Goat Cheese And Parmesan: A Match Made In Heaven?

do goat cheese and parmesan cheese go together

Goat cheese and Parmesan cheese are two distinct types of cheese with unique flavours and textures. Parmesan is typically harder and more granular in texture compared to goat cheese, which tends to be creamier and smoother. Despite their differences, combining these cheeses can create a delicious blend, as seen in recipes like goat cheese pesto, where the addition of goat cheese results in a creamier spread that enhances the flavour of the pesto without overpowering the other ingredients. Similarly, in dishes like pasta, the combination of goat cheese and Parmesan creates a rich and flavourful sauce. This pairing also extends to salads, appetizers, and unique creations like Parmesan baskets with goat cheese mousse or Parmesan-crusted goat cheese with basil oil.

Characteristics Values
Taste Goat cheese parmesan has a similar taste to regular parmesan but with a goaty twist.
Texture Goat cheese has a softer texture than parmesan, creating a creamy, smooth sauce when combined.
Use cases Goat cheese parmesan can be used in appetizers, salads, pasta, pizza, bread, and sandwiches.
Preservation Goat cheese parmesan can be frozen for up to 3 months or refrigerated for up to 5 days.

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Parmesan-crusted goat cheese with basil oil

This recipe is a great appetizer and is sure to be a hit with your guests. It is a combination of tangy goat cheese and subtly sweet basil oil, surrounded by a Parmesan crust. The recipe is simple and easy to make, and the result is a beautiful and irresistible dish.

Ingredients:

  • Parmesan cheese
  • Panko
  • Goat cheese
  • Garlic
  • Salt
  • Basil leaves
  • Oil
  • Baguette slices (for serving)

Method:

First, you will need to make the basil oil. To do this, bring a small saucepan of water to a boil and add the basil leaves. Blanch the basil for 30 seconds to help preserve its bright green color. Drain and rinse the basil with cold water, then gently dry the leaves with a paper towel. Add the basil to a food processor along with the garlic and pulse until finely minced. With the processor running, slowly add the oil to the mixture.

Next, prepare the goat cheese mixture. Mince the garlic and sprinkle with salt. Smash the mixture together until it forms a paste. In a separate bowl, crumble the goat cheese and add the garlic paste. Season with salt and pepper, then stir until the mixture is smooth and well-blended. Form the goat cheese into a ball.

In a food processor, pulse the Parmesan cheese until it is finely ground. Add the panko and pulse again until the mixture is even and fine. Season with pepper and transfer to a shallow bowl. Roll the goat cheese ball in the Parmesan-panko mixture until it is well coated. Wrap the coated ball in plastic and refrigerate until needed.

When ready to serve, place the goat cheese ball in the center of a plate and surround it with the basil oil. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve with baguette slices.

Enjoy the combination of creamy, tangy goat cheese, the crisp Parmesan crust, and the fresh basil oil! This appetizer is sure to impress and is a unique way to enjoy the combination of goat cheese and Parmesan.

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Goat cheese pesto

Ingredients:

  • Basil
  • Shallots
  • Garlic
  • Pine Nuts (or cashews)
  • Olive Oil
  • Salt
  • Goat Cheese
  • Parmesan Cheese

Instructions:

  • Finely dice the shallot.
  • Add basil, shallot, garlic, pine nuts, salt, and olive oil to an immersion blender cup.
  • Blend the ingredients for 2-3 minutes until a pesto-like texture is achieved.
  • Add the goat cheese and parmesan cheese to the mixture.
  • Blend until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
  • For pasta, cook the pasta al dente, reserving some of the pasta water.
  • Saute some shallots and garlic in a skillet.
  • Add the cooked pasta, goat cheese, and a splash of pasta water to the skillet.
  • Stir well and add more pasta water if needed to adjust the sauce consistency.
  • Finally, add the pesto and stir to combine.
  • Garnish with basil, walnuts, and goat cheese, if desired.

Variations:

  • For a sweeter version, add a tablespoon of honey to the pesto.
  • For a lemony twist, add some lemon zest and juice to the pesto.
  • To make a pesto goat cheese dip, combine the pesto with goat cheese and serve with crackers, carrots, celery, or bell peppers.
  • Create a pesto goat cheese stuffed chicken breast by mixing the pesto with goat cheese and stuffing it into chicken breasts before baking.

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Goat cheese and parmesan in pasta

Goat cheese and parmesan are a great combination for pasta. The deep flavour of goat cheese is complemented by the salty, nutty taste of parmesan.

A popular recipe for this combination is creamy goat cheese pasta. This dish can be made in one pot in less than 30 minutes. To make the sauce, heat butter in a skillet over medium-high heat and add garlic. After 30 seconds to a minute, when the garlic is aromatic, add goat cheese and half-and-half, whisking until smooth. Reduce the heat to medium and add cooked pasta and pasta water, stirring well to coat the pasta. For a thinner sauce, add more pasta water. Mix in basil, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Add lemon juice and zest, and more pasta water if needed. Turn off the heat and stir in the parmesan cheese. Garnish with parsley and serve. Small-shaped pasta, such as penne, rotini, farfalle, shells, macaroni, rigatoni, fusilli, and mafalda, are great for this dish as they carry the sauce well.

Another recipe idea is a tomato goat cheese pasta, which is also simple, fresh, and easy to make. Goat cheese adds a deliciously creamy texture to the tomato sauce. This recipe includes garlic and basil, creating a bold, tangy, and creamy flavour.

Goat cheese parmesan can also be used in pasta recipes. This type of cheese is a good option for pizza or as a filling for large pasta shells. It can also be used in appetizers such as stuffed mushrooms and bruschetta.

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Goat cheese and parmesan in salads

Goat cheese and parmesan are both popular cheeses that can be used to enhance the flavour of salads. While goat cheese is tangy and creamy, parmesan adds a salty, nutty taste to salads.

A simple yet impressive salad recipe that combines these two cheeses is the Goat Cheese Caesar Salad with Roasted Tomatoes and Parmesan Crisp. This salad has the complexity of a restaurant recipe but is easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time. It has a bed of seasoned goat cheese, blistered cherry tomatoes, and a cap made of a baked parmesan crisp. The salad is dressed with a mixture of salt, pepper, oregano, cream, and garlic. The goat cheese is mixed with the herb cream mixture and refrigerated. Parmesan is baked in the oven for about 5 minutes until crisp and golden brown. The romaine lettuce is cleaned, trimmed, and placed between damp paper towels before being refrigerated. The goat cheese mousse is piped or spooned onto the bottom of the salad plate, and the lettuce is tossed with the dressing. The salad is then assembled by dividing the lettuce and roasted tomatoes onto the plates and drizzling them with the dressing and parmesan.

Another salad recipe that uses goat cheese is the Goat Cheese Salad with Arugula. This salad is hearty, full of different textures and flavours, and can be served as a main or side dish. It is packed with flavour from the salty bacon, tangy and creamy goat cheese, sweet strawberries, and savoury garlic butter croutons. The croutons are made by melting butter and garlic in a skillet, coating the bread in the mixture, baking it, and then tossing it with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper. The goat cheese is crumbled, and the salad is assembled by tossing the arugula in the dressing and topping it with the remaining ingredients.

A unique way to incorporate goat cheese into a salad is by frying it. The Salad with Fried Goat Cheese is a versatile, elegant, and easy salad with a combination of crunch, sweetness, sourness, and savouriness. The goat cheese medallions are coated in a flour, egg, and panko bread crumb mixture and are then fried. The salad can be customised with various ingredients like roasted butternut squash, sweet potatoes, dried blueberries, apricots, pears, blackberries, strawberries, pecans, roasted cauliflower, roasted beets, and red bell peppers. It is served with a champagne citrus vinaigrette.

Goat cheese and parmesan can also be combined to make goat cheese parmesan, which can be used in salads, pastas, appetizers, and pizzas. This cheese has the taste of regular parmesan with a bit of goat cheese funk.

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Parmesan baskets with goat cheese mousse

Ingredients:

  • Parmesan cheese (shredded or grated)
  • Goat cheese
  • Olive oil
  • Vinegar
  • Milk
  • Salt and pepper
  • Fresh herbs (such as thyme, chives, cilantro, and parsley)
  • Walnuts
  • Niçoise olives

Method:

To make the Parmesan baskets, preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Sprinkle mounds of Parmesan cheese onto the sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Pat each mound into a thin, even round, about 3 inches in diameter. You can make the rounds lacy by sprinkling the cheese in a disk shape, using less cheese around the edges. Bake for 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown.

Working quickly, remove the Parmesan rounds from the oven and drape them over an upturned paper egg carton or small bowls/ramekins to form basket shapes. They will crisp up as they cool. Repeat with the remaining Parmesan cheese.

For the goat cheese mousse, combine the goat cheese, olive oil, vinegar, and chopped herbs in a bowl. Stir until smooth, then add milk, one tablespoon at a time, until the mixture is easily spreadable. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

To serve, carefully spoon the mousse into the Parmesan baskets or pipe it in using a pastry bag. Garnish with minced thyme, walnut pieces, pitted and halved Niçoise olives, and fresh herb sprigs.

These Parmesan baskets with goat cheese mousse can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container for up to one day before serving. They are an elegant and tasty appetizer, perfect for any occasion!

Frequently asked questions

There are many recipes that use both goat cheese and parmesan cheese, including Parmesan Crusted Goat Cheese with Basil Oil, Goat Cheese Pesto, Goat Cheese Caesar Salad with Roasted Tomatoes and Parmesan Crisp, and Creamy Goat Cheese Pasta.

To make Parmesan Crusted Goat Cheese with Basil Oil, you will need a ball of goat cheese, parmesan cheese, and basil oil.

To make the sauce for Creamy Goat Cheese Pasta, heat butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds to 1 minute, then add goat cheese, half-and-half, and stir. Whisk until smooth. Add cooked pasta and reserved pasta water, stirring well to coat the pasta. Let the mixture bubble in the sauce for 1-2 minutes. If you'd like a thinner sauce, add more pasta water. Mix in basil, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Add lemon juice and zest, and more pasta water if needed. Turn off the heat and stir in the parmesan cheese. Garnish with parsley and serve.

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