The Perfect Pairings For Gjoejt Cheese

Goat cheese, or chèvre in French, is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many sweet and savoury dishes. It has a tangy, creamy flavour and a soft, spreadable texture. Goat cheese can be incorporated into salads, meat dishes, appetizers, and breakfast recipes. It pairs well with fruits like apricots, peaches, and figs, as well as nuts such as walnuts, hazelnuts, and pistachios. For a classic combination, enjoy goat cheese with honey on toast or drizzle it with olive oil. It also goes well with multigrain bread and nutty breads like walnut bread. Goat cheese can be added to omelettes, stuffed into chicken, or used as a topping for pizza and pasta.

Goat cheese with fruit and vegetables

Goat cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in salads, meat dishes, appetizers, and breakfast recipes. Its tangy, creamy flavour pairs well with fruits and vegetables, making it a perfect addition to a cheese board or appetizer platter. Here are some ideas for combining goat cheese with fruits and vegetables:

Cheese Boards and Appetizers

Goat cheese is an excellent choice for cheese boards or appetizer platters due to its soft and creamy texture. Pair it with fresh or dried fruits like apples, figs, grapes, apricots, and berries. For a more savoury option, combine it with nuts such as walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, or almonds. You can also add some crunch to your platter with seeded crackers or nutty breads like walnut bread or raisin bread.

Salads

Goat cheese crumbles are a delicious addition to salads, providing a creamy and tangy contrast to the greens and other ingredients. Try pairing it with arugula, beetroot, pear, or walnut for a refreshing and flavourful salad. You can also add some grilled chicken or shrimp to make it a more substantial meal.

Fruit and Vegetable Dishes

Goat cheese can be a wonderful complement to fruit and vegetable dishes. Try spreading it on toast and topping it with sliced tomatoes, avocado, or apricot. For a sweet treat, drizzle honey over the cheese. You can also pair goat cheese with warmer dishes like roasted butternut squash or caramelized onions.

Dips and Spreads

Goat cheese can be mixed with herbs, spices, or other ingredients to create delicious dips and spreads. Try mixing it with olive oil, honey, or herbs like chives or basil for a flavourful spread on crackers or bread. You can also make a goat cheese mousse or fritters for a more indulgent appetizer.

Nuts, herbs and spices as toppings

Nuts, herbs, and spices are a great way to enhance the flavour of goat cheese. Goat cheese, or chèvre in French, has a tangy, rich, and creamy flavour that pairs well with various nuts, herbs, and spices. Here are some ideas for toppings:

Nuts

Walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios, pine nuts, macadamia nuts, and pecans are all excellent choices to pair with goat cheese. These nuts can be used to add a crunchy texture and visual appeal to a cheese board or as a topping on dishes such as salads or appetizers. For example, a Roasted Pear Salad with walnuts and goat cheese or a Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with apples, hazelnuts, and goat cheese.

Herbs

Basil, chives, chervil, parsley, sage, tarragon, and thyme are some of the herbs that go well with goat cheese. Fresh herbs like basil, rosemary, or thyme can be used to top goat cheese on toast or crackers. Marinated goat cheese discs with olive oil and fresh herbs are also a delicious option.

Spices

Paprika and cayenne pepper are two spices that can be used to enhance the flavour of goat cheese. Spices like black pepper can be cracked and added to warm bread with goat cheese. Spices can also be mixed with goat cheese to create a savoury cheese ball or baked into dishes such as a goat cheese and tomato tart.

Combining nuts, herbs, and spices with goat cheese can create a variety of flavour profiles to suit different tastes and occasions. Whether it's a simple cheese board or a more elaborate dish, these toppings will surely elevate the taste of goat cheese.

Goat cheese as part of a salad

Goat cheese is a versatile ingredient that can elevate a simple salad into a luxurious dish with minimal effort. Its creamy texture and tangy flavour complement the other ingredients in a salad.

The best way to incorporate goat cheese into a salad is to crumble it over the other ingredients. You can also bake it in a ramekin and add it to the salad, or whip it to create a salad dressing. Baked goat cheese balls are another option for a warm salad.

Goat cheese pairs well with fruits, vegetables, nuts, and herbs. For a sweet and savoury combination, try adding walnuts, hazelnuts, figs, or dates to your salad. Fresh fruits like peaches, apricots, nectarines, and berries also complement goat cheese well during the summer months. In autumn, opt for apples, pears, figs, or grapes.

You can also include vegetables such as beetroot, arugula, asparagus, avocado, cucumber, and tomatoes in your salad. For a more substantial salad, add proteins like chicken, prosciutto, or eggs.

• Beet and Pear Salad with Walnuts and Goat Cheese: Combine beets, pears, arugula, and goat cheese crumbles with a simple oil and vinegar dressing.
• Heirloom Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese and Arugula: Assemble heirloom tomatoes with goat cheese and arugula, and dress with a vinaigrette made from honey and fresh basil.
• Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad: This salad includes roasted beets, black-eyed peas, walnuts, and goat cheese.
• Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Goat Cheese and Apples: Shredded raw Brussels sprouts are mixed with sliced apples, roasted hazelnuts, dried cranberries, and creamy goat cheese.
• Grilled Apricot Salad with Prosciutto: Combine grilled apricots with salty, smoky prosciutto and dollops of creamy goat cheese.

Using goat cheese in appetizers and snacks

Goat cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used to create rich-tasting dishes. Its tangy flavour makes it a delicious, creamy addition to many recipes. Here are some ideas for using goat cheese in appetizers and snacks:

Cheese Boards

Goat cheese is a great addition to a cheese board, paired with other cheeses, fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Some good cheese pairings include semi-hard cheeses like gruyere and manchego, and aged and firm cheeses like cheddar and aged gouda. For fruits, consider apples, figs, grapes, pomegranate seeds, and apricots. As for nuts, walnuts and pistachios are good options.

Crackers and Breads

Goat cheese can be spread on crackers or bread and served with various toppings. Try drizzling honey or olive oil on top, or adding a pinch of sea salt and toasting it lightly in the oven. For a more savoury option, use herbed goat cheese dip. If you want to add some crunch to your crackers, try seeded crackers or nut-based crackers like salted almond or salted maple.

Dips

Goat cheese can be used as a dip for crackers, fruits, or vegetables. Try whipping it with chives and stuffing it into mini sweet peppers, or mixing it with cream cheese, parmesan, and black pepper to make a baked goat cheese dip.

Fritters and Balls

Goat cheese fritters or baked goat cheese balls are a great way to elevate your appetizer game. The seasoned cheese mixture for fritters can be made in a food processor and then fried in batches. Baked goat cheese balls can be made ahead of time and kept in the freezer until you're ready to bake and serve them.

Salads

Goat cheese is a perfect addition to salads, providing a creamy and tangy flavour. Try crumbling it over a beet and pear salad with walnuts, or an heirloom tomato salad with arugula. If you're feeling creative, you can also make a warm goat cheese salad by coating goat cheese rounds in panko and baking them until they're crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside.

Goat cheese as a spread on toast

Goat cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many dishes, from salads to main courses. Its tangy flavour and creamy texture make it a delicious spread on toast. Here are some ways to elevate your goat cheese on toast:

Honey and Thyme on Sourdough

Spread goat cheese on a slice of sourdough toast, and drizzle with honey and a pinch of thyme. This combination is a classic, with the honey adding a touch of sweetness to the tangy cheese. You can also sprinkle on some black sesame seeds for added crunch.

Jam and Preserves

Goat cheese and jam are a match made in heaven. The sweetness of the jam perfectly complements the tangy cheese. Try fig, raspberry, or black cherry preserves for a flavourful experience. You can also experiment with other jams like banana jam and top it off with some cashews and sesame seeds.

Fresh Fruits

Fresh fruits can add a burst of colour and flavour to your goat cheese toast. In the summer, opt for sliced peaches, apricots, nectarines, or berries like cherries and redcurrants. During autumn, apples, pears, figs, and grapes make the perfect pairing with more aged goat cheeses. You can also try stewing, caramelising, or poaching apples and pears to create a sweet and savoury combination.

Nuts and Spices

Nuts provide a crunchy contrast to the creamy goat cheese. Walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, and almonds are excellent choices to sprinkle on your toast. For an extra kick, add some spices like cayenne pepper, paprika, or chives.

Savoury Delights

If you prefer a more savoury toast, there are plenty of options. Try spreading goat cheese on a toasted bagel, topping it with tomato slices, and seasoning with salt and pepper. You can also make a goat cheese, rosemary ham, apple, and honey sandwich with arugula, or pair it with cured meats like salami and prosciutto on a cheese board.

Goat cheese on toast is a simple yet delicious treat, and with these combinations, you can elevate it to a whole new level!

Frequently asked questions