Frederic Melton
Frying goat cheese is an easy way to create a delicious appetizer or salad topping. The process involves coating slices or balls of goat cheese with a mixture of flour, egg, and breadcrumbs before pan-frying them in oil. The result is a crispy, golden exterior with a warm, gooey, and creamy interior. This versatile dish can be served in a variety of ways, including as a topping for salads, a replacement for croutons in soup, or as a savory or sweet appetizer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese type | Goat cheese |
| Cheese texture | Firm, medium-firm, or soft |
| Cheese shape | Discs, thick slices, or medallions |
| Coating | Flour, egg, and breadcrumbs |
| Breadcrumbs | Panko, Italian, or homemade |
| Oil | Olive, avocado, canola, sunflower, or vegetable |
| Seasoning | Za'atar, salt, pepper, or dried herbs |
| Serving suggestion | Salad, appetizer, or burger topping |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right goat cheese
When choosing the right goat cheese to fry, there are several factors to consider, including texture, taste, and ripening time.
First, it's important to select a goat cheese that has a firm texture. This will ensure that the cheese holds its shape during the frying process. Look for a long log of goat cheese, which will be easier to slice into uniform discs. You can also opt for a soft goat cheese, especially if you want to make goat cheese balls. However, keep in mind that softer cheeses might be more challenging to work with as they can crumble easily. If you go for a softer cheese, use your hands to shape and squeeze the slices together to form tightly packed rounds.
The ripening time of goat cheese also plays a role in its flavour. Younger, fresher goat cheese tends to have a milder and lighter taste, while drier, more ripened cheese has a stronger, fuller flavour. If you're introducing someone to goat cheese, a fresh variety might be a better option. On the other hand, if you're looking for a cheese with a distinctively tangy goat flavour, opt for a drier, more mature variety.
Additionally, when choosing a goat cheese, consider the type of milk used in its production. Goat cheeses are generally made with either raw or pasteurized milk. Raw milk cheeses have not been heat-treated, preserving their bacterial flora, but they are not recommended for pregnant women or children under five. Pasteurized milk cheeses, on the other hand, have been heat-treated, altering their bacterial content.
Lastly, when frying goat cheese, it's essential to create a crispy, golden crust. To achieve this, you'll need to coat the cheese in a breading mixture. The standard breading for fried goat cheese typically includes flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. The egg acts as a glue, ensuring that the flour and breadcrumbs adhere to the cheese. You can use plain or herbed varieties of these ingredients, depending on your preference. For an extra crunchy texture, opt for panko breadcrumbs.
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Preparing the goat cheese
First, you will need to buy a log of goat cheese. It is important to select a firm goat cheese, as it will better hold its shape. You can choose a plain goat cheese log or a flavoured one, such as herbed, honey goat cheese, or goat cheese with herbs.
Next, slice the goat cheese log into eight thick slices (one-ounce sections). You can use a small sharp knife to cut the log. If any slices crumble, simply shape them back together with your hands. It is easy to mould the cheese and it will not affect its texture. Alternatively, you can freeze the goat cheese for 15-30 minutes for easier slicing.
Now, set up a dredging station. In three separate bowls, add flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. You can use all-purpose flour or a gluten-free flour blend if you prefer. Whisk the egg with a fork or a whisk, adding a little bit of water or milk to create an egg wash. For the breadcrumbs, you can use Italian breadcrumbs, Panko breadcrumbs, or even make your own. If you want to add some extra flavour, you can add a teaspoon or two of Everything But The Bagel Seasoning, za'atar, or dried herbs to the breadcrumbs.
Finally, it's time to bread the goat cheese. Dip each goat cheese slice into the flour, fully coating it and shaking off any excess. Then, dip it into the egg, and finally, into the breadcrumbs. Make sure to press the breadcrumbs firmly into the cheese so they stick. Place each coated slice onto a clean plate or parchment paper. You can add some freshly ground black pepper to taste. Refrigerate the slices for at least an hour to ensure they stay together during frying.
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Preparing the dredging station
First Bowl: Flour
In the first bowl, you'll want to add all-purpose flour. You can also add some seasonings to the flour for extra flavour. For example, you can include salt and pepper to taste. Feel free to mix in other seasonings, such as dried or fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme. If you want a gluten-free option, use a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend.
Second Bowl: Egg
In the second bowl, prepare an egg wash by whisking together one or two large eggs. You can add a bit of water or milk to the eggs to create a more fluid mixture. This egg wash will act as a glue, helping the flour and breadcrumbs adhere to the goat cheese.
Third Bowl: Breadcrumbs
The third bowl will contain breadcrumbs. You can use Italian breadcrumbs, Panko breadcrumbs, or even make your own homemade breadcrumbs. For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free breadcrumbs. To enhance the flavour, you can add seasonings to the breadcrumbs. For instance, you can include garlic powder, "Everything But The Bagel" seasoning, or even a savoury blend like za'atar, which combines wild thyme, oregano, sesame seeds, and sumac for an earthy, tangy twist.
With your dredging station set up, you'll have three bowls containing flour, egg wash, and seasoned breadcrumbs, respectively. This station will allow you to easily coat the goat cheese slices before frying them, resulting in a delicious crispy texture and a golden crust.
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Frying the goat cheese
Frying goat cheese is a simple process that can be done in a few easy steps. First, prepare the goat cheese by slicing a log of goat cheese into 6 to 10 one-ounce sections or medallions. You can use a small sharp knife or dental floss to cut the cheese. If any slices crumble, simply shape them back together with your hands. Next, set up a dredging station with three separate bowls containing flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. For the egg mixture, you can use a whole egg with a bit of water or milk, and for the breadcrumbs, you can use Italian, Panko, or homemade breadcrumbs. You can also add seasonings to the breadcrumbs, such as za'atar, garlic powder, or Everything But The Bagel Seasoning.
After preparing the cheese and the dredging station, it's time to start the breading process. Lightly coat each goat cheese slice with flour, shaking off any excess. Then, dip the cheese into the egg mixture, ensuring it is fully coated. Finally, dip the cheese into the breadcrumbs, pressing them firmly into the cheese to create a thick crust. Place the breaded cheese slices onto a plate and refrigerate for at least an hour to help them hold their shape during frying.
To fry the goat cheese, heat a shallow pan with about 1/4 inch of oil over medium-high heat. You can use olive oil, avocado oil, canola oil, or sunflower oil. When the oil is hot, carefully add the goat cheese slices, being careful not to crowd the pan. Fry each slice for about 30 seconds to 1 minute on each side, or until golden brown. Use a spatula to flip the slices carefully. Once both sides are golden, remove the fried cheese from the oil and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
Finally, serve the fried goat cheese immediately while it's still warm. You can serve it as an appetizer with a drizzle of honey, hot honey, or pear butter, or as a topping for your favorite salad or burger. Enjoy the crispy, creamy, and tangy treat!
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Serving suggestions
There are many ways to serve fried goat cheese. It can be served as an appetizer, drizzled with hot honey or topped with something savory such as tomato jam, or something sweet like pear butter or Greek honey. It can also be served with pita chips or crackers. Fried goat cheese can also be served as a salad topping or used to replace croutons in a bowl of soup. It can even be served on a burger.
Fried goat cheese can be served warm or cold. It can be garnished with dried sage leaves or fresh herbs, or coated with a seasoning like za'atar, which adds an earthy, tangy, nutty flavor and crunchy texture.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need goat cheese, flour, eggs, breadcrumbs, oil, salt, and pepper. You can also add honey, herbs, and spices for extra flavor.
First, slice the goat cheese into 1-ounce sections or medallions. Squeeze the slices together so they are tightly packed and dip them into the flour, then the egg, and finally the breadcrumbs.
You can use olive oil, avocado oil, canola oil, or sunflower oil.
Fry each side of the goat cheese for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until they turn golden brown.
