Walnut Crusted Baked Goat Cheese | The Recipe ReDux

BySerena Ball, MS, RD
17 Comments

Melty goat cheese crusted in toasted walnuts, savory mushrooms and chives. With this surprising tip, your cheese will come out just the right temperature - and not a puddle of baked cheese.

Warm, melty and only 5 ingredients in this classy appetizer: Walnut Baked Goat Cheese | @tspcurry

{Disclosure: As a co-owner of The Recipe ReDux, I was compensated to co-manage this recipe contest with the California Walnut Commission . Thoughts and opinions are my own.}

You know what's cool about nutrition?

There's always something new to learn.

Even though I spent years studying nutrition in college, in an internship, throughout grad school and many, many years researching and writing about nutrition, this factoid has somehow escaped me:

Walnuts have more omega-3 fatty acids (ALA) than any other nut. By a long shot. 

This is of course significant because omega-3 fatty acids are really, really good for you - mainly for heart and brain health - and there are few sources to get them in the diet. The best source of omega-3s is of course fish. But not everyone in your family may enjoy fish (like my 60-something mother or my 8-year-old daughter.) And while my daughter may one day be convinced of the deliciousness of fish. Mom will not.

Melty goat cheese. Toasted walnuts. Easy, classy app: Walnut Crusted Baked Goat Cheese | @tspcurry

So the fact that an ounce of walnuts has 2.5 grams of the essential plant-based omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is significant. An ounce of walnuts also has 4 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber.

Of course, all these nutrition facts are pointless if a healthy food is not actually consumed by you or those you love. Lucky for us, walnuts taste delicious and are a versatile ingredient that is the perfect complement to other whole foods. And...Mom and my daughter both really like walnuts.

They also both like mushrooms. And warm, melty goat cheese...spread on crusty bread. (It was so good I made it THREE times over the weekend!)

I created this simple snack as part of The Recipe ReDux “We Heart Walnuts! Recipe Contest” sponsored by the California Walnut Commission; it would also be delicious as an appetizer with friends; as you sit around sharing interesting nutrition factoids. (Or not!)  [bctt tweet="Bakes up warm and melty! Walnut-Crusted Baked Goat Cheese via @TspCurry #AD #TheRecipeReDux" via="no"]

Baked Goat Cheese Crusted in Walnuts and Mushrooms | @tspcurry
Larger chunks of walnuts are prettier. But the coating is easier to work with when nuts processed smaller.
Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Warm, melty and only 5 ingredients in this classy appetizer: Walnut Baked Goat Cheese | @tspcurry

Walnut-Crusted Baked Goat Cheese

  • Author: Serena Ball
  • Yield: 4 servings (2 ounces of goat cheese each) 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Warm melty goat cheese crusted in toasted walnuts, chives and savory mushrooms. With this surprise tip, you cheese will come out perfectly melted - but not a puddle of cheese.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 logs (4-ounce-each) fresh goat cheese (or one 8-ounce log divided)
  • 1 cup whole California Walnuts
  • 2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh chives
  • ¾ cup quartered fresh mushrooms (about 8 mushrooms)
  • 1 egg, beaten

Instructions

  1. Place goat cheese in freezer for 20 minutes. Line baking tray with parchment paper.
  2. In large, dry skillet over medium-high heat, heat walnuts until lightly toasted, about 1 to 2 minutes. (To toast in the microwave, follow Deanna's #HealthyKitchenHack instructions here.)
  3. Roughly chop walnuts. Add walnuts, chives and mushrooms to food processor and pulse 6-8 times until combined. Turn walnut mixture onto large plate.
  4. Place in a small bowl and whisk in 1 tablespoon water. Dredge 1 goat cheese in egg and then roll in walnut mixture, pressing as many walnuts as you possible can onto the cheese. Place on baking tray. Repeat with remaining goat cheese.
  5. Bake in a heated 375-degree oven for 10-12 minutes or until warmed through and soft when you press gently in the center.
  6. Serve the warm melty cheese with bread, sliced apples, or sliced vegetables.

Notes

Larger pieces of nuts in the crust are prettier - but the smaller pieces are easier to work with.
Logs of cream cheese or other soft cheese could be substituted for goat cheese.
If you freeze the cheese longer than 20 minutes, the walnuts may not stick into it as well; if this happens, just let it thaw a few minutes before trying to rolls cheese in nuts.

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us @tsp_basil @tspcurry — we can't wait to see what you've made!

What's your favorite nutrition factoid? What do you like to pair walnuts with?

Check out these other delicious walnut recipes from fellow Recipe ReDux members:


More Appetizers

17 Comments

  1. Whoa, this looks soooo good! The addition of mushrooms sounds brilliant, I definitely can't wait to try this one 🙂

    1. THanks Sonali! I must admit, I was pretty excited about this one. Sometimes you're just pulling things from the fridge and it turns out amazing. Thanks for taking the time to comment. (:

  2. I have to share a funny story this recipe brings to mind. See, I'm not a big goat cheese fan, and one time I ordered a salad, and out came a salad with two medallion things. I thought for sure it was some fried cake or corn bread, and took a huge bite...only to find it was goat cheese! hahah, but despite me not liking goat cheese, my whole family ADORES it, so this will definitely be a great recipe to make during the holidays!

    xo
    Sarah Grace

    1. LOVE that you shared the story Sarah Grace! I get the goat cheese thing...you either love it or ...don't love it. 2 of my kids are in your camp and 2 are in my camp. (: I did love how EASY - yet FANCY this recipe looks. So hope you have a chance to share!

  3. Sounds like a nice cheese spread…I like the addition of the mushrooms.

    1. Thanks so much for stopping by Karen! The mushrooms and walnuts are a magic unami combo - hope you enjoy.

  6. I LOVE cheese logs like this!!!! and the walnuts are a must!!! LOVE!

    1. Thanks Alice. So honored you visited us!! I've never baked goat cheese before...but now I will all the time!

  7. This is beautiful...goat cheese and walnuts is such a good combo!

    1. Thanks Rachel. I don't think I'd ever had goat cheese and walnuts...and I couldn't believe how yummy it was. Maybe because they are both so earthy? Anyway they are definitely friends on the plate!

  8. OK, I love this!! Goat cheese is my favorite, and adding those crunchy walnuts on top make this a hit. So simple but SO good.

    1. Thanks Laura! I agree. Goat cheese and summer just seem to go together: It's so fresh and earthy and is great on picnics!

  10. great idea on adding mushrooms, but i really not a fan of goat cheese, can i use substitute here? do you have any idea? thanks in advance!

    1. Thanks for stopping by Gene! You could certainly substitute any softer cheese such as a block of cream cheese, or French cheeses like Brie or Camembert. Just make sure to freeze the the cheese first as directed to prevent the soft cheese from turning to a melty mess in the oven! Let us know how it turns out!

Comments are closed.