Moroccan Baked Goat Cheese
Move over brie, there’s a new baked cheese in town!
It might be springtime, but there’s something about quarantine that has me craving rich, savory foods. It got me thinking about one of our favorite football Sunday apps — Cook’s Country’s Moroccan Baked Goat Cheese.
This recipe is packed with flavor and feels like true comfort food without weighing you down. It’s become our Friday night at home, but don’t want to cook a full dinner, “meal”. All you need is 30 minutes, some pita chips and a couple glasses of wine, and you’re good to go!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Thank you to Cook’s Country for the awesome recipe inspiration! The below recipe is slightly altered from their original Baked Goat Cheese recipe.
MOROCCAN BAKED GOAT CHEESE:
1 can (28-ounce) crushed tomatoes
1 log (8 to 10 ounce) goat cheese, softened
4 garlic gloves, chopped
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (plus extra for drizzling)
2-3 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 large onion (sweep or yellow), finely chopped
1 tbsp grated lemon zest
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper
Serve with pita chips, crackers and/or celery
DIRECTIONS:
Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat until simmering.
Add chopped onion and 1-2 tsp salt. Cook until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
Add garlic, paprika, cumin, pepper flakes and 1/2 tsp pepper. Cook for 1 minute or until fragrant.
Add canned tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes. Season with salt to taste.
Wrap goat cheese in plastic wrap and flatten into a 1-inch thick disk. The cheese should be about 3-4 inches wide and keep a compact shape (see photo below).
Transfer tomato sauce into a shallow, broiler-safe dish. Place goat cheese in center.
Broil until goat cheese is well browned, about 8-12 minutes.
Sprinkle cilantro and lemon zest and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Leave goat cheese in disk shape or mix in a swirl.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
