Melting Beets With Goat Cheese Food

ROASTED BEETS WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.*
• Wash the beets. Trim off all but about 1 inch of the beet greens (you can save them for later and use them in salads). Leaving on the stem helps keep the beets from "bleeding" out red juice in the oven.
• Rub the beets lightly with olive oil. Place the beets in a covered oven proof dish. (You also can wrap each beet individually in aluminum foil and place them on the oven grates).
• Roast the beets for 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours, depending on the size and freshness, until tender when pierced with a fork. Check every 10 minutes until tender; we've found medium sized beets take about 1 hour.
• Allow them to cool for a few minutes. Then place them under cool water and rub off the skins with your fingers. You can serve immediately, or refrigerate the whole beets until serving and serve them cold.
• To serve, slice the beets into rounds and arrange them on a plate. Drizzle the top with olive oil and sprinkle with 1 pinch kosher salt. Top with goat cheese dollops and thinly sliced chives.

GRILLED BEETS WITH GOAT'S CHEESE AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat a grill.
• Cover beets by 3 inches with cold water in a large saucepot. Bring the water to boil and simmer until paring knife slides out of beet when pricked. Strain and let cool. While running under water, rub beets with towel to remove skin. Slice beets into 1/2-inch rounds. Prepare marinade by combining all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well and add vegetable oil. Toss sliced beets and hold.
• To prepare the walnuts, melt butter in a 10-inch skillet and add walnuts. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes and season well with salt and pepper. Reserve left over butter.
• For the vinaigrette add all the ingredients and the walnut butter. Whisk well.
• To finish, grill beets on both sides for 2 minutes and toss in vinaigrette. Place 4 to 6 slices of beets on each plate and drizzle with vinaigrette. Add 5 dollops of goat's cheese (1 to 2 ounces) per serving, sprinkled with walnuts and chives.

ROASTED RED BEET AND GOAT CHEESE TERRINE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wrap beets in heavy foil. Roast until easily pierced with a knife, about 2 hours. Cool, then rub off skins with paper towel.
• Using a mandoline or sharp knife, slice beets as thin as possible. Line an 11-by-3 1/2-by-3-inch terrine with plastic wrap. Line bottom and sides with beet slices, overlapping slightly.
• Melt goat cheese in double boiler or bowl set over simmering water. Transfer to food processor, and add thyme, rosemary, truffle oil and salt and pepper to taste. Process until smooth.
• Place goat cheese in a pastry bag without a tip (or use two large spoons), and pipe into mold. Smooth mixture, and top with layer of beet slices. Press gently on top to flatten and compress. Trim any slices that extend above top, to make neat edge. Cover, and refrigerate at least 2 hours, up to two days.
• To serve, invert chilled terrine onto a plate and remove plastic wrap. Cut terrine into 16 slices, and allow to come to room temperature. Place two slices on each of eight serving plates, accompanied by a mache salad if desired.

BEET SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Grate the beets in a food processor or on a box grater. Squeeze to remove most of the liquid.
• Combine dry beet shreds with oil, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Top with goat cheese and mint.

GRILLED BEETS WITH FRESH GOAT CHEESE DRESSING

Steps:

• Make the beets: Place beets in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Place each beet on an individual piece of parchment paper-lined aluminum foil; add a sprig of thyme to each and wrap to enclose.
• Preheat a grill: If using a charcoal grill, make a fire in your grill. When the charcoals are completely covered in gray ash, hold your hand about 5 inches above the grill grid; count how many seconds you can comfortably leave it there. When you can hold it there for 2 to 3 seconds, you have medium-high heat and are ready to grill. If you are using a gas grill, heat the grill for 15 minutes with the lid closed. Before beginning to cook, reduce the temperature by turning the knobs to medium-high.
• Place beets on grill and cook until tender, about 45 minutes.
• Make the dressing: Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix together goat cheese, goat's milk, fennel pollen, and honey; season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Unwrap beets and cut into 1-inch-thick slices. Brush slices with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on grill and cook, turning, until grill marks appear. Transfer to a platter and drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Add dressing, garnish with sea salt, and sprinkle with chive blossoms, if using. Serve immediately.

ROASTED BEETS WITH GOAT CHEESE AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).
• Spread walnuts onto a baking sheet and toast in the preheated oven until the nuts turn golden brown and become fragrant, about 45 minutes. Watch the nuts carefully because they burn quickly. Set walnuts aside to cool to room temperature.
• Turn oven up to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Crinkle up a piece of aluminum foil and place it into an oven-safe dish (such as a pie dish) to act as a disposable rack. Place beet onto foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the beet just starts to turn tender, about 45 minutes. Wrap beet in aluminum foil and let cool to room temperature.
• Turn oven temperature up to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
• Peel beet with a sharp paring knife; peel skin from beet. Cut beet in half and cut halves into thick half-moon-shaped slices.
• Drizzle walnut oil in a baking dish and brush oil over the bottom of the dish; arrange beet slices in the dish in a single layer. Crumble goat cheese into the empty spaces and over beets. Sprinkle with kosher salt and black pepper.
• Bake beet and cheese in oven until beet pieces are sizzling and the edges of the cheese are slightly browned, about 15 minutes. Cool slightly, about 10 minutes.
• Drizzle warm beet and cheese with vinegar and top with roasted walnuts, beet greens, and chives. Serve warm.

SPRING GREENS WITH BEETS AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• In a small bowl toss together the pecans, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar and water; add to a warmed heavy skillet and heat until nuts are toasted, about 4 minutes.
• Sprinkle the toasted pecans with sugar and continue to cook and stir for 2 to 4 minutes or until sugar melts; spread on foil lined pan to cool.
• In a medium size bowl combine the syrup, mustard, salt and remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar; whisk in the olive oil until thoroughly incorporated.
• In a large salad bowl add the salad greens, beets and goat cheese, sprinkle with cooled pecans, drizzle with salad dressing, toss lightly and serve on chilled salad plates.
• Any remaining dressing keeps well for a few days in the refirgerator.