Tapenade Goat Cheese Crackers Recipes

GOAT CHEESE AND THYME CRACKERS

Steps:

• In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment blend the goat cheese and butter until smooth. Add the thyme, zest, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Taste a bit, and season with more salt, if needed and add a few grinds of pepper. Add the flour and blend until smooth. Remove the dough and using a piece of plastic wrap to guide and mold, roll the dough into an 8-inch long log. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Heat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Remove the dough log from the refrigerator and cut into 1/3-inch discs. Place on an ungreased parchment paper-lined baking sheet, about an inch apart. Bake until golden on top and set, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and slide the parchment off of the baking sheet and onto a cooling rack with the crackers still attached. Cool completely before eating.

TAPENADE GOAT-CHEESE CRACKERS

Steps:

• In a food processor or in a large bowl with a pastry blender pulse or blend flour and salt. Cut butter into small pieces. Add butter to flour mixture and pulse or blend until mixture resembles coarse meal. Measure 1/3 cup goat cheese, reserving remainder for serving, and break into small pieces. Add cheese to flour mixture and pulse or blend until mixture just begins to form a dough. Halve dough and roll out each half between sheets of parchment paper into a 12- by 10-inch rectangle (about 1/8 inch thick). Chill rectangles in parchment on baking sheets until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Transfer 1 rectangle of dough on baking sheet to a work surface and remove top sheet of parchment. Working quickly and using a ruler as a guide, cut rectangle into 1 1/4-inch squares without separating squares. (If dough becomes too soft to work with, freeze or chill on parchment and baking sheet until firm.)
• Bake crackers on parchment and baking sheet in middle of oven until golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool crackers on parchment on a rack. (Crackers will continue to crisp as they cool.) Cut and bake more crackers with remaining rectangle of dough. With a spatula carefully remove crackers from parchment. Goat-cheese crackers may be made 5 days ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.
• Spread crackers with reserved goat cheese at room temperature and top with tapenade.

WALNUT AND FIG TAPENADE WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Combine chopped figs and 1/3 cup water in heavy saucepan.
• Cook over medium-high heat until liquid evaporates and figs are soft, about 7 minutes.
• Transfer to medium bowl.
• Mix in olives, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, capers, and chopped thyme.
• Season tapenade to taste with salt and pepper.*.
• Cover and refrigerate.
• Bring to room temperature before serving.
• *This dish can be prepared 2 days in advance.
• Arrange overlapping cheese rounds in the center of a medium platter.
• Stir chopped walnuts into tapenade and place in center of cheese circle.
• Garnish with walnut HALVES and thyme sprigs.
• Serve with great crackers.

OLIVE TAPENADE AND GOAT CHEESE CROSTINI

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine tapenade, thyme leaves, walnuts, and currants. Spread 1 to 2 teaspoons goat cheese onto each crostini. Place 1 to 2 teaspoons olive mixture on top, and garnish each with thyme tips. Serve.

GOAT CHEESE FLATBREAD WITH SUJUK AND GREEN OLIVE TAPENADE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Combine olives, parsley, capers, oil, and vinegar in a small bowl. Mix honey and mustard together in another small bowl.
• Place flatbread on a sheet pan. Spread goat cheese evenly over top, then season with pepper. Sprinkle with the olive mixture, then place the sujuk over top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until sujuk is crisp, 7 to 9 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and drizzle with mustard sauce. Cut into 8 slices and serve.

FIG AND OLIVE TAPENADE

Steps:

• Combine figs and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender, and liquid has reduced. Remove from heat, and stir in the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, thyme, and cayenne. Add olives and garlic, and mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight to allow flavors to blend.
• Unwrap cream cheese block, and place on a serving platter. Spoon tapenade over cheese, and sprinkle with walnuts. Serve with slices of French bread or crackers.