Description
This Creamy Apricot Goat Cheese Bake is a simple and elegant appetizer featuring soft goat cheese rounds baked to perfection, topped with sweet apricot jam and crunchy pistachios. Ready in just 17 minutes with only five ingredients, this dish offers a delightful balance of creamy, fruity, and nutty flavors, making it perfect for entertaining or a special snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese
- 300g (10 oz) goat cheese log, sliced into ½ inch rounds
Toppings
- ½ cup apricot jam or preserves
- ¼ cup chopped salted pistachios, divided
- Optional: fresh thyme for garnish
Others
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking the goat cheese rounds evenly.
- Prepare Goat Cheese: Arrange the goat cheese slices on a baking dish and drizzle them evenly with extra-virgin olive oil to enhance browning and flavor.
- Bake Cheese: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake the cheese for 8 to 10 minutes until the rounds become soft and slightly golden around the edges.
- Add Apricot Jam: Remove the baking dish from the oven and spoon apricot jam generously over each goat cheese round, adding sweetness and a fruity contrast.
- Sprinkle Pistachios and Return to Oven: Sprinkle half of the chopped salted pistachios on top of the jam and bake for an additional 2 to 3 minutes to warm the topping slightly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, garnish with the remaining pistachios and fresh thyme if desired, and serve warm to enjoy the creamy, sweet, and crunchy combination.
Notes
- Use a high-quality apricot jam for the best flavor contrast with the tangy goat cheese.
- Chopping pistachios finely helps distribute the crunch more evenly on each cheese round.
- Fresh thyme is optional but adds a lovely herbal aroma and bright flavor.
- Serve warm for the best texture; reheating is not recommended as it may alter the cheese consistency.
- This appetizer pairs well with crisp white wines or sparkling water with lemon.
