California Chanterelles With Goat Cheese Croutons Food

EASY GAZPACHO & GOAT CHEESE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Cut the tomatoes, scallions, cucumber, and onion in large pieces and place them in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the garlic and pulse until the soup is coarsely pureed. Place it in a large bowl and whisk in the vinegar, olive oil, celery salt, red pepper flakes, tomato paste, tomato juice, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 4 hours or overnight.
• When ready to serve, preheat the broiler and place the top rack 5 to 7 inches from the heat. Cut 6 (1/2-inch-thick) diagonal slices from the baguette. Place on a sheet pan, brush with olive oil, and broil for 1 to 2 minutes on one side. Turn the slices, spread with the goat cheese, and broil for another minute, until the cheese is warm and the bread is toasted. Serve big bowls of cold soup with a warm goat cheese crouton and a drizzle of olive oil.

ROASTED GARLIC SOUP WITH GOAT CHEESE CROUTONS

Steps:

• In a large pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook until the fat is rendered, about 4 minutes. Add the leeks, onions, salt, pepper, and thyme, and cook, stirring, until the vegetables are very soft but not colored, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the roasted garlic and stir well to incorporate. Add the wine, bring to a boil, and cook, stirring, until the wine is nearly all evaporated, about 3 minutes. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are very soft and the soup is slightly thickened, 20 to 30 minutes. Add cubes of bread to thicken, if desired, and then blend with an immersion blender. Add the cream, parsley, and lemon juice and simmer for 5 minutes. Adjust the seasoning to taste.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place the sliced bread on a baking sheet and bake on both sides until just crisp and light golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from the oven. Rub one side of each with the cut garlic clove. In a small bowl, mash the cheese with the oil and spread 1 tablespoon of the mixture on top of each crouton. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.
• To serve, ladle the soup into bowls and top each serving with 2 cheese croutons, Garnish with chopped chives and serve hot.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
• Cut the top quarter from each head of garlic and place, cut side up, on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle the oil lightly over the cut garlic tops, and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Turn the garlic cut side down, and roast until the cloves are soft and golden brown, about 1 hour.
• Remove from the oven and let sit until cool enough to handle. Squeeze each head of garlic, gently pressing with your fingers to expel the cloves into a bowl. Stir the garlic with a rubber spatula to blend thoroughly. Use as needed, or store refrigerated in an airtight container.

GOAT CHEESE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Brush the sliced baguette with olive oil, toast in a 350 degree oven until crisp and golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for several minutes before spreading a thin layer of cheese on each crouton and dust the cheese with black pepper. Place the croutons under a broiler to brown the cheese slightly before serving.;

MIXED GREENS WITH ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES AND FRIED GOAT CHEESE CROUTONS

Steps:

• For the salad: Place the tomatoes on a baking sheet, drizzle with some olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast until tender and starting to brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, toast the pecans in a large skillet over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool, then chop.
• For the vinaigrette: Whisk together the champagne vinegar, orange juice, honey, Dijon and shallot in a medium bowl. Slowly whisk in the olive oil; season with some salt and pepper.
• For the goat cheese croutons: Heat the vegetable oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Slice the goat cheese into 8 equal rounds. Add to 3 shallow dishes, the flour, egg and panko. Coat each goat cheese round with flour, then egg and then panko, shaking off excess, and fry until golden on both sides, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to a paper-towel lined rack or plate.
• To assemble the salad, toss the greens, pear, pecans and tomatoes in a large bowl. Drizzle with some vinaigrette and gently toss to fully combine. Divide the salad among 4 salad plates, top each with 2 goat cheese croutons, and serve.

YELLOW TOMATO SOUP WITH GOAT CHEESE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Place tomatoes, cut side down, in a greased 15x12x1 inch baking pan. Brush with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons garlic, salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme.
• Bake at 400° F for 25-30 minutes or until tender and skins are charred.Cool slightly, then discard tomato skins.
• Process tomatoes in a blender until pureed, in batches if needed. Set aside.
• In a large saucepan or a saucepot, saute onion in remaining oil until tender. Add remaining garlic and saute 1 minute longer.
• Add broth and milk to pan and bring to a boil. Carefully stir in tomato puree. Simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Stir in cream and heat through--do not boil.
• While soup is simmering, make croutons. Place bread on a baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Bake at 400° F for 5-6 minutes or until golden brown. Spread toasts with pesto and sprinkle with goat cheese and pepper. Bake an additional 2 minutes.
• To serve, ladle soup into bowls and top each serving with 2 croutons.

CHANTERELLES WITH CREAM ATOP GOAT CHEESE CROSTINIS

Steps:

• If your mushrooms are large, cut them in half. Otherwise just use them whole.
• Heat a large saute pan and add the oil and butter.
• When bubbling, add the shallot and saute until soft, and then add the garlic.
• Stir and cook another minute then add the mushrooms and season liberally with salt and pepper.
• Over medium heat, stir the mushrooms occasionally and then add the thyme.
• About 10 minutes later as the mushrooms are nice and soft, add the wine and decrease by 1/2.
• Add the veal stock and reduce by half.
• Lower the heat and Stir in the parsley and creole cream cheese, or the creme fraiche, and incorporate completely.
• Taste and reseason with salt and pepper as needed.
• Add the cream, a little at a time.
• *You may not need all the cream, just keep adding and stirring until you get the consistency you'll want as a topping to your crostinis.
• Remove from the heat and serve in a warmed bowl alongside a basket of toasted french bread rounds and the goat cheese.
• I like to spread a little goat cheese on a bread round and top with a dollop of mushroms. Yum!