Raisin Pine Nut Goat Cheese Appetizer is perfect for any party! Crumbled goat cheese topped with sweet raisins and caramelized onions, savory rosemary and pine nuts, it’s super creamy and incredibly delicious! So easy and ready in just 15 minutes, they’ll eat it til it’s gone!
A Quick Appetizer
My distant cousins were in town a few weeks ago and came for a visit, bringing us a goat cheese snack from the local fancy cheese shop. We devoured it, the kids played, and we figured out that we are actually “second cousins once removed” (family tree connections are a hidden talent of mine). Being from a large family is pretty incredible, and so was the goat cheese!
Instructions
I set out to recreate it and couldn’t be happier with how it turned out (better actually!). And it’s SO easy, just 15 minutes and a handful of ingredients! Start by caramelizing some onions, bringing out their sugars gives you that first sweet and savory layer of flavor. Add in some pine nuts to toast, and finish with dried fruit and honey for another kick of sweet. Fresh rosemary or thyme gives you more savory and a splash of red wine vinegar brings it all together.
The best part? That quick 10 minute saute poured over the dish of goat cheese melts it just slightly. The goat cheese turns creamy and velvety, perfect dipped with crackers. A 4 to 6 oz log of goat cheese feeds about 2 to 4 people. So if you are having a larger party, you can use more than one, and double the topping amount. Serving the appetizer right after making it gives the cheese that little delicious melt, but made ahead and served cold would be fine too. That’s how the one from the cheese shop was!
Now this Goat Cheese Appetizer has become one of our favorites! We often add it to our New Year’s Eve grazing menu, or serve it for a girl’s night. It’s perfect for really any holiday or gathering, elegant but quick and easy!
More Easy Appetizers
Raisin Pine Nut Goat Cheese Appetizer
Raisin Pine Nut Goat Cheese Appetizer is perfect for any party! Crumbled goat cheese, creamy and delicious and so easy! Ready in just 15 minutes, they'll eat it til it's gone!
Ingredients
- 4 to 6 oz goat cheese log crumbled
- 1 T olive oil
- ¼ onion small dice
- a couple sprigs fresh rosemary or thyme
- 1 T pine nuts
- 2 T golden raisins
- 2 T dried cranberry
- 1 T honey
- ¼ t kosher salt
- 4 grinds fresh black pepper
- 1 T red wine vinegar
- crackers for serving
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, add oil and saute onions until softened and lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
- Add rosemary or thyme sprigs and pine nuts, stirring to toast the nuts.
- Add all other ingredients (not the goat cheese) and saute about 2 minutes more.
- Crumble goat cheese in a serving dish and top with the warm raisin mixture (remove herb sprigs).
- Serve with crackers, garnish with fresh rosemary or thyme sprigs.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.