Andy Montoya
Carrabba's, a casual Italian restaurant in Houston, Texas, offers a range of dishes featuring goat cheese. The restaurant has been a fixture in the city's dining scene for over 30 years, attracting patrons with its wood-fired pizzas, big bowls of pasta, and an open kitchen. One of their signature dishes, Chicken Bryan, features grilled chicken topped with a rich garlic lemon butter sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and creamy goat cheese. The restaurant also serves other dishes like Scotty Thompson, an appetizer with garlic bread and goat cheese dip, and Rigatoni Campagnolo, a pasta dish loaded with Italian sausage, vegetables, and topped with goat cheese. While the specific type of goat cheese used by Carrabba's may vary, it is described as creamy, tangy, and similar to cream cheese in texture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of cheese | Goat cheese |
| Texture | Creamy, soft |
| Flavour | Tangy, almost cream cheesy |
| Form | Medallion, log, slice, dip |
| Weight | 8 ounces, 4 ounces |
| Accompaniments | Sun-dried tomatoes, basil, balsamic vinegar, garlic bread, marinara sauce, olive oil, Italian seasoning, lemon juice, white wine, butter, pepper, chicken |
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What You'll Learn
Rigatoni Campagnolo
To make Rigatoni Campagnolo, start by cooking the pasta al dente according to the package directions. Before straining, remember to reserve at least one cup of pasta water and set it aside. Next, heat a large, heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat and add the Italian sausage. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to break the sausage into small crumbles. When the sausage is about halfway cooked, add chopped onions, bell peppers, and a pinch of kosher salt. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften. Then, stir in the garlic, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning.
For the sauce, you can use whatever kind of tomatoes you prefer, whether it's crushed tomatoes or a zesty tomato-based sauce. If you want to make your own sauce, you can use fresh tomatoes. Add slices of sausage, chopped onions, and roasted peppers to your tomato sauce. If you like your food spicy, opt for hot Italian sausage, or choose sweet Italian sausage if you're not a fan of heat. You can even use Italian sausage made with turkey for a delicious alternative.
Finally, it's time to assemble the dish. Toss the cooked rigatoni with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and a splash of reserved pasta water until the pasta is well-coated and the sauce is silky. Top with slices or crumbles of goat cheese and a sprinkle of fresh basil. Serve immediately and enjoy the perfectly spicy, cheesy, and slightly sweet flavours of this Carrabba's-inspired dish!
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Scotty Thompson
The goat cheese used in the original Scotty Thompson recipe is plain goat cheese, but flavored goat cheese can also be used. The goat cheese is added to a marinara sauce and put in the oven to soften and cook slightly. The recipe also includes frozen garlic bread, cooked according to the package directions. The bread can be cooked in the oven, an air fryer, or a toaster oven.
Carrabba's uses goat cheese in several other dishes, including Rigatoni Campagnolo, Chicken Bryan, and Filet Bryan. Rigatoni Campagnolo is a pasta dish loaded with spicy Italian sausage, caramelized peppers, onions, garlic, and goat cheese. Chicken Bryan features grilled chicken breast with goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and basil butter, served with fettuccine Alfredo. Filet Bryan is a similar dish, with grilled filet mignon topped with basil lemon butter sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and creamy goat cheese.
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Chicken Bryan
The key to the dish's success lies in the combination of flavours and textures. The chicken is seasoned with olive oil, Italian seasoning, lemon juice, kosher salt, and cracked pepper, and grilled until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. The lemon butter sauce is prepared by sauteing onions and garlic in butter, adding white wine and lemon juice, and then finishing with butter to create a rich and creamy emulsification. The goat cheese used in the dish is noted to be of a specific kind, described as soft and tangy, almost like cream cheese. It is warmed and softened by the hot chicken, creating a delightful texture.
To prepare the dish, the chicken is grilled first, and while it cooks, the lemon butter sauce is made. The goat cheese is then added to the chicken, allowing it to warm and soften. The dish is often served with a side of pasta, such as fettuccini, providing a hearty and flavourful meal. The combination of the juicy chicken, tangy goat cheese, and rich lemon butter sauce makes Chicken Bryan a favourite among patrons of Carrabba's Italian Grill.
While the exact recipe for Chicken Bryan remains a closely guarded secret by Carrabba's, many copycat recipes have emerged, allowing people to recreate this delicious dish at home. These recipes aim to replicate the flavours and textures that have made the dish so popular. By using thin chicken breasts, a generous amount of creamy goat cheese, and a well-balanced lemon butter sauce, home cooks can come close to the magic of Carrabba's Chicken Bryan.
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Filet Bryan
Carrabba's Filet Bryan is a popular dish featuring grilled filet mignon topped with a basil lemon butter sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and creamy goat cheese. The following paragraphs will provide a detailed description of the dish, including its ingredients, preparation methods, and serving suggestions.
Ingredients:
The key ingredients in Carrabba's Filet Bryan are filet mignon steaks, olive oil, salt, pepper, onion, garlic, butter, white wine, lemon juice, basil, sun-dried tomatoes, and of course, goat cheese.
Preparation:
To prepare the steaks for Filet Bryan, they are brushed with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper. The steaks are then grilled to the desired doneness, typically around 4-6 minutes per side depending on their thickness. While the steaks are cooking, the basil lemon butter sauce is prepared by sautéing onion and garlic in butter until soft and fragrant. White wine and lemon juice are added, and the mixture is simmered to reduce. Butter is gradually added to create a rich and emulsified sauce.
The Role of Goat Cheese:
Goat cheese is a key component of the Filet Bryan dish. Specifically, creamy goat cheese is used, which has a soft, almost pudding-like texture and a tangy, cream cheese-like flavor. The goat cheese is generously placed on top of the grilled steak, adding a unique and indulgent touch to the dish.
Serving Suggestions:
Carrabba's Filet Bryan is often served with a side of pasta, such as fettuccini, to soak up the delicious basil lemon butter sauce. It can also be accompanied by mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables. The dish is best served immediately while the goat cheese is still warm and soft.
Comparison to Chicken Bryan:
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Salads
Carrabba's uses Caprino goat cheese in their salads. This is a very smooth and creamy goat cheese. If you can't get your hands on Caprino, any goat cheese will do—just make sure it's smooth and creamy.
Carrabba's has been serving Houston for over 30 years. The restaurant combines a commitment to fantastic food with a warm, inviting, and family-oriented atmosphere.
One of Carrabba's most popular dishes is their Chicken Bryan salad, which features grilled chicken breast topped with goat cheese, sundried tomatoes, and a basil lemon butter sauce. The chicken is grilled to perfection and the salad is a tasty and healthy option.
Another popular salad at Carrabba's is their House Salad, which features a creamy Parmesan dressing. This dressing is made with mayonnaise, grated Parmesan cheese, buttermilk, minced garlic, fresh parsley, and lemon juice. It is thick and creamy, with a slight 'grit' from the Parmesan cheese. The House Salad is a perfect complement to Carrabba's pizzas, with romaine lettuce, carrots, and olives as its only ingredients.
In addition to their Chicken Bryan and House Salad, Carrabba's also offers a Rigatoni Campagnolo pasta dish that is loaded with goat cheese, spicy Italian sausage, caramelized peppers, onions, and garlic. It has a hint of sweetness from the balsamic vinegar and is topped with fresh basil.
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Frequently asked questions
Carrabba's uses sliced goat cheese in their Rigatoni Campagnolo.
Carrabba's uses plain goat cheese in their Scotty Thompson appetizer, although flavored goat cheese can also be used.
Carrabba's uses creamy goat cheese in their Chicken Bryan.
Carrabba's uses creamy goat cheese in their Filet Bryan.
Carrabba's serves a variety of dishes containing goat cheese, including a salad with mixed field greens, grilled chicken breast, and a hazelnut goat cheese medallion. They also serve chicken topped with goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, and creamy orzo with goat cheese.
