baked goat cheese in fresh herb and tomato sauce : a small batch recipe for two. (2024)

the ultimate date night appetizer!

Oh boy. I am REALLY excited to share this baked goat cheese in fresh herb and tomato sauce recipe with you. It’s my version of one of my all-time favorite tapas recipes, which is served at a local restaurant in Kansas City.

baked goat cheese in fresh herb and tomato sauce : a small batch recipe for two. (1)

I love goat cheese, but I prefer to enjoy it in harmony with other flavors. It can tend to be a little overpowering sometimes, but I think the fresh herb tomato sauce is a perfect companion for balancing out those sharp flavors.

baked goat cheese in fresh herb and tomato sauce : a small batch recipe for two. (2)

Combine the bright, tangy flavor of goat cheese with the savory richness of roasted tomato sauce, and you’ve got a little piece of heaven coming for your tastebuds on a garlic rubbed crostini.

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So … you’ve probably noticed the abundance of herb photos thus far. I also want to take this opportunity to show off my cute little oregano and basil leaves that I’ve been growing on my balcony. They’ve been there for an entire month, and they’re still alive. 🙂

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Oh, and my aunt bought me these super cute measuring spoons, so here’s some more photos of these little herbs that I love … in cute measuring spoons. 🙂

baked goat cheese in fresh herb and tomato sauce : a small batch recipe for two. (5)Last one! 😀

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Whew! Ok. The herb gallery is done. Thanks for hanging in there. Now let’s get down to business. If you can use fresh herbs in the sauce, it really does make a difference. But there’s no way I’m going to get all preach-y about fresh ingredients, so you can definitely used the dried stuff if that’s what you’ve got on hand. I actually topped the end product with a little bit of dried Italian seasonings, and it was an awesome flavor addition.

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Blend the petite tomatoes, onions, herbs, crushed red pepper, and freshly grated Parmesan together in a small blender. But only pulse it a time or two; you still want the sauce to be a little chunky. In a small saute pan, cook a little garlic in olive oil. Pour the tomato sauce into the saute pan, and add salt and pepper to taste. Let the sauce simmer for about 5-7 minutes, so the flavors can really start to come together. Then, pour the sauce into a small, oven safe dish.

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Top the tomato sauce with goat cheese, and broil the dish until the goat cheese is slightly browned. (Or more browned, if you like.) This only takes a couple of minutes, and it’s legit, guys. This is some legit [at home] date night stuff that I seriously cannot get enough of.

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For garnish, I topped mine with a pinch of dried Italian herb seasoning and freshly cracked black pepper. This is perfect if you’re using a Latin theme for your date night at home, or some sort of Italian theme. You can seriously do whatever you want. You couldjust eat this whole thing, make another one, and be like … yeah. That was the best dinner ever.

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I also want to recommend pairing the ‘baked goat cheese in fresh herb and tomato sauce’ with some bodacious red wine, like Sangiovese. Goat cheese on it’s own is great to pair with acidic white wines, but this tomato sauce really calls for a red wine, in my opinion. Sangiovese lends more acidic, so it’s an awesome call if you’re wanting to go with a red. We’ve also been on a Beaujolais kick lately, and that goes with damn near anything. No matter what you pair it with, I hope you love it as much as I do!

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> PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER! <

baked goat cheese in fresh herb and tomato sauce : a small batch recipe for two. (12)

Recipe Card

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baked goat cheese in fresh herb and tomato sauce : a small batch recipe for two.

Author sara rose : a flavor journal.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 2 people

creamy goat cheese is baked in spicy, fresh herb tomato sauce and served with garlic crostinis. the ultimate appetizer for date night.

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 cup petite cut tomatoes with olive oil and garlic
  • 2 Tbsp. white onion chopped
  • 1/2 Tbsp. fresh Italian oregano leaves
  • 1 Tbsp. fresh basil leaves
  • 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 Tbsp. parmesan freshly grated from block
  • 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup goat cheese
  • garlic rubbed crostinis

Instructions

  • In a small blender, combine petite cut tomatoes, white onion, crushed red pepper, oregano leaves, basil leaves, and parmesan. Pulse for only 5-10 seconds, just to blend. Be sure to leave it a little chunky.

  • Pour olive oil into a small saute pan, and heat through. Add minced garlic, and cook until softened fragrant: up to one minute. Add the chunky tomato sauce. Stir olive oil and garlic with tomato sauce, and allow it all to simmer for 5-7 minutes.

  • Remove sauce from heat, and pour directly into a small, shallow, oven safe dish. Top with 1/4 cup fresh goat cheese, and broil until the cheese is browned. (Only a couple minutes).

  • Serve hot with crostinis.

Notes

For garlic rubbed crostinis:
Drizzle crostinis in extra virgin olive oil, and bake at 350 until hard (only about 5 minutes). After you remove them from the oven, while they're still hot, rub a fresh garlic clove across the surface of each crostini. The garlic will melt into the hot crostini, and create an amazing flavor! Be sure you hold the crostinis with tongs or an oven mitt, as they can be super hot while you do this.
If you're using dried basil and oregano, start with 1/2 tsp. oregano, and 1 tsp. basil. Adjust accordingly to your taste!

Nutrition

Calories: 130kcal

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baked goat cheese in fresh herb and tomato sauce : a small batch recipe for two. (2024)

FAQs

How do you make goat cheese taste better? ›

Adding Flavors

You can mix herbs, fruit, jam, nuts, seeds, or even balsamic vinegar right into the goat cheese. To get a swirly ribbon of honey, jam, or balsamic, put a layer of cheese down, then drizzle your preferred sauce on top, then another layer of cheese to fully cover the sauce.

Is goat cheese bad for you? ›

Goat cheese is full of beneficial probiotics, a healthy kind of bacteria. Probiotics colonize the intestines and compete with any unhealthy bacteria or pathogens that they find there. This can improve the effectiveness of your immune system and reduce your vulnerability to illness.

Is goat cheese better for you than cow cheese? ›

As you can see, goat cheese has a slightly more protein, carbohydrates, calcium, and vitamin A content compared to cow cheese. Additionally, goat cheese fat content is slightly lower than cow cheese. Regardless, both cow and goat cheese can support keto-diets and recipes.

What are the benefits of eating goat cheese? ›

Eating goat cheese may benefit your health in several ways, including increasing satiety and reducing inflammation. Plus, its protein structure and lower levels of lactose make it a better choice for people with an intolerance to cow's milk.

How long to leave goat cheese out to soften? ›

Leave cheese for at least 1 hour

As a rule of thumb, we recommend taking your cheese out of the fridge for at least an hour before serving.

How long does homemade goat cheese last? ›

Storing cheese for up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator

By adopting good wrapping and storage habits, your cheese could last for 2 to 3 weeks, and it will be more hygienic and taste better.

What is the unhealthiest cheese? ›

The least healthiest cheese overall is Double Gloucester, which contains the highest amount of calories (415 per 100 grams) and a whopping 21.9g of saturated fat – which is more than the NHS's recommended daily saturated fat limit for women.

What are the side effects of goat cheese? ›

3. Saturated fat content: Despite being lower in fat than some other cheeses, goat cheese does contain saturated fats. Diets high in saturated fats have been linked to increased levels of cholesterol, potentially impacting heart health. Moderation is key to enjoying the benefits without the drawbacks.

Is cheese bad for blood pressure? ›

Cheese is a great source of protein and calcium but is often high in saturated fat and salt. This means eating too much could lead to high cholesterol and high blood pressure, increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Is goat cheese good for high blood pressure? ›

Some types are more likely to raise your blood pressure than others. Keep it down with cheeses that are naturally low in sodium, like Swiss, which has 75 milligrams per 1-ounce serving. Goat, ricotta, and fresh mozzarella are good, too. Processed and hard cheeses such as American and cottage cheese have more sodium.

What animal cheese is the healthiest? ›

Goat Cheese

One trial published by the National Institutes of Health also found that cheese made from goat's milk high in omega-3 fatty acids improved the cardiovascular health of their subjects.

Can you freeze goat cheese? ›

Freezing goat cheese

Technically, you can freeze goat cheese. This extends its shelf life, but can change its texture. Especially hard and semi-hard cheeses are more suitable for freezing than soft cheeses, because soft cheeses have a higher moisture content that affects the texture more after freezing.

What meat goes well with goat cheese? ›

What meat goes with goat cheese? My two favorite types of charcuterie meat for pairing with goat cheese are salami and prosciutto.

How much goat cheese can I eat a day? ›

How much goat cheese should you eat in a day? Usually, about one ounce daily is a good measure. It could give you all its nutritional benefits without piling up calories or fat in your diet.

Can dogs eat goat cheese? ›

Can dogs eat goat cheese? Yes. Goat cheese is less likely to be toxic to your dog, it contains galactose instead of the high quantities of lactose found in cows' milk, making it more digestible. It is also lower in fat than other types of cheese.

How do you mellow out goat cheese? ›

I would say aromatic herbs such as thyme, rosemary, laurel leaves and spices such as curry, ginger and ground white or black pepper should give goat cheese a refreshing twist and mellow its gamey flavor.

How do you make store bought goat milk taste better? ›

Since caproic acid strengthens the goaty flavor of milk as it ages, freshly chilled milk is best for drinking or making dairy products. Chill immediately after filtering; the longer milk is kept warm, the faster lactic acid and bacteria will affect the flavor.

How do you make goat meat less gamey? ›

The distinct game flavor of either birds or animals will be milder after soaking the meat overnight in the refrigerator in either a salt or vinegar solution. 2. Vinegar solution - 1 cup per quart of cold water. Use enough solution to cover the game completely.

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