Marinated Fresh Goat Cheese Food

HERBED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Find a small, wide-mouth canning jar or small glass vase (3 1/2 inches in diameter by 4 inches high), just large enough to hold the two goat cheeses on top of each other with a little room to spare. Cut each cheese in half horizontally, making 2 rounds from each. (A piece of dental floss makes this easier.)
• Place half of the first disk flat in the jar, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then with 1/2 teaspoon dill, 1 teaspoon basil, and a few red pepper flakes, and drizzle with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Place another disk of cheese on top and repeat the seasonings, herbs, and oil. Continue with the remaining cheese disks, piling one on top of the other with oil and seasonings in between. When all the disks are stacked and seasoned, drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil on top. Cover and set aside at room temperature for one hour or refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Serve at room temperature with bread or crackers for people to help themselves.

MARINATED GOAT'S CHEESE

Steps:

• Sterilise a 500g jar (see tip). Oil your hands well, then break the goat's cheese into 4 pieces and roll into balls. Place the cheese in the jar, then pack the lemon zest, thyme and chilli around the cheese. Scatter over the fennel seeds and pour over the oil. Chill and leave to marinate for 2 days. Store in the fridge, and eat within 2 weeks.

MARINATED GOAT CHEESE WITH HERBS AND SPICES

Steps:

• Gently break goat cheese into large pieces; arrange in a serving bowl. Let sit at room temperature while you infuse oil.
• Crush allspice and coriander with the flat side of a chef's knife. Place in a small saucepan along with garlic, orange zest, bay leaves, star anise, oil, and red pepper flakes. Cook over low, swirling pan occasionally, until garlic is golden, 15-20 minutes. Pour over goat cheese. Let sit until cool, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425°. Arrange bread in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and toast until golden brown around the edges, 5-8 minutes.
• Sprinkle marinated goat cheese with flaky salt and serve with toast.
• Do Ahead
• Goat cheese can be marinated 3 hours ahead. Store lightly covered at room temperature.

MARINATED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Place the peppercorns, garlic cloves and bay leaves in a clean, sterilized wide-mouthed jar. Pour in a film of olive oil.
• Cut the goat cheese into rounds 1/2 inch thick (I get neat rounds using unflavored dental floss to cut through the cheese). Place one round in the jar and drizzle on some olive oil. Stack the remaining rounds, drizzling oil onto each round before topping with the next. Add the thyme and rosemary sprigs to the jar and pour in olive oil to cover the goat cheese rounds completely. Cover the jar and leave at room temperature for several hours, then refrigerate.

MARINATED FRESH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Place cheeses in a jar; add oil to cover. Add peppercorns, thyme, and dried chile peppers to taste. Cover jar tightly, and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. Drain before serving.

MARINATED GOAT CHEESE SPREAD / DIP

Steps:

• Arrange cheese in a shallow dish in a single layer. Scatter olives, sundried tomatoes and basil over and around it.
• In a small bowl, combine vinegar, oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, and pepper. Pour over cheese.
• Marinate a few hours in the fridge or overnight. Serve at room temperature with grilled or fresh bread.