Timeless Recipes Inspired by Our Heritages & Travels

GOAT CHEESE & ROASTED GARLIC

This is a wonderful appetizer that is sure to please. We’ve served this at large parties of 50 or more, at more intimate gatherings with a few friends, and regularly at home when it’s just the two of us. Goat cheese is a staple in our pantry, and is easy to have on-hand as an impromptu hors d’oeuvre. Just add a drizzle of olive oil, some dried or fresh herbs, and spread on crackers, celery, endive, or crostini, and voilà!

One of our very favorite ways to enjoy goat cheese is to serve it with roasted garlic. The combination is unexpected and ever so compatible with a variety of herbs, different olive oils, and especially truffle oil! I’m certain that once you taste this, it will immediately become one of your go-to appetizers as well.

Goat Cheese with Roasted Garlic

Prep Time 45 minutes
Course Appetizer
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 3 Heads of Garlic
  • 1 Cup Olive Oil
  • 1 Bunch Fresh Thyme or Dried – *See Notes
  • 12 Ounces Goat Cheese Log or Pyramid
  • 1-2 Tbsp Fresh Thyme Leaves
  • 1-2 Tbsp Truffle Oil (optional) for Serving
  • Baguette, Crostini, Crackers for Serving

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Heat Oven to 350°
  • Cut each Garlic head in half horizontally, and place cut-side up on a piece of foil. Drizzle each half with 1 Tbsp of Olive Oil.
  • Place 2-3 Thyme Sprigs on each Garlic half and close together again. Wrap the Garlic heads in foil and roast for 40 minutes, or until garlic cloves are soft.
  • Place the Goat Cheese on a serving plate and drizzle with the rest of the Olive Oil, so that the cheese is covered and the oil pools around the perimeter. *(If using Truffle Oil, drizzle it on after the Olive Oil. You may use less of the olive oil.)
    *Allow the goat cheese to sit at room temperature for 30-60 minutes before serving so that it becomes soft and spreadable.
  • Sprinkle the Goat Cheese with the the fresh Thyme leaves.

Serving

  • Serve the Goat Cheese with the Roasted Garlic. Squeeze out a clove of Garlic and place it on the bread, then spread the goat cheese on top of the garlic. Giving the bread another dip in the Olive Oil before taking a bite is also a good idea!

Notes

OPTIONS:
1. Fresh Thyme can be substituted with dried Thyme. Use 1/8 Teaspoon on each Garlic head before roasting. Use 1/4 Teaspoon to sprinkle over the Goat cheese. 
2. Feel free to use other herbs of to your liking. We also like Herbs de Provence, Oregano, Marjoram, Dill, and Tarragon. 
3. Another option for the Goat cheese topping is to use a Five Peppercorn Blend instead of herbs. Use a pepper grinder and sprinkle the ground pepper over the Goat Cheese, adding as much or little as you like.  *We also like adding dried edible Rose Petals to our favorite peppercorn blend before grinding, which gives an unexpected-and unrecognizable floral hint to each bite. Sprinkling a few petals over or around the Goat Cheese is also beautiful, as are other edible flowers. 
Keyword : Bites & Tapas, Plates (Seafood, Meats, Poultry), appetizer, goat cheese
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