What is Goat cheese?

Goat cheese, also known as its French name Chèvre, is a soft goat’s milk cheese that can go from soft and creamy to hard and crumbly as it ages. 

What does Goat cheese taste like?

Goat cheese is considered to be tart and somewhat earthy. As goat cheese ages, the flavors mature and get stronger. Young goat cheese has a mild, buttery flavor.

How Can You Eat Goat cheese?

Young goat cheese is very soft and spreadable and can be eaten in ways similar to cream cheese and ricotta. It can be eaten at room temperature on a piece of bread or on crackers. It can also be used to top pizza, and pairs well with roasted vegetables. Both young and aged goat cheese also make a great addition to salads and pasta. 

Where can you buy Goat cheese?

Find goat cheese wherever other specialty cheeses are located in most supermarkets. Goat cheese often comes sold in tubes and can be sold plain or with different added flavors such as garlic and herb, pepper, or even sweet fruit jams, like blueberry.

How do you store Goat cheese

Once goat cheese has been opened, it can be stored in the refrigerator for a few weeks in an airtight container. Aged goat cheese should be wrapped in wax paper and then plastic wrap or aluminum foil to maintain freshness. 

Fun Fact about Goat cheese:

Goat cheese is considered to be one of the healthiest cheeses. Compared to some cow’s milk cheeses, goat cheese has double the protein and only half of the fat per ounce! Goat milk also has less lactose than cow’s milk, making goat cheese much more comfortable to digest for people who have lactose intolerance.

Did you know?

Goats only produce milk from March to July, making the Spring, Summer, and Fall the best times to eat fresh goat cheese.

Recipes Using Goat Cheese

Fried Goat Cheese Salad

Pan-frying breaded goat cheese medallions give them a crispy exterior and a warm, soft center. Bread the goat cheese by dipping each medallion in egg and then in seasoned bread crumbs. Fry the goat cheese in a frying pan with olive oil for a few minutes on each side. Serve the goat cheese on top of a spinach salad dressed with red onion, strawberries, toasted cashews or walnuts, and a balsamic vinaigrette.

Bacon Goat Cheese Jalapeño Poppers

Replace the cream cheese in traditional jalapeño poppers with goat cheese to elevate this popular American appetizer. Cut jalapeños in half and remove the veins and seeds. Stuff the inside with young goat cheese and top with raw chopped bacon. Bake the peppers on a baking sheet until the bacon is cooked through and the peppers are tender. Try this recipe with Anaheim chiles or sweet mini bell peppers for milder spice.

Baked Goat Cheese Dip

In a food processor, blitz together goat cheese, cream cheese, and grated parmesan cheese until combined. Bake the cheese dip in a baking dish or cast-iron pan until bubbly. Serve the cheese tip with toasted bread and serve with a relish made with cherry tomatoes, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and garlic.

Butternut Squash Pizza

On a round baking tray, place stretched pizza dough and spread Alfredo sauce over the dough. Top the pizza with steamed butternut squash, sautéed spinach, and goat cheese. Bake the pizza at 425 degrees on the bottom rack until the crust is golden brown, and broil the pizza for an additional minute until the cheese begins to soften.

Figs-In-A-Blanket with Goat Cheese

This meatless twist on pigs in a blanket combines figs and goat cheese for a sweet and rich snack. In a small saucepan, boil figs with water, red wine vinegar, honey, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Boil for 10 minutes or until the liquid thickens to a syrup. Take a triangular-shaped piece of pastry dough, place a fig and a dollop and goat cheese inside, and roll the dough to close. Bake until the dough is cooked through and golden brown.