Kamil Perry
Goat cheese, or chèvre in French, is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. Its rich, tangy flavour makes it a delicious addition to many recipes, from salads to pasta dishes. Goat cheese can be spread on toast, stuffed into baked chicken or turkey, sprinkled over pizza, or used as a creamy sauce for vegetables. It pairs well with sweet and savoury ingredients, such as honey, fruits, and meats, making it an excellent choice for appetizer boards and elegant starters. With its unique flavour and creamy texture, goat cheese adds a decadent touch to any meal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Dish | Appetizer, Salad, Main Course, Dessert |
| Flavor | Rich, Tangy, Creamy, Decadent, Fluffy, Crunchy |
| Ingredients | Honey, Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs, Meat, Nuts, Bread, Pasta, Rice Crackers, Mustard, Salad Dressing, Tropical Fruit Dipping Sauce, Basil, Spinach, Lemon, Garlic, Arugula, Tomatoes, Chicken, Bacon, Naan Bread, Cheese, Olive Oil, Vinegar, Beets, Pears, Walnuts, Leeks, Chilli, Sourdough, Tarragon, Prosciutto, Puff Pastry, Broccoli, Courgette, Red Chilli, Carrot, Sprouts, Ratatouille, Omelette, Onion, Blue Cheese, Roasted Vegetables |
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What You'll Learn
Salads
Goat cheese is a popular ingredient in salads, especially in French and Mediterranean cuisine. It is known for its unique flavour and crumbly texture, making it a beautiful addition to any salad.
A classic French bistro starter, the Warm Goat's Cheese Salad (Salade de Chèvre Chaud), consists of fresh leaf salad with nuts and bacon, topped with pan-fried goat's cheese medallions. The traditional cheese used for this salad is Crottin de Chavignol, an unpasteurised goat's cheese produced in the Loire Valley.
For a simple salad, a combination of leafy greens such as arugula, endive, and romaine, with toppings like cucumbers, onions, almonds, and dried cranberries, creates a refreshing base. The addition of goat cheese, especially when coated with cranberries, provides a sweet and tangy flavour. A zesty lemon vinaigrette or a balsamic vinaigrette made with extra virgin olive oil and vinegar enhances the overall taste.
For a heartier option, the goat cheese salad can be paired with salty bacon, sweet strawberries, and garlic butter croutons. The croutons can be made by coating bread pieces in melted butter and baking them until golden brown. A balsamic vinaigrette, blended with olive oil, vinegar, honey, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper, completes this flavourful salad.
Goat cheese also pairs well with fruits such as grapes, peaches, and berries. A citrusy dressing, such as an orange almond vinaigrette, can be used to cut through the creaminess of the cheese. Additionally, grilled vegetables like radicchio, kale, or tomatoes can be added for a charred flavour.
The versatility of goat cheese in salads allows for endless combinations, making it a delightful ingredient to experiment with.
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Appetizers
Goat cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of appetizers. Here are some ideas for appetizers that feature goat cheese:
Goat Cheese with Honey and Nuts
This appetizer is easy to make and can be served with crackers or crostini. Start by spreading goat cheese on a plate or bowl, then drizzling it with honey and topping it with chopped nuts such as pecans, pistachios, or almonds. For an extra touch of flavour, add some fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary and a pinch of sea salt. This appetizer can be served as-is or warmed up for a few minutes before serving.
Goat Cheese with Fig Jam
Another simple appetizer is goat cheese with fig jam. Spread goat cheese on a plate or bowl, then drizzle it with fig jam and top with chopped nuts like pecans and a sprinkle of fresh thyme. This appetizer can also be served with crackers or crostini and is ready in under 10 minutes.
Goat Cheese Pizza
For a heartier appetizer, you can make a goat cheese pizza. Start with a flatbread base such as naan or lavash bread, then coat it with olive oil and top with shredded goat cheese and prosciutto. Bake it in the oven for about 10 minutes, then add a balsamic glaze, fresh basil, and flaky sea salt to taste.
Whipped Goat Cheese Dip
Whipped goat cheese is a versatile appetizer that can be used as a dip for crudités, spread on toast, or even dolloped over roasted beets or whole roasted cauliflower. You can also mix it with other cheeses like feta and cream cheese for an extra decadent sauce.
Goat Cheese with Garlic-Herb Dressing
This appetizer is a combination of tangy goat cheese and a fresh garlic-herb dressing. Simply top the goat cheese with the dressing and serve with crackers or baguette slices. You can also decorate the plate with parsley sprigs for a fancier presentation.
These are just a few ideas for appetizers that feature goat cheese. Goat cheese is a versatile ingredient that pairs well with a variety of flavours, so feel free to experiment and get creative!
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Pasta
Goat cheese is a versatile ingredient that pairs well with various types of pasta. Here are some ideas for combining goat cheese with pasta to create delicious and satisfying meals:
Creamy Goat Cheese Pasta
For a simple yet indulgent dish, try making a creamy goat cheese sauce to toss with your favourite pasta. This recipe typically includes heating butter in a skillet, adding garlic, and then stirring in the goat cheese to create a smooth and creamy sauce. You can adjust the sauce's consistency by adding pasta water. Finish the dish with fresh herbs like basil, parsley, or lemon zest, and season to taste with salt and pepper. This recipe is quick and easy to prepare, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Tomato Goat Cheese Pasta
Goat cheese is an excellent addition to tomato-based pasta sauces, creating a creamy and tangy combination. Start by sautéing onions and garlic, then add crushed or finely chopped tomatoes. Stir in the goat cheese until smooth, and add pasta water if the sauce becomes too thick. You can also include fresh basil for a pop of freshness. This recipe is simple, fresh, and easy to make, and it pairs well with a bright salad and crusty bread.
Goat Cheese and Arugula over Penne
For a quick, easy, and elegant dish, try combining goat cheese with arugula, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, and garlic. Toss this mixture with hot penne pasta for a delicious summertime meal. You can also add mushrooms, spinach, or chicken to this recipe for extra flavour and texture. This dish can be served as a main course or a side, and it goes well with a loaf of bread.
Spinach Goat Cheese Pasta
This recipe combines goat cheese with spinach and a touch of lemon for a simple and fast meal. Start by cooking your pasta al dente, then melting butter and adding garlic in the same pot. Reduce the heat, add the cooked pasta, and stir in the goat cheese, parmesan, and lemon juice. Slowly add pasta water to achieve a creamy consistency, then toss in the spinach and basil. Cover the pot briefly to allow the spinach to wilt, and season to your taste.
When preparing goat cheese pasta, it's recommended to use high-quality goat cheese without the rind. Additionally, using regular or whole wheat pasta can help thicken the sauce, while chickpea pasta provides extra protein and fibre.
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Pizza
Goat cheese is a versatile ingredient that can add a tangy, savoury, and salty kick to pizzas. Its unique flavour profile pairs well with a variety of toppings, from fruits and vegetables to meats and herbs.
One popular combination is to pair goat cheese with sweet ingredients such as caramelized onions, honey, and fruits like figs, pears, and cherry tomatoes. The natural sweetness of caramelized onions blends beautifully with the saltiness of goat cheese, creating a flavourful pizza that is both delicious and healthy.
For those who enjoy a more savoury pizza, goat cheese also pairs well with mushrooms, asparagus, spinach, and arugula. A heartier option could include toppings like Parma ham, prosciutto, or grilled mushrooms with beetroot and walnut salsa.
Herbs and spices are also excellent additions to a goat cheese pizza. Basil, in particular, is a popular choice as it offers a range of flavours, from peppery notes to a sweet and intensely aromatic finish. Other herbs such as parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme can also enhance the flavour of goat cheese.
When it comes to the base, goat cheese pizzas can be made with traditional pizza dough, flatbreads, or even soda bread. The key is to find the right balance of toppings to showcase the unique flavour of goat cheese, creating a memorable and delicious pizza experience.
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Chicken
Another option is to create a goat's cheese sauce to serve with the chicken. This can be done by adding milk, tomatoes, and garlic to a skillet and cooking until the cheese has melted. This sauce can be served with chicken tenders or meatballs and is perfect for pasta.
For a quick and easy weeknight meal, try a goat cheese and chicken skillet meal. Simply saute chicken with salt and pepper in a large skillet until no longer pink, then remove from the pan and keep warm. In the same pan, cook asparagus, garlic, tomatoes, milk, and goat cheese. Serve the chicken with the goat cheese sauce and vegetables.
For a more impressive dish, try Ina Garten's recipe for goat cheese and basil chicken. To make this, loosen the skin from boneless chicken breasts and stuff with slices of goat cheese and basil leaves before baking in the oven. This recipe is simple yet impressive and is perfect for entertaining or a family dinner.
Goat's cheese also pairs well with lemon, so try adding lemon slices to your chicken and goat's cheese dish for a zesty twist.
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Frequently asked questions
Goat cheese can be served as an appetizer in many ways, including:
- Goat cheese mixed with honey and served with crackers, fruits, and veggies.
- Goat cheese mousse served as a topping for warm crostini or as a dip for crudites.
- Warm goat cheese fritters served with a tropical fruit dipping sauce.
- Savory caramelized garlic and goat cheese appetizer tarts.
Goat cheese can be used in a variety of main course dishes, including:
- Pasta: Goat cheese can be used in pasta dishes, such as a creamy pasta dish that replaces heavy cream and butter with tangy goat cheese, or a quick and easy pasta dish with leeks, walnuts, garlic, and chilli.
- Pizza: Goat cheese can be used as a topping for pizza, such as a veggie pizza with broccoli, courgette, and red chilli.
- Chicken: Goat cheese can be stuffed into chicken breasts along with tarragon and chilli and wrapped in crispy prosciutto, or served alongside chicken and bacon with steamed Jersey Royals.
- Salad: Goat cheese can be served warm on a bed of lettuce, or crumbled over a salad with beets, pears, baby arugula, and vinaigrette dressing, or with tomatoes and peppery baby arugula.
Goat cheese can be a tasty addition to side dishes, such as:
- Spreading it on toast or toasted sourdough, topped with honey-roasted pears and walnuts.
- Using it as a topping for vegetable tarts or ratatouille bakes.
Goat cheese can be served on various occasions, whether it's a sophisticated appetizer for entertaining guests, a classic French-style lunch, or a crowd-pleasing party appetizer. It's also a versatile ingredient that can be used year-round, from a light and refreshing summer salad to a festive veggie tart during Christmas.
