Cheese And Tapenade: Perfect Pairing For A Snack

Tapenade is a salty, briny olive spread that pairs well with cheese. The saltiness of the tapenade is a perfect complement to creamy, soft cheeses like goat cheese, brie, and ricotta. For those who enjoy a sweeter taste, honey can be added to balance the saltiness of the tapenade. The type of olive used in the tapenade can also vary, with black, green, and kalamata olives all being popular choices.

Goat's cheese crostini with honey

Goats Cheese Crostini with Honey

Goats cheese crostini with honey is a delicious and easy appetiser to make for your next get-together. It's a simple recipe with a short prep time and a short cook time.

Ingredients:

• 15 pieces crostini (store-bought)
• 3 tbsp butter (softened)
• 2 tsp garlic (crushed)
• 1/4 cup goat's cheese (softened)
• 2 tsp honey (optional)
• 1/4 cup olive tapenade (store-bought)
• 6-7 pieces walnuts (crushed)
• Thyme

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Line the crostini on a baking tray. Mix together the melted butter and garlic and spread this on both sides of the crostini. Bake for 7-8 minutes until they are toasted and golden brown in colour.

While the crostini cools down slightly, prepare the goat's cheese by mixing in the honey. Spread about 1/2 tsp of the sweetened goat's cheese onto each crostini, then top with 1/2 tsp of olive tapenade and some crushed walnuts. Garnish with thyme and serve.

Variations:

This recipe can be adapted in many ways. You can use different types of cheese, such as cream cheese or fresh mozzarella, or add different toppings like caramelised onions, sautéed mushrooms, or fresh figs. You can also change up the herbs, using rosemary or basil instead of thyme, or add some balsamic vinegar for a tangy alternative to honey.

Brie crostini

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups pitted Kalamata olives, drained
• 1 1/2 tablespoons capers, drained
• 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped parsley
• 1 1/2 cloves garlic, chopped
• Pinch of kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large baguette, cut into even slices
• Extra-virgin olive oil, to taste
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 7-ounce Supreme Brie oval, sliced

Method

• Add the olives, capers, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper to a food processor and pulse 2 to 3 times, or until coarsely chopped.
• Drizzle over the olive oil and pulse 2 to 3 times more, scraping down the sides, until evenly combined.
• Set the broiler to low.
• On a baking sheet, lay out the baguette slices and drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper on both sides.
• Broil until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side.
• Remove from the oven and add a slice of brie to each slice of bread.
• Return to the oven and broil for 2 minutes more, or until the cheese is melty.
• Place the crostini on a serving platter and top each with a spoonful of tapenade.
• Serve any remaining tapenade in a bowl with crostini and/or crackers on the side.

Tips

• Tapenade is a salty olive paste that originated in the Provence region of France. It can be made with black olives, such as niçoise or Nyon, or with green olives like Castelvetrano.
• You can also add sun-dried tomatoes for a colourful twist.
• Tapenade is a great appetiser for get-togethers and can be served with soft cheeses like brie or goat cheese.

Cream cheese alternatives

Cream cheese is a versatile ingredient used in a variety of dishes, from sauces and spreads to sweets and baked goods. It is a soft, spreadable cheese with a high-fat content, which gives it a rich and creamy texture. However, if you are looking for alternatives, there are several options that can be used as substitutes for cream cheese. Here are some suggestions:

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt shares the tangy notes of cream cheese and is a good source of protein, calcium, and Vitamin B12. It can be used as a 1:1 substitute in dips, spreads, frostings, and baked goods. For thicker consistency, Greek yogurt can be strained overnight using a cheesecloth to achieve a texture similar to cream cheese.

Sour Cream

Sour cream replicates the taste of cream cheese but with lower calories, making it a good choice for those seeking a lower-calorie alternative. It adds creaminess and an airy texture to baked goods. Use an equal amount of sour cream as a substitute in recipes, but note that it is more acidic than cream cheese, so it is better suited for savoury dishes.

Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese has a similar texture to cream cheese but is slightly lower in fat. To achieve a smoother consistency, it can be pureed with a dash of lemon juice. Use a 1:1 ratio when substituting cottage cheese in dips and spreads. For baking or cooking, mix it with heavy cream or half-and-half to add thickness.

Mascarpone

Mascarpone is an Italian cheese made from heavy cream, with a similar taste and texture to cream cheese. It is slightly sweeter and has a higher fat content, but it can be used interchangeably with cream cheese in most recipes. It works particularly well in fillings, spreads, frostings, and desserts.

Tofu

For a vegan option, silken tofu is a fantastic substitute for cream cheese. It has a soft and creamy texture, making it ideal for vegan cheesecakes and bagel spreads. Tofu is also highly nutritious, packed with protein, manganese, selenium, and calcium. It can be blended with other ingredients, such as nutritional yeast and lemon juice, to create a versatile cheese substitute.

Cashew Cheese

Cashew cheese is another vegan alternative, made from cashews, nutritional yeast, and a mix of herbs and spices. It provides substantial fibre and protein and is a good source of vitamin B12. Cashew cheese works well in a 1:1 ratio in savoury dishes such as soups, sauces, and spreads. It can be easily made at home by blending raw cashews with nutritional yeast, garlic powder, and lemon juice.

These alternatives can be used as direct substitutes for cream cheese in various recipes, offering similar textures and flavours while also providing nutritional benefits.

Ricotta, feta, or Laughing Cow cheese wedges

Ricotta

Ricotta is a soft, creamy cheese with a mild flavour, making it a versatile option for pairing with tapenade. Its creamy texture can help to balance the saltiness and strong flavours of tapenade, especially when used as a spread or dip.

One option is to make a baked ricotta dip. Simply mix ricotta with some herbs, such as thyme and rosemary, and perhaps a little lemon juice, and bake until warm and slightly browned. This can be served with tapenade as a topping, or with crackers and a side of tapenade for spreading.

Feta

Feta is a popular choice for tapenade as its tangy, salty flavour pairs well with the strong, salty flavours of olives. It is also a traditional ingredient in some tapenade recipes, where it is blended with olives, lemon juice, anchovy fillets, garlic, thyme, and rosemary. This feta tapenade can be used as a spread or dip, or served with crackers or crostini.

Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges

The Laughing Cow cheese wedges come in a variety of flavours, including creamy garlic and herb, spicy pepper jack, and asiago. These wedges can be paired with tapenade in a few ways. For a simple option, spread the cheese on crackers or bread and top with tapenade. The mild, creamy cheese can also be blended with tapenade to make a dip, or used as a topping for a tapenade-filled crostini.

The versatility of these cheeses means they can be used in a variety of ways to complement the strong, salty flavours of tapenade, whether as a spread, dip, or topping.

Mozzarella

For a simple yet delicious combination, use French bread, sliced mozzarella, tapenade, and tomatoes. Layer the mozzarella on the bread, followed by the tapenade and tomato slices, and then add a little more cheese. Place the other slice of bread on top and cook in a panini press or grill pan for about 5 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and crispy. This combination of salty tapenade, crispy bread, and gooey cheese is a quick, tasty treat.

For a more bite-sized option, crostini topped with tapenade and mozzarella balls is a great choice. To make these, drizzle baguette slices with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and broil until golden brown. Add a slice of mozzarella to each slice of bread and return to the oven until the cheese is melted. Top each crostini with a spoonful of tapenade and serve. The mild creaminess of the baked mozzarella pairs perfectly with the saltiness of the tapenade.

Whether it's a panini, sandwich, or crostini, mozzarella is an excellent choice to complement the flavours of tapenade.

Frequently asked questions