If you serve this Goat Cheese Recipe at your next family gathering or cocktail party, make sure you get a taste in the first few minutes because it won’t last long. To quote a few tasters, “it’s absolutely incredible.”
Tangy chèvre (goat cheese), chopped Kalamata olives, sun dried tomatoes, capers, and the most luscious roasted garlic are all bathed in garlic oil and baked in the oven. Decadent. Spread it on crackers, baguette, your body, you get the picture.
I can’t take the credit for this delicious goat cheese recipe. We first tasted it at a very special Italian restaurant in St. Louis, called I Fratellini. It’s the sort of place you go for a birthday or anniversary dinner where everything tastes amazing and you don’t want the night to end. Sadly, the restaurant did end, but I’ve been able to recreate the dish and am so happy to share it with you!
The Basic Ingredients:
- Chèvre: You need 4 oz a basic plain goat cheese (chèvre). But if you are having a large gathering, use an 8oz portion. The tangy, creamy cheese makes the perfect base for the other flavors.
- Capers: 1 Tablespoon of drained nonpareil capers will do the trick. These add a bright, tart element.
- Kalamata olives: ¼ cup of pitted Kalamata olives, sliced or chopped form the salty notes.
- Sun dried tomatoes: 1 hefty Tablespoon, drained and roughly chopped add sweetness. I have made this recipe with both dry sun dried tomatoes and those stored in oil and both work beautifully. The dry version has a brighter, more vibrant color and taste, while the oil-preserved tomatoes have a more silken texture and slightly mellower flavor. Chef’s choice.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: ¼ cup of this loveliness and don’t be skimpy! There will not be a drop left in the dish at the end of the night.
- 2 heads fresh garlic: You will roast the cloves in the olive oil, which will become liquid gold. The roasted garlic becomes more delicately flavored and mellow, perfect for spreading on toasted baguette in this flavorful goat cheese recipe.
- Fresh basil- roll the leaves together and slice before sprinkling on top after baking.
How to make this delicious Goat Cheese Recipe:
- Preheat oven to 300°F.
- Peel the garlic by pressing on the clove with the flat side of a knife until the skin splits. The clove should slip easily from the skin. If you like, you can leave one of the heads of garlic whole and simply slice ½ inch off the top and bottom of the head. It makes a pretty presentation.
- Place the garlic cloves and head in a small baking dish and pour the ¼ cup olive oil on top.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the oven for 40-50 minutes or until golden. The sugars in the garlic will caramelize and become sweet and jammy.
- Meanwhile, chop the Kalamata olives, sun dried tomatoes, and basil.
- Remove the garlic from the oven and nestle the goat cheese in the oil.
- Add all the toppings except for the basil and place the goat cheese dish in the oven for about 5 minutes to warm.
- Remove from the oven, top with the basil, and serve.
What should I serve with this Goat Cheese Recipe?
We usually serve this as an appetizer alongside crusty sliced gluten-free baguette, or with GF crackers or flatbread. It’s also awesome on roasted eggplant or grilled vegetable sandwiches. It makes a great addition to a charcuterie board, too!
If you want to incorporate it into a larger meal, try it with these other Mediterranean flavored dishes:
I’ve not yet made it into a pizza but now that you’ve got me thinking…
Variations and FAQ’s
If the salty, savory toppings don’t tempt you, try one of these delicious versions of this dressed up goat cheese recipe:
- Chopped dried cherries, fresh thyme, sprinkled on top and then drizzled with honey. Amazing.
- Dried apricots, crumbled pistachios, honey and lemon zest, like I used in my Apricot Pistachio Cheese Ball recipe.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the goat cheese recipe ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, but do not chop and sprinkle the basil until ready to serve.
Can I freeze this recipe?
No, I do not recommend freezing this goat cheese recipe, or any cheese for that matter. You will just have to eat it all:)
Can I use minced garlic instead of roasting my own?
Technically, yes, you can substitute ½ teaspoon of minced garlic in this recipe, but you may not fall as deeply in love with the recipe. The sweet roasted garlic and its accompanying oil adds a lot of flavor to the dish.
What if I don’t like capers?
No worries. Skip them. There is plenty of flavor to go around.
Can I use green olives?
Yes, you can substitute green olives in this recipe. In fact, I often do, but I love the flavor of the Kalamatas here.
PrintGoat Cheese Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 4 oz a basic plain goat cheese (chèvre). But if you are having a large gathering, use an 8oz portion.
- 1 Tablespoon of drained nonpareil capers.
- ¼ cup of pitted Kalamata olives, sliced or chopped.
- 1 Tablespoon Sun-Dried Tomatoes, drained and roughly chopped.
- ¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 Heads Fresh Garlic, cloves peeled
- 6 Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F.
- Peel the garlic by pressing on the clove with the flat side of a knife until the skin splits. The clove should slip easily from the skin. If you like, you can leave one of the heads of garlic whole and simply slice ½ inch off the top and bottom of the head. It makes a pretty presentation.
- Place the garlic cloves and head in a small baking dish and pour the ¼ cup olive oil on top.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the oven for 40-50 minutes or until golden. The sugars in the garlic will caramelize and become sweet and jammy.
- Meanwhile, chop the Kalamata olives, sun dried tomatoes, and basil.
- Remove the garlic baking dish from the oven and nestle the goat cheese into the oil. Leave the roasted garlic in the dish.
- Next, sprinkle all the toppings on and around the cheese, except for the basil. Place the dish in the oven for about 5 minutes to warm.
- Remove from the oven, top with the basil, and serve.
Notes
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
Pro-tip:
The next time you are using your oven to make dinner, throw in some cloves of garlic to roast in oil; they will keep in the refrigerator for a week and you can use them to make this goat cheese recipe and many others whenever you like. It will also make your house smell amazing.