Keep a jar in the refrigerator, and you’ve got a quick appetizer!
One of those happy accidents. I had prepared a plate of sliced goat cheese for a gathering and I sprinkled it with herbs and crushed red peppers, drizzled it with olive oil, and had a bit left over at the end of the day. I stuffed the leftovers in a jar and topped it off with a bit more oil to cover. A couple days later, I slathered it on a cracker and fell in love with it. A little time made a big difference flavor wise.
Now, there is often a jar in my refrigerator, and my grandson in particular gobbles it up!
Fun to experiment
I’ve since experimented, and this is delightful with many different variations, so use what is delicious, what you like best. Don’t be afraid to mix things up. Here, I used my own mix of Herbes de Provençe which includes fennel seed, thyme, basil, summer savory, marjoram, and lavender flowers. You could also use a favorite Italian blend of spices, or anything that strikes your fancy. If you don’t want the heat of the crushed red peppers, use crushed sweet pepper or paprika flakes. I used a prosecco vinegar, which is divine, but any white vinegar would be fine.
A world of possibilities
Choose a fruity and flavorful imported Italian extra virgin olive oil, first cold pressed, estate grown. A really good olive oil will be all from one estate, the olives hand-picked, and there will be a harvest date on the bottle. This is not what I use in cooking, but for finishing and salads. It is pricey, but worth the extra. When the cheese is all consumed, either add some more, or use the oil for other purposes. Not a drop of it will go to waste.
Dried cranberries add a bit of texture and sweetness, but you can substitute raisins or sultanas. Other times, I’ve used a thinly sliced onion, some capers, or a few sliced olives or sun-dried tomatoes. If something is sitting on the counter unused, it might get tossed in. Use your imagination!
Let it sit for at least a few hours for best results, or eat it immediately, it’s still pretty delightful!
Goat Cheese Marinated with Herbes de Provençe
- 1 4-oz. log goat cheese
- 1 garlic clove, sliced thin
- 1 tsp. dried herbes de Provence
- 1 star anise
- ¼ to ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, hot or sweet
- 1 or 2 bay leaves
- 1 tbsp. minced dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- Best fruity extra-virgin olive oil
Slice the chilled goat cheese with dental floss into desired rounds, it’s the easiest and least messy way. Place the garlic clove, herbes, cranberries, vinegar, and 1/2 cup olive oil in a jar and shake well. Add the goat cheese, and top off with more oil to completely cover.
Place in the refrigerator for a few hours, or eat immediately. It will get better as it sits, but don’t plan on it staying around very long.
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Goat cheese is so versatile. This would be perfect on a charcuterie board!
Goat cheese is so versatile. This would be perfect for a charcuterie board.
Yes it would Elaine! It’s really inviting to look at as well, so it would be right at home showing off!
I do love goat cheese, so this looks delicious.
Thanks Judy! We’re lucky to have so many wonderful goat and sheep cheeses in our region!
Dot, this would be a lovely treat to keep to find in the refrigerator. Thanks for the dental floss tip.
For the life of me Bernie, I can’t remember who gave me the dental floss trick, but it works like a charm! You can cut a little 4 oz. log of goat cheese into 10 pieces without a blob of it wasted!
Mmmm yes please! I love the sound of your homemade herbes de Provence too!
Thanks Nigella! This one has been a hit all around! And some of the dairy challenged folks in my family can consume goat cheese without a problem.
The cheese looks delicious!
It’s soo good Marilyn! I made a new batch yesterday!
I think I’m in love. 😍🍃🧀
I could hear the violins playing in the background…🎻🎶
Ooh, Yesss. 🎶
Wait, it might have been an electric guitar..
Even better. 🎸🎶
Yes!!! And so much cheaper than buying the same thing! Fabulous.
Thank you Mimi! I agree. Anything you buy already marinated, even olives, are so expensive and you know it didn’t take much in way of work.
A very happy accident! I must try this, and perfect for a charcuterie board!
It was one of those things Jenna where I wondered why I’d never thought of it before!
What a great idea!
Thank you! So delicious!
What a great idea to marinate cheese in this sauce. Looks delicious,
This sounds perfectly delicious!
Thanks Maggie! We really love this one!
Yum! Love the additions of star anise and cranberries. Having such jars in the fridge is the key to quick entertaining.
p.s. this also works great with Feta cheese. 🙂
I’m going to try it next with feta Ronit, thanks for the suggestion!
I enjoy goat cheese so going to give this a try. Yum!
Thanks Nancy! I hope you like it as much as we do!
I love goat cheese and what a fantastic way to use it Dorothy! I hope your followers pick up on how anything goes when it comes to recipes.
It’s really about learning to trust your own instincts, isn’t it?
Sounds wonderful!
Thank you Jessica! I need to make a new batch!
Curious! Have to try this soonest as cannot imagine the taste achieved with ingredients such as cranberries and star anise included!!!
I hope you will be pleasantly surprised! 💕
Mmm! My favorite of all. So flavorful!
Thanks! This is so good, I usually make a double batch!
Oh, I can see this getting wolfed down in no time! So good! 💫
I love how you tweak your recipes and the happy accident that started it all!
Oh my, this sounds so good! Love everything about this appetizer! 🙂
Thank you Nancy! It has become a welcome site on our family table, especially when dinner is not quite ready and folks are hungry.
Hello I have never tasted goat cheese, his that okay
Start with a mild goat cheese if you haven’t had it before. It has a unique flavor, and is more easily digestible than cow’s cheese.
Okay, I’m going to give a try as you said honey
Our kind of food..that you can dip into when your pass the fridge or want a quick snack 🙂 x
Oh yes, a little disc here or there, on whatever delivery vehicle you have!
Love it!
Thank you! It really is delightful!
Don’t you love it when the unexpected turns into . . . “why didn’t I think of that sooner”!! What a happy accident indeed!
I love it Jan! And I’m always grateful to finally get it!
What beautiful pictures of the goat cheese! This sounds wonderful! I think this would be something Bruce would enjoy. He can eat goat cheese, while cow cheese doesn’t agree with him.
Same with members of my family, the goat cheese is always digestible where the cow is not.
every once in a while, I spend a small fortune to but a fancy jar of marinated goat cheese at the store…I should just make my own! I bet that oil is super good drizzled over veggies or fish.
It’s so easy to make, and you can add whatever you like. The oil is a big bonus, drizzled on just about anything from veggies to fish!
Happy accident, indeed! This sounds like a great, no fuss way to spiff up an appetizer board, Dorothy!
Lovely to look at, and absolutely delicious!
So glad to share this!
This looks absolutely delicious!!! I would love to try this.
Thanks! It is tasty indeed!
I hope you are keeping warm!
Baking keeps the house warm! An added benefit to baking!
I love cheese, Dorothy, and this sounds fabulous.
Thank you Robbie!
A good extra virgin olive oil really makes the difference! So delicious!
I agree Ribana! All by itself, it’s pretty delightful!
I just added goat cheese to my shopping list, Dorothy. My eyes zeroed in on the image and the flexibility in the recipe ideas is right up my alley. Thanks for the treat. I can’t wait to try it. 🙂
Oh I think you are going to like it Diana! It’s my grandson’s, and his friend’s, new favorite, and they look for the little canning jar in the refrigerator when they come over!
It’s easy too, which I like. 🙂
😍
We had it last night! It was amazing, and we’ll have it again this afternoon, and probably tomorrow. 🙂
It’s so simple and wonderful!