Goat Cheese Tapas Recipes

SPANISH TAPAS - GRILLED GOAT'S CHEESE ON BED OF LETTUCE

Steps:

• Set oven on grill.
• Vinaigrette: Dissolve the salt, pepper and honey in the vinegar and beat in the virgin olive oil until an emulsion forms.
• Cut the cheese into 3/4 inch thick slices and grill in oven until golden.
• Place baby greens on plates, dress with the vinaigrette and add the cheese on top.

GOAT CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust, put the flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Cut 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) of the butter into large dice, add to the bowl, and pulse until the butter is the size of peas. With the machine running, add the ice water all at once and process until the dough becomes crumbly. Don't overprocess. Dump the dough out on a floured board, gather it loosely into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Roll the dough on a well-floured board and fit it into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable sides, rolling the pin over the top to cut off the excess dough. Butter 1 side of a square of aluminum foil and fit it, butter side down, into the tart pan. Fill the foil with rice or beans. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the beans and foil from the tart shell, prick the bottom all over with a fork, and bake for another 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of butter in a small pan and saute the shallots over low heat for 5 minutes, or until tender. Place the goat cheese in the bowl of the food processor and process until crumbly. Add the cream, eggs, basil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and the pepper and process until blended.
• Scatter the cooked shallots over the bottom of the tart shell. Pour the goat cheese mixture over the shallots to fill the shell (if the shell has shrunk, there may be leftover filling). Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the tart is firm when shaken and the top is lightly browned. Allow to cool for 10 minutes and serve hot or at room temperature.

QUESO DE CABRA CON TOMATE (GOAT CHEESE BAKED IN TOMATO SAUCE)

Steps:

• Preheat conventional oven or toaster oven to 350°F
• Mix together the garlic and olive oil and spread over bread slices and place on a baking sheet.
• Pat the goat cheese into a 1/2-inch pancake and place in shallow baking dish.
• Ladle tomato sauce into dish to come up to top edge of cheese (do not cover the cheese with sauce).
• Bake, uncovered, until sauce begins to bubble at edges and cheese is hot, about 25 minutes. During last 10 minutes of baking, toast bread until golden brown.
• Garnish cheese with basil if using.