Goat Cheese Torta Recipes

GOAT CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust, put the flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Cut 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) of the butter into large dice, add to the bowl, and pulse until the butter is the size of peas. With the machine running, add the ice water all at once and process until the dough becomes crumbly. Don't overprocess. Dump the dough out on a floured board, gather it loosely into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Roll the dough on a well-floured board and fit it into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable sides, rolling the pin over the top to cut off the excess dough. Butter 1 side of a square of aluminum foil and fit it, butter side down, into the tart pan. Fill the foil with rice or beans. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the beans and foil from the tart shell, prick the bottom all over with a fork, and bake for another 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of butter in a small pan and saute the shallots over low heat for 5 minutes, or until tender. Place the goat cheese in the bowl of the food processor and process until crumbly. Add the cream, eggs, basil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and the pepper and process until blended.
• Scatter the cooked shallots over the bottom of the tart shell. Pour the goat cheese mixture over the shallots to fill the shell (if the shell has shrunk, there may be leftover filling). Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the tart is firm when shaken and the top is lightly browned. Allow to cool for 10 minutes and serve hot or at room temperature.

GOAT CHEESE TORTA

Steps:

• Line a 8 x 3 loaf pan, soufflé pan or decorative mold with plastic wrap.
• In a large bowl, with a hand mixer or by hand, combine cream cheese, goat cheese, garlic, oregano, and pepper; stir until well blended.
• Spread 1/3 of the cheese mixture onto the bottom of prepared pan (I use wet fingers to spread the cheese). Top with pesto, spreading evenly.
• Layer with another 1/3 of the cheese mixture.
• Drain sun-dried tomatoes and finely chop; spread evenly over cheese mixture in pan. Top with remaining cheese.
• Cover with plastic wrap and press gently to pack. Refrigerate overnight.
• Uncover and invert onto a serving plate, carefully removing the remaining wrap.
• Garnish with almonds, and oregano or parsley. Serve with crackers or baguette bread.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND PESTO TORTA

Steps:

• Finely chop garlic in processor. Add basil, 1/4 cup pine nuts, oil and lemon juice. Process until well blended. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Using on/off turns, process just until blended. Transfer pesto to medium bowl.
• Coarsely chop tomatoes in processor. Add tomato paste and process until mixture is almost smooth. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and blend well.
• Using electric mixer, beat 2 cups cream cheese and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spray 6-cup soufflé dish with nonstick spray. Line with plastic wrap, extending plastic over sides. Spread 3/4 cup cream cheese-butter mixture evenly over bottom of prepared dish. Top with half of tomato mixture, then 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, then half of pesto mixture. Repeat layering with 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, remaining tomato mixture, 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture and remaining pesto. Top with remaining cream cheese-butter mixture. Cover and chill overnight. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Invert torta onto platter. Peel off plastic. Garnish with basil sprigs and toasted pine nuts. Serve with baguette slices.

TOMATO AND GOAT CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Unfold a sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and roll it lightly to an 11 by 11-inch square. Using a 6-inch wide saucer or other round object as a guide, cut 2 circles from the sheet of puff pastry, discarding the scraps. Repeat with the second pastry sheet to make 4 circles in all. Place the pastry circles on 2 sheet pans lined with parchment paper and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium to low heat and add the onions and garlic. Saute for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are limp and there is almost no moisture remaining in the skillet. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, the wine, and thyme and continue to cook for another 10 minutes, until the onions are lightly browned. Remove from the heat.
• Using a sharp paring knife, score a 1/4-inch-wide border around each pastry circle. Prick the pastry inside the score lines with the tines of a fork and sprinkle a tablespoon of grated Parmesan on each round, staying inside the scored border.
• Place 1/4 of the onion mixture on each circle, again staying within the scored edge. Crumble 1 ounce of goat cheese on top of the onions. Place a slice of tomato in the center of each tart. Brush the tomato lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with basil, salt, and pepper. Finally, scatter 4 or 5 shards of Parmesan on each tart.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown. The bottom sheet pan may need an extra few minutes in the oven. Serve hot or warm.

GOAT CHEESE, SUN-DRIED TOMATO, AND PESTO TORTA

Steps:

• Mix goat cheese and cream cheese in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Combine goat-cream cheese mixture with the sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, and vinegar in a separate bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. (again).
• Line a 2-cup ramekin or a small bowl with plastic wrap, extending the wrap over the sides. spray the plastic wrap with vegetable oil cooking spray. Spread half the goat-cream cheese mixture evenly in the bottom of the ramekin. Cover with pesto, then with the cheese tomato mixture. top with remaining goat cheese mixture. Fold wrap over the final cheese layer and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 1/2 hours.
• Invert the torta onto a platter and peel off the plastic wrap. Garnish with basil and serve with baguette slices.
• **The torta can be made 2days ahead and refrigerated. This torta can be so gorgeous if you pay attention to making clean, well defined layers.

PESTO, OLIVE, AND ROASTED-PEPPER GOAT CHEESE TORTA

Steps:

• Drain pesto in a small fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl 15 minutes, then discard excess oil.
• Lightly oil loaf pan and line with a sheet of plastic wrap large enough to allow a generous overhang on all 4 sides.
• Blot peppers well between paper towels to remove excess liquid.
• Spread about one fourth (1/2 cup) of cheese evenly over bottom of loaf pan and top with all of pesto, spreading evenly. Drop 1/2 cup cheese by tablespoons over pesto and spread gently to cover pesto.
• Top with chopped peppers, spreading evenly. Drop another 1/2 cup cheese by tablespoons over peppers and spread gently to cover peppers.
• Spread olive paste evenly on top, then drop remaining cheese by tablespoons over olive paste, spreading gently to cover olive paste. Cover pan with another sheet of plastic wrap and chill at least 8 hours.
• Remove plastic wrap from top of pan and invert torta onto a serving plate, then peel off remaining plastic wrap. Let torta stand at room temperature 20 minutes before serving.

TOMATO AND GOAT CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 10-inch tart pan and line it with the pastry. Keep in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.
• Brush the mustard over the bottom of the dough. Slice the tomatoes and arrange over the mustard in concentric circles, overlapping them slightly. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and the herbs.
• Beat together the eggs and goat cheese. Season with salt and pepper and pour over the tomatoes. Drizzle on the olive oil. Place in the oven and bake 30 to 40 minutes, until the top is nicely browned. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

GOAT CHEESE TORTE

Steps:

• Line a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap.
• Combine goat cheese, cream cheese and butter.
• Mix thoroughly, using an electric mixer.
• Place a layer of thinly sliced fontina cheese in the bottom of the prepared pan.
• Top with a layer of cream cheese mixture, a layer of pesto, another layer of fontina, a layer of cream cheese mixture, a layer of finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes, fontina, cream cheese mixture, pesto, cream cheese mixture, and top with a layer of fontina.
• Refrigerate overnight.

GOAT CHEESE TORTE

Steps:

• Mix goat cheese and cream cheese, add the garlic, add salt.
• Line a small glass bowl (about 2 - 3 cups) with plastic wrap.
• I always put a little oil in first to help hold it down.
• Put about 1/3 of the goat cheese mix into the bowl.
• Flatten with a well oiled spoon.
• Top this with the pesto.
• Put another 1/3 of the goat cheese mix on top of this.
• Put the sundried tomatoes on this.
• Top with the rest of the cheese.
• Put plastic wrap over the top of this.
• Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, and up to four days.
• To serve, invert bowl on a serving dish. Carefully remove the plastic.
• wrap. Serve with baguettes or crackers.

GOAT CHEESE TORTA

Steps:

• Line an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan with parchment paper; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until smooth. Add goat cheese, in batches, and beat until well combined and no lumps of butter remain. Season with salt and pepper; beat until well combined.
• Divide goat cheese mixture into 3 equal portions. Using an offset spatula, carefully spread one portion of the goat cheese mixture over the bottom of the prepared terrine mold; top with pesto, spreading evenly to cover.
• Spread a second portion of goat cheese mixture on top of the pesto and top with jam, spreading evenly to cover. Top with remaining portion of goat cheese mixture; cover with plastic wrap. Transfer to refrigerator and chill until firm. Slice crosswise and serve with crackers.