Transform this soft cheese into something elegant when you make whipped goat cheese with pistachios and honey.
It’s summer, which in many ways makes me want simplicity in my cooking. Quicker, lighter meals and snacks are my seasonal favorites. This appetizer is ready in 5 minutes, 15 if you take the time to make crostini, but it’s easy, peasy either way. Serve this whipped goat cheese with pistachios and honey alongside some fresh fruit. Now, you have a delightful girl dinner or afternoon snack!
The original post from March 2017
Cheese- it’s something that I incorporate into many a Tapas Monday menu. I know that it’s an ingredient that will please both of us. Quite often I work with a cheese that has a melty, gooey component to it. However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t adore cheeses that lack that quality. Goat cheese, although not a great melter nor able to become gooey, has a delicious acidic bite and smooth texture, both of which I enjoy.
So, when I was at a restaurant and they had whipped goat cheese on the menu, I was hooked. I knew that it was going to be on the list of tapas dishes we’d be enjoying on a future night. The restaurant version had a number of delectable garnishes, but I wanted something more simplistic, something that shouted, “Focus on the goat cheese!”
About the ingredients
What better way to focus on goat cheese than to pair it with a foil, in this case the Manuka honey. The sweetness of the honey awakens your palate to the diversity of flavors. The pistachios add a nice bit of crunch to a spread that is otherwise silky. Served on crostini, crackers, or just off a spoon, it’s a delightfully indulgent appetizer. When pairing it with edible delivery vehicles, be sure to choose ones with muted flavors. You don’t want an overzealous rye cracker to hide the simple flavors of this dish.
Whipped Goat Cheese & Honey
Ingredients
- 8 ounces goat cheese room temperature
- ½ cup whipping cream
- Salt & pepper
- 2 tablespoons pistachios finely chopped
- Honey
Instructions
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Place goat cheese and whipping cream in a stand mixer bowl with whisk attached.
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Whisk on low to incorporate cream; switch to high and beat for 1 minute or until fluffy.
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Season with salt and pepper, and whisk for 10 seconds.
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Transfer to serving plate; top with pistachios and a drizzle of honey.
