I had a great weekend at NYS Sheep & Wool Festival demonstrating how to prepare these delicious appetizers featuring local Goat Cheese from Acorn Hill Farm and seasonal ingredients. These tasty little flavorful bites are a simple make ahead appetizer. Goat Cheese chevre is the star ingredient with it’s tangy flavor and smooth and creamy texture. Liven up your traditional cheese tray or make mini skewers and add roasted butternut squash bites, seasonal fruit, fresh figs or roasted beets.
Goat milk is lower in lactose than cow’s milk and for many people it is easier to digest.
This recipe yields 18-20 bite size truffles
Ingredients
- 8 ounce Fresh Goat cheese Chevre
- 1/2 cup Dried, fruit juice sweetened cranberries, chopped
- Fresh ground pepper
- 1/2 cup Walnuts or almonds, toasted and chopped
- 2 Tablespoons Chives or scallions, fresh, minced
- 2 Tablespoons Parsley leaves, fresh, minced
Method:
- Place goat cheese in a bowl and add chopped cranberries and fresh ground pepper.
- In a small bowl combine chopped toasted nuts, chives and parsley.
- Divide goat cheese mixture into small tablespoon size portions and roll into balls.
- Roll balls into nut and herb mixture.
- Using your hands gently press coating into goat cheese balls.
- Place coated goat cheese balls on a clean dish, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve
Variations:
Goat cheese + minced dried apricots + poppy seeds
Goat Cheese + honey + orange or lemon zest + toasted hazelnuts or pistachios
Goat Cheese + minced peppers + cumin + minced fresh cilantro + scallions