This warm hazelnut-crusted goat cheese recipe is game-changing. It’s packed with warm, hearty and comforting flavors yet makes for a classy starter or main served with a splash of orange carrot puree.
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When it comes to warm goat cheese, I can’t resist. What’s not to love in this creamy, melty texture that makes any dish so decadent? You all know about the French warm goat cheese salad, and now I’m back with a slightly enhanced version, featuring crusted goat cheese.
This warm hazelnut-crusted goat cheese features medium size blocks of seasoned cheese paste, that are then coated in a subtle hazelnut-breadcrumb mixture twice, and gently fried until lightly colored. Plate them onto a side of orange carrot puree or a bed of salad, then slice it and devour the warm melting goat cheese center. Decadent and just impossible to resist!
Ingredients you need:
- Fresh goat cheese. Choose a very soft, creamy and natural goat cheese.
- Olive oil. We use it to soften the goat cheese texture and help shape goat cheese balls. You need just a little bit of oil, and no it won’t taste in the recipe.
- Honey. In case you were not aware of it yet, goat cheese and honey are like the perfect sweet and salty combo. I’m obsessed!
- Seasoning. Here I used chili, and freshly ground salt and pepper to season the fresh goat cheese. Other possible variations include za’atar seasoning, rosemary, herbes de Provence or fresh basil. Pick your fav’!
- All-purpose flour. You need just a little bit of flour to absorb the humidity of the fresh goat cheese blocks before dipping into the beaten egg mixture.
- Eggs. The beaten eggs will prepare the blocks to hold the hazelnut-breadcrumbs mixture.
- Breadcrumbs. I used Panko but you can also make your own breadcrumbs by simply mixing toasted bread in a food processor until turned into literally breadcrumbs.
- Ground hazelnuts. Go for ground hazelnuts (hazelnut meal) or pulse raw hazelnuts in a food processor until fully ground but with still just a little bit of texture in it.
This recipe yields 4 medium size goat cheese blocks. If for any reason you want to create more, this recipe is very easy to scale. You can also make them smaller and even shape the blocks into balls and turn it into a fun appetizer bite.
How to make hazelnut-crusted goat cheese?
This crusted goat cheese may seem a little bit advanced to make at first but it comes together easily in just a few steps:
- Prepare the goat cheese mixture with the seasoning and shape into balls or blocks. For the last option, you can shape them by hand or use a pastry ring to mold them evenly.
- Place goat cheese blocks in the refrigerator for 30 minutes (don’t skip this step). This will help them hold their shape beautifully while cooking later on.
- Dip the blocks in respectively 1/ all-purpose flour, 2/ beaten eggs, and 3/ a mixture of ground hazelnuts and breadcrumbs, coating them on all sides. To make the process easier, I place each ingredient in a shallow plate.
- Repeat step 3 one more time. Double coating will create a thick crusted layer. Delicious!
- Fry the warm hazelnut-crusted goat cheese blocks in vegetable oil on all sides until lightly golden. Wipe the excess of fat with paper towel, and serve immediately to create the warm melting effect when slicing!
What to serve with warm goat cheese?
Look no further, I’ve done the research for you and prepared a delicious side to this warm goat cheese. It consists in a basic carrot puree that I enhanced with just a splash of freshly squeezed oranges, adding some very refreshing flavors to the dish.
For a quicker version, you can also serve it on a bed of salad, exactly as you would do for a warm goat cheese salad.
Other recipes with warm goat cheese:
- Goat Cheese and Red Onion Tarte Tatin
- Pumpkin, Spinach and Goat Cheese Quiche
- Warm Goat Cheese Salad with a Spicy Dressing
- Balsamic Brussels Sprouts with Creamy Goat Cheese Polenta
- Butternut Squash, Spinach and Goat Cheese Lasagna (+ video)
What to serve for dessert?
- Easy Pumpkin Crème Brûlée
- Cardamom-Infused Baked Pears with Crunchy Granola
- Chocolate Profiteroles with Candied Hazelnuts
- Apple Tarte Tatin
Warm Hazelnut-Crusted Goat Cheese
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Savory
- Diet: Vegetarian
This warm hazelnut-crusted goat cheese recipe is game-changing. It’s packed with warm, hearty and comforting flavors yet makes for a classy starter or main served with a splash of orange carrot puree.
Email me this recipe
We’ll send it straight to your inbox, along with weekly food inspiration!
Ingredients
For the hazelnut-crusted goat cheese:
- 7 ounces (200g) fresh goat cheese
- 1 teaspoon olive oil (or better, hazelnut oil)
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 pinch red chili (optional)
- Salt and pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons panko (breadcrumbs)
- 2 Tablespoons ground hazelnuts
- 3–4 Tablespoons vegetable oil, neutral in taste, for cooking
For the orange carrot puree:
- 4 small carrots (about 7 ounces/200g), sliced
- ½ orange, juice
- 2 Tablespoons crème fraîche (or sour cream)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ lime, to serve (optional)
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
For the hazelnut-crusted goat cheese:
- In a bowl, mix the fresh goat cheese with the olive oil. Add honey, chili (if using), salt and pepper.
- Shape 4 cheese blocks, using a pastry ring or with your hands. Wrap them in cling film and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare 3 different bowls: one with the flour, one with the beaten egg mixture, one with the mixture of breadcrumbs and hazelnuts.
- Dip the goat cheese in each of the 3 bowls (following the following order 1/ flour, 2/ beaten eggs, 3/ breadcrumb mixture), covering all sides, then repeat the operation a second time.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet, then fry the goat cheese blocks on all sides until lightly colored. Wipe them off on paper towel and set aside.
For the orange carrot puree:
- Cook carrots in a large volume of water (or steam them) until tender, about 15-20 minutes.
- Drain the carrots and mix them using a hand blender together with the cream and orange juice. Add the cumin, season with salt and pepper, and mix until silky smooth.
- Serve the goat cheese on a bed of orange puree and garnish with a few microgreens. Add a fresh squeeze of lime juice over the puree just before serving (optional).
Did you make this recipe?
Lastly, if you make this Warm Hazelnut-Crusted Goat Cheese, be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, letting me know how you liked it. And of course, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Thank you and enjoy!
