- 3 cups whole milk
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 4 ounces Spanish Mahón or Danish Fontina cheese, rind discarded and cheese coarsely grated (1 cup)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- Special equipment: an instant-read thermometer; an ice cream maker
- Bring milk just to a boil in a 1 1/2- to 2-quart heavy saucepan. Whisk together eggs, sugar, and a pinch of salt in a bowl, then add hot milk in a slow stream, whisking. Pour custard back into saucepan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until it registers 170 to 175°F on thermometer, 2 to 3 minutes. Immediately pour custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl, then add cheeses and vanilla, stirring until cheeses are completely melted and incorporated. Cover surface of custard with a round of wax paper and chill until very cold, about 4 hours.
- Freeze custard in ice cream maker. Transfer ice cream to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden, at least 2 hours.
- Let soften at room temperature 20 minutes before serving.