Frying goat cheese?

[Leanne]

Has anyone ever fried goat cheese? Essentailly I have an idea for an appetizer, and I want the gaot cheese to be warmed, but not runny. Is there any way to fry/heat it so that it holds its shape?

[dmcgreevey]

I make a warm goat cheese salad. I slice the goat log, form into balls and roll in breadcrumbs.

Pop it in the oven for 507 minutes at 375. Delish!

[Leanne]

Perfect - Do you think I could do that with flour instead of breadcrumbs?

[jphilg]

Good news! Goat cheese doesn't ever get really runny, unless you use super fresh goat cheese from an artisan chesemaker. I think you should be able to panfry chilled rounds of goat cheese with no problem, and get a soft cheese with a crispy coating.

In Greek cooking there is a flour-coated fried cheese called saganaki (not to be confused with Nagasaki :) )...I found this recipe:

4 Tbs (60 ml) butter
1 egg, well beaten
1 tsp (5 ml) flour
1/2 lb (250 g) kasseri cheese*, sliced 1/2 inch (1 cm) thick
2 Tbs (30 ml) brandy
Juice of 1/2 lemon

*Available in finer supermarkets and Middle Eastern specialty shops. Parmesan or Romano cheese may be substituted.

Heat the butter in a large heavy skillet over moderate heat. Beat the egg and flour together, and dip the slices of cheese slices in the mixture. Fry until well browned on both sides. Remove from the heat and add the brandy. Carefully ignite the brandy with a match, and shake the skillet until the flame is extinguished. Squeeze the lemon juice over the cheese and serve from the skillet along with crusty bread. Serves 6 to 8.

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Maybe just use the method from this recipe to fry goat cheese rounds? I think it will work.

What is the rest of the appetizer?

Jen

[Leanne]

I guess maybe I always get really fresh goat cheese b/c it definitely gets melty.

Essentially, warm the goat cheese (If this part works.) & top with a mixture of honey & roasted walnuts. It's good - I think it would be better warmed. The heated nuts mixed with honey melted the goat cheese last time I made this - which is why I wanted to fry the goat cheese to help it keep it's shape.

What I may do is coat the goat cheese in a mixture of flour & chopped nuts & see how that does, & then just drizzle the honey over it.