Baked Goat Cheese ~ who could resist these little patties of baked goat cheese, fresh from the oven, oozing under a sizzling crust of nuts and herbs? They make a lovely appetizer or light lunch salad on top of fresh greens.
Because I couldn’t decide, I made two different kinds of baked goat cheese today, one with a crust of pistachio and fresh mint, and the other with Marcona almonds and rosemary. I love combining nuts and herbs, and they make an interesting pairing with the soft cheese.
See what I mean— they’re irresistible, even before they’re baked.
You just cut a slice of the cheese, or, depending on the kind of goat cheese you have, you may need to form it into a little flat patty. Then brush on some olive oil so the crust will adhere.
Pat on a coating of the nut/herb mixture and that’s all there is to it. With your mini food processor doing the chopping, you could come up with a million variations on this, using your favorite nuts and herbs. I want to try pine nuts with thyme or oregano, and then maybe walnuts with parsley. Troll the nut aisle at Trader Joe’s and you’ll get lots of ideas, how about using their Sweet and Spicy Pecans, or Chili Lime Cashews?
After a few minutes in the oven they emerge all molten and delicious.
Pile a salad plate with some fresh greens, (I used baby Swiss chard), drizzle with some olive oil and fruity vinegar, and top it with the cheese. I had one of each and still can’t decide which I like best.
I had this for lunch, but it could be an appetizer with crackers or bread, too. You can make the little crusted disks of cheese ahead and bake them off just before company arrives.
Baked Goat Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 ounces goat cheese, you will need approx 2 oz per person
- olive oil , for brushing
For Pistachio/Mint
- 1 cup pistachios, raw or roasted
- 2 Tbsp mint leaves
- 1 dash salt, if using raw nuts
For Marcona Almond/Rosemary
- 1 cup Marcona almonds, I like the roasted, salted, skin on variety
- 2 Tbsp rosemary leaves
Instructions
- Set oven to 350ยฐF.
- Put the nuts and herbs in a mini food processor and process until the mixture is finely chopped.
- Slice or form 4 round patties of cheese. Brush the patty with oil and pat the crust on the top, sides, and bottom, making sure to cover it all.
- Set the patties on a lightly oiled baking sheet or dish. I recommend a rimless baking sheet for easy removal since the cheese is very delicate when hot.
- Bake for about 15 minutes. I ran mine under the broiler briefly just to get them sizzling, but be careful, if they get too hot they can start to melt. If you have difficulty removing the hot cheese without it falling apart, let it cool briefly.
Notes
Nutrition
Notes:
- The cheese patties can be reheated in a low oven, or even briefly in the microwave.
i have a love-hate relationship with goat cheese. i’ve had it a few times and found it to be absolutely glorious, but other times, it tastes like i’m putting toe lint in my mouth… ๐
These look amazing! I had baked goat cheese on my honeymoon and I loved it! Thank you so much!!
How good do these look. Sensational. Definitely a love story for this house!
oh wow. I am in awe of the simplicity yet deliciousness of this recipe. My dinner plan is sorted!