Food

19 Recipes to Make the Most of Goat Cheese

This creamy cheese adds great texture and flavor to any dish

By SAVEUR Editors

May 24, 2016

Is there a cheese more versatile than goat cheese? It's got a pretty good case. It's creamy, but holds its shape when crumbled, so you can spread it or sprinkle it on for added richness and depth. It also goes with everything, from pasta to salad, and even sandwiches. Here's how to start cooking more with this all-purpose cheese.

RELATED: Our Complete Guide to All Things Cheesy

Roast Chicken Pan Bagnat with Olive Tapenade and Goat Cheese — This hearty twist on the classic Provençal pressed sandwich pan bagnat combines black olive tapenade, goat cheese, roasted chicken, and thinly sliced vegetables. Make it at least two to three hours before you plan to serve it to really let the flavors marry. Get the recipe for Roast Chicken Pan Bagnat with Olive Tapenade and Goat Cheese »Matt Taylor-Gross

Goat Cheese and Apricot Truffles — This layered no-cook appetizer from former test kitchen assistant Eliza Martin features a sweet core of dried apricot coated in tangy goat cheese and then rolled in a savory mixture of crushed pistachios and fresh herbs. The finger-friendly "truffles" can be made up to 2 days before serving and stored in the refrigerator, making them the perfect hors d'oeuvres for the busy host or hostess. Get the recipe for Goat Cheese and Apricot Truffles »Laura Sant

Radish and Cilantro Salad with Goat Cheese — In this simple Japan-meets-California salad, radishes are tossed with cilantro and a fragrant rice vinegar and soy sauce vinaigrette before topped with goat cheese. Get the recipe for Radish and Cilantro Salad with Goat Cheese »Matt Taylor-Gross

Goat Cheese Crostini with Fig-Olive Tapenade — A tangy-sweet tapenade made with dried figs, kalamata olives, and capers is the perfect foil for mild goat cheese in this easy appetizer. Get the recipe for Goat Cheese Crostini with Fig-Olive Tapenade »Signe Birck

Coeur à la Crème with Caramelized Strawberries — Pepper, cloves and cinnamon give the bright strawberry sauce in this dessert a spicy kick, offsetting the rich creaminess of sweet cheese. Get the recipe for Coeur à la Crème with Caramelized Strawberries »Todd Coleman

Mesclun Salad with Goat Cheese and Balsamic Vinaigrette — Mesclun—a combination of slightly bitter baby greens and other greens like mizuna, arugula, and oak leaf—became all the rage in restaurants during the 1990s, eventually making its way onto supermarket produce shelves across the United States. This recipe incorporates other popular ingredients—goat cheese, pecans, dried cranberries—all dressed with balsamic vinaigrette. Get the recipe for Mesclun Salad with Goat Cheese and Balsamic Vinaigrette »Farideh Sadeghin

Sweet Potato Collard Green Salad, Senegalese Thanksgiving — The flavor of raw collard greens combines perfectly with tender roasted sweet potatoes and tangy, rich goat cheese in this hearty starter. Get the recipe for Shredded Collard Green Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Cashews »Ryan Liebe

Salt-Roasted Turnips with Goat Cheese and Greens — Kobe Desramaults uses almost no spices at his Michelin-starred restaurant In de Wulf, located in an isolated corner of Belgium. Here he relies on salt roasting to make these turnips, served on a bed of creamy goat cheese, buttery and tender. Get the recipe for Salt-Roasted Turnips with Goat Cheese and Greens »Romulo Yanes

Purslane and Herb Salad — Purslane, a sour-tasting green, forms the backbone of this refreshing herb salad from cookbook author Suzanne Zeidy, but watercress can be used in its place. Get the recipe for Purslane and Herb Salad »Helen Cathcart

Cauliflower and Goat Cheese Soufflés — Adding puréed cauliflower to an appetizer-sized soufflé gives the dish the heartiness to be a vegetarian main when served with a salad. Get the recipe for Cauliflower and Goat Cheese Soufflés »Joseph de Leo

Goat Cheese and Strawberry Breakfast Tarts — A childhood breakfast treat gets an upgrade with strawberry jam and tangy goat cheese. Get the recipe for Goat Cheese and Strawberry Breakfast Tarts »Yossy Arefi

Goat Cheese and Olive Tapenade Sandwich — The New York City restaurant Penelope serves a cult-favorite sandwich called the John Oliver: fresh goat cheese and a generous serving of kalamata olive tapenade together on (yes, really) toasted cranberry walnut bread. It's an uncanny pairing: sweet, nutty, briny, and creamy all at once. Get the recipe for Goat Cheese and Olive Tapenade Sandwich »Helen Rosner

Onion Tart with Goat Cheese — This gorgeous tart has it all—sweetness from the caramelized onions, earthiness from the goat cheese, and a subtle saltiness from the anchovies. Get the recipe for Onion Tart with Goat Cheese »Helen Rosner

Orecchiette with Rapini and Goat Cheese — Slightly bitter rapini (also known as broccoli rabe) marries well with tangy goat cheese in a pasta recipe that's ideal for summer picnics and potlucks. Get the recipe for Orecchiette with Rapini and Goat Cheese »André Baranowski

Seasonal Squash Tart — Get creative with the topping for this tart, which will help to really stretch leftover squash and other vegetables. Store-bought puff pastry makes a simple dish even simpler. Get the recipe for Seasonal Squash Tart »Anna Stockwell

Grilled Corn with Herbed Goat Cheese Butter — Sweet corn grilled in its husk is enhanced by an herbal goat cheese compound butter. Get the recipe for Grilled Corn with Herbed Goat Cheese Butter »Todd Coleman

Ham, Cheese, Egg, and Lemon Sandwiches — Lemon curd and goat cheese lends this breakfast sandwich a pleasing tang. Get the recipe for Ham, Cheese, Egg, and Lemon Sandwiches »Todd Coleman

Leek Terrine with Goat Cheese — The striking geometry of this terrine—an elegantly simple pairing of leeks and goat cheese—makes for a visually arresting presentation. We like it served with dark pumpernickel bread and some briny cured salmon at brunch, or as part of a cheese plate with a casual dinner. Get the recipe for Leek Terrine with Goat Cheese »Helen Rosner

Macaroni with Goat Cheese, Spinach, and Tomatoes — Fresh goat cheese makes a creamy, velvety sauce for pasta baked with spinach and topped with sliced tomatoes. Get the recipe for Macaroni with Goat Cheese, Spinach, and Tomatoes »Helen Rosner

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