but is even creamier. It is a perfect complement to some firm blue cheese or gorgonzola. I chose to use the blue cheese that I had left over from the blue cheese stuffed olives. I loved this appetizer so much that I thought why not remake it for all of you. I hope you enjoy this sinful appetizer as much as I do.

Why a cheese cake works on a Low Carb table

The whole thing leans on mascarpone, and that is good news for carb counting. It is a fresh Italian cream cheese, richer than the American block and only faintly sweet, with barely a gram of carb a serving. Paired with sharp blue cheese and walnuts, you get a dessert-like centerpiece that is all fat and flavor and almost no sugar. The walnuts on the outside stand in for the nutty crust you would expect on a real cake, with the crunch and none of the flour.

Make it ahead and serve it right

This is an appetizer that rewards planning. Layer and chill it a day before a party, then unmold and press on the walnuts when you are ready, and it keeps a few days covered in the fridge. Set it out with sliced zucchini, cucumber rounds, or a handful of whole walnuts for scooping, all of which beat a cracker here. If you love mascarpone, it also turns a cheesecake mousse richer and less tangy, and there are more Low Carb appetizers to round out a spread.

Sources:

USDA FoodData Central, nutrient reference for mascarpone, blue cheese, and walnuts
Sugarfreechic test kitchen, low-carb cheese appetizer notes

Frequently asked questions

What is mascarpone?

A fresh Italian cream cheese, richer and creamier than the American kind and only lightly sweet. It is naturally low in carbs, which makes it a favorite for low-carb cooking.

Is this mascarpone appetizer low carb?

Yes. Mascarpone, blue cheese, and walnuts are all low in carbs, so a serving runs about 2 grams of net carb. Served with zucchini instead of crackers, the whole plate stays keto.

Can you make mascarpone reale ahead?

Yes, it is built for it. Layer and chill it a day ahead, then unmold and press on the walnuts before serving. It keeps a few days covered in the fridge.

What do you serve it with?

Sliced zucchini, cucumber rounds, or whole walnuts for scooping. Skip the crackers and let the low-carb dippers do the work.

More Low-Carb Appetizer Recipes