Bushra Griffith
Goat cheese is an incredibly versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. Its rich, tangy, and creamy flavour makes it a delicious addition to many recipes. It can be used in salads, pastas, pizzas, sandwiches, and even desserts. In this article, we will explore some of the best ways to use goat cheese in your cooking, including recipes for appetizers, main courses, and sweet treats. We will also provide tips on how to elevate simple dishes with this versatile ingredient.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Dish | Appetizer, Salad, Main Course, Dessert |
| Base | Bread, Crackers, Flatbread, Naan, Pasta, Pizza, Toast |
| Toppings/Fillings | Arugula, Asparagus, Bacon, Basil, Beet Greens, Beets, Carrots, Eggs, Fig Jam, Fruit, Honey, Mustard, Nuts, Olives, Onion Jam, Pancetta, Parsley, Pears, Pepper, Red Pepper Puree, Sun-dried Tomatoes, Thyme, Tomatoes, Tropical Fruits |
| Flavor Profile | Buttery, Creamy, Earthy, Herby, Rich, Tangy |
| Texture | Crunchy, Crispy, Creamy |
| Preparation Method | Baking, Breaded, Frying, Grilling, Mixing, Tossing, Whisking |
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What You'll Learn
Goat cheese on salads
Goat cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, including salads. Its rich, tangy, and creamy flavour and texture make it a delicious addition to many recipes.
One way to include goat cheese in a salad is to make a French bistro-style goat cheese salad with warm, panko-crusted goat cheese rounds. These are crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside and can be served with tender lettuce.
Another option is to sprinkle goat cheese crumbles over a seasonal salad of peppery baby arugula leaves, beets, and pears. A simple oil and vinegar dressing is all that is needed to make the ingredients sing.
For a lighter option, you can make a salad with warm roasted beets, carrots, and beet greens, and toss it with a creamy dressing made by whisking fresh goat cheese with vinegar and oil.
Goat cheese also pairs well with herbs, so you can make a cauliflower soup with herbed goat cheese, or bake the goat cheese and serve it warm over a salad.
In addition to these options, there are countless ways to get creative and include goat cheese in your salads.
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Goat cheese on pizza
Goat cheese is a delicious, creamy addition to pizza. Its rich, tangy flavour makes it a wonderful ingredient to experiment with.
Flavour Combinations
Goat cheese pairs well with a variety of ingredients, including arugula, tomatoes, olive oil, prosciutto, basil, balsamic reduction, caramelized onions, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, avocado, bell peppers, and even fruits like figs, roasted strawberries, or black cherries.
Types of Goat Cheese
When it comes to goat cheese on pizza, you can choose between soft goat cheese (chevre) and herbed goat cheese. Soft goat cheese is a soft log that is not aged or crumbled, while herbed goat cheese adds extra flavour to your pizza.
Pizza Dough Options
The type of dough you use for your pizza will depend on your preferences and the equipment you have available. Here are some options:
- Homemade pizza dough: This is the standard option and works best on a pizza stone.
- Thin crust pizza dough: This option is healthier and easier to roll out, but you can also stretch it if you prefer.
- Pizza oven dough: If you have a pizza oven, this is the dough recipe for you.
- Perfect pan pizza: This option involves making your pizza in a cast-iron skillet, which takes a little longer but doesn't require any special tools.
- Sheet pan pizza: This option is perfect for serving a crowd, as it makes a double recipe in a large sheet pan.
Recipes
- Goat Cheese Caramelized Onion Pizza: Top your pizza dough with olive oil, caramelized onions, and dollops of goat cheese. Add some balsamic reduction and fresh basil for extra flavour.
- Prosciutto and Goat Cheese Pizza: Combine arugula, tomatoes, olive oil, prosciutto, and goat cheese for a restaurant-worthy flavour profile.
- Goat Cheese and Sun-Dried Tomato Pizza: Brush store-bought flatbreads with olive oil and top them with goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and chopped Kalamata olives. Bake for 15 minutes for a crispy, thin-crust pizza.
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Goat cheese on pasta
Goat cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads to pizzas and pastas. Its rich, tangy flavour and creamy texture make it a delicious addition to many recipes. Here are some ideas for using goat cheese in pasta dishes:
Tomato Goat Cheese Pasta
This simple, fresh, and easy-to-make pasta dish combines the tanginess of goat cheese with the sweetness of tomatoes. The goat cheese melts into the tomato sauce, making it deliciously creamy. You can use canned crushed tomatoes or fresh tomatoes, although you may need to cook them down a bit longer for a thicker sauce. Sauté onions in olive oil, add garlic, then stir in the tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for about 10 minutes, then stir in the goat cheese and basil until smooth. Toss with your cooked pasta and enjoy!
Creamy Goat Cheese Pasta
This one-pot dish is ready in under 30 minutes and is a great way to indulge in a busy day. It's like an adult version of mac and cheese, with a deep goat cheese flavour enveloped in a silky, creamy sauce. To make the sauce, heat butter in a skillet, add garlic and sauté, then stir in the goat cheese and half-and-half. Whisk until smooth, then add your cooked pasta and reserved pasta water. Mix in the basil, season with salt and pepper, and add lemon juice and zest to taste. Garnish with parsley and serve.
Caramelized Mushroom & Goat Cheese Pasta
This creamy, rich, and flavourful pasta is another quick and easy option that requires minimal ingredients. Sauté a mixture of thinly sliced mushrooms, shallots, garlic, and herbs in olive oil and butter until the mushrooms are deeply browned and the shallots are caramelized. When the pasta is almost done, stir in the goat cheese, then add the pasta and a splash of pasta water to create a glossy, saucy dish. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with fresh thyme.
Butternut Squash Orzo
A lightly spiced, smooth, and cheesy option that uses a blend of three melty cheeses, including goat cheese, for an extra creamy texture.
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Goat cheese on chicken
Goat cheese is a cook's secret weapon, adding a rich, tangy flavour and creamy texture to dishes. It is incredibly versatile and can be used in anything from breakfast to dessert.
Goat cheese can be used in many ways when it comes to chicken. It can be stuffed inside chicken breasts, spread on top, or used as a sauce.
Stuffed Chicken Breasts
One popular way to use goat cheese with chicken is to stuff it inside chicken breasts. This can be done by cutting a slit in the side of a chicken breast and filling it with a mixture of goat cheese, pepperoncini, thyme, salt, and pepper. The chicken is then seared in a skillet and finished in the oven. This results in a crispy skin and a creamy, flavourful filling.
Sun-Dried Tomato Goat Cheese Chicken
Another option is to sauté chicken and smother it with goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, and garlic. This dish is quick and easy to make and is full of flavour.
Balsamic Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken
A third option is to stuff chicken breasts with goat cheese and drizzle a balsamic reduction over the top. This creates a sweet and tangy flavour that pairs well with the creaminess of the goat cheese.
Other Ideas
In addition to these chicken dishes, goat cheese can be used in a variety of other ways. It can be added to pizzas, pasta sauces, salads, sandwiches, or simply spread on toast. It can also be used to make a herbed goat cheese sauce for grilled chicken or turned into warm goat cheese fritters as an appetizer.
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Goat cheese on crackers
Goat cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads to pizzas and pastas. Its rich, tangy flavor and creamy texture make it a delicious addition to many recipes. One popular way to enjoy goat cheese is on crackers.
Goat cheese crackers are a simple yet tasty appetizer or snack that can be easily made at home. The mild tang and soft texture of goat cheese make it an ideal topping for crackers, as it melts easily and blends well with other ingredients. To make goat cheese crackers, simply blend soft goat cheese with butter, add herbs and salt to taste, and then mix in flour. It is recommended to use a hand mixer to blend the goat cheese and butter thoroughly. The dough should be chilled before cutting and baking to ensure the crackers hold their shape.
For an extra special touch, top the goat cheese crackers with a sweet-savory combination of soft chevre, jam, and chopped nuts like pistachios or walnuts. You can also experiment with different types of jams, such as cherry, apricot, or blackberry preserves. If you're serving the crackers with a charcuterie board, you may want to add less salt or herbs to the cracker dough.
Goat cheese crackers are a great option for entertaining, as they can be made in advance and are sure to impress your guests. They can be served as an appetizer or as part of a snack platter, paired with other items such as baked brie with jam or spiced nuts. So, the next time you're looking for a simple yet delicious snack, why not try making your own goat cheese crackers?
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Frequently asked questions
Here are some quick and easy goat cheese appetizers:
- Goat cheese topped with garlicky dressing, served with baguette slices or crackers.
- Goat cheese topped with fig jam, pecans, and thyme, served with crackers or crostini.
- Goat cheese topped with honey and chopped walnuts, served with crackers or sliced baguette.
Goat cheese is a great breakfast ingredient. You can enjoy it with eggs, or spread it on toast. You can also bake it into a cheesecake and pair it with fresh berries.
Goat cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many lunch and dinner recipes. You can add it to salads, sandwiches, pasta, or pizza. You can also stuff it into baked chicken or turkey.
Here are some specific goat cheese recipes:
- Goat cheese and tomato tart
- Goat cheese fritters with a tropical fruit dipping sauce
- Flatbread pizza with goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and Kalamata olives
- Cauliflower soup with herbed goat cheese
When making goat cheese appetizers, it's best to prepare them 30 minutes to an hour beforehand so the cheese can soften and absorb the flavors of the toppings or dressings. You can also cut the goat cheese log in half and spoon different toppings onto each section.
