Goat Cheese Appetizer

Appetizers or starters are snacks that are served before the main course. Best appetizers are those that can set the right mood for the evening and will leave your guests pining and hungry for the main course. Although you must have come across different types of appetizers, given below are some recipes that can add a unique flavor and will make your guests crave for more. But before going to these appetizer recipes, let us get a brief insight into what is goat cheese.

Goat cheese is a tangy flavor cheese made from goat's milk. Being one of the earliest made dairy products, goat cheese is prepared by naturally curdling raw milk, and then draining and compressing the curds. Using an acid, like vinegar or lemon juice or a rennet to coagulate the goat's milk is another way of preparing goat cheese. Due to its unique tarty flavor and high protein content, goat cheese is commonly used in a variety of cuisines.

Cheese Stuffed Love Apples
Ingredients

• ½ cup fat free or low-fat cottage cheese
• ¼ - ½ cup chopped fresh herbs (such as parsley, tarragon, dill, and chives)
• ¼ pound soft, fresh goat cheese
• 2 tbsp plain fat free yogurt
• 10 cherry tomatoes
• 10 small dill sprigs for garnishing
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Preparation

In a food processor, puree cottage cheese and goat cheese. Add yogurt, process for 1 - 2 minutes or until it becomes smooth. Transfer the mixture into a bowl and stir in herbs, salt and pepper; keep it aside. Cut off a thin slice from the top of each cherry tomato and with a spoon scoop out the seeds and flesh from the center. Slightly salt the insides of tomatoes, invert on a rack set in the sink and allow it to drain for 5 - 10 minutes. Stuff the cheese mixture into each tomato, garnish with dill sprig and serve.

Endive Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Walnuts
Ingredients

• ⅓ cup (1½ oz) crumbled goat cheese or blue cheese
• ⅓ cup coarsely chopped walnuts
• 3 tbsp orange juice
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• 16 Belgian endive leaves (about 2 heads)
• ¼ tsp cracked black pepper
• 16 small orange sections (about 2 navel oranges)
• 1 tbsp minced fresh chives
• 2 tbsp honey
• Cooking spray

Preparation

In a small mixing bowl, combine walnuts and 1 tbsp honey; spread on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 °F for 10 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes. Take a saucepan and mix 1 tbsp honey, vinegar and orange juice; bring it to boil over high heat and cook for 5 - 7 minutes. Arrange the endive leaves on a serving plate, fill each leaf with 1 orange section, and top each section with 1 tsp cheese and 1 tsp walnut-honey mixture. Drizzle the vinegar mixture evenly over the leaves and garnish with chives and pepper.

Sun Dried Tomato Goat Cheese Appetizer
Ingredients

• 1 (12 oz) can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits dough
• ¼ cup chopped drained oil-packed sun dried tomatoes
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 1 tsp dried onion flakes
• ½ cup crumbled goat cheese
• 1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp dried pesto seasoning

Preparation

Separate dough into 10 biscuits, divide each evenly into 2 layers forming 20 dough rounds and press each into the miniature muffin cups. Take a small bowl and combine mayonnaise, goat cheese, tomatoes, onion flakes and pesto seasoning. Stuff about 1½ tsp of the mayonnaise mixture into each dough-lined cup and sprinkle each with Parmesan cheese. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 °F for 10 - 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the muffin cups and serve.

Date and Goat Cheese Appetizer
Ingredients

• 2 tbsp fine dried bread crumbs
• 24 large dates, preferably the Medjool variety
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ¼ pound soft fresh goat cheese

Preparation

In a small saucepan, warm olive oil over medium heat, add bread crumbs and cook until the bread crumbs turn golden brown, stir constantly. Remove from the pan and allow them to cool down. Take a knife, make a small lengthwise incision in each date and remove the pits. Spoon 1 tsp goat cheese in each date and with the goat cheese side facing up, arrange the dates on a slightly greased baking dish. Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the top and bake in a preheated oven at 375 °F for 10 - 12 minutes and serve warm.

Whether it'sa baked or warm appetizer, these appetizers are delicious and easy to prepare. Try preparing these appetizers at home and surprise your family and friends. Enjoy!